Are You Ready for the Big Show? [Enhanced] [Extra tracks] [Live]

Amazon.com
Recorded over two nights in September 2000 at Austin's Continental Club, Are You Ready for the Big Show? stitches together a handful of Radney Foster favorites, five new songs, a little stage patter, and the whoops of an adoring crowd to produce a compendium of good-time Texas roots-rock. Aswirl in organ, slide guitar, and twinkling mandolin (courtesy of Nickel Creek's Chris Thile), the first four tracks sound like so much fun you won't notice they're all about hard luck and heartbreak. Things drag a bit in the middle--blame the far too precious "Went for a Ride"--but Foster recovers quickly with a sharp version of his 1992 hit "Nobody Wins" and a blazing pair of tunes drawn from 1999's See What You Want to See: "Folding Money" and the set-closing "I'm In." The likes of Pat Green, Jack Ingram, and brothers Bruce and Charlie Robison may aspire to the success of Robert Earl Keen, but this disc offers a better role model. --Anders Smith-Lindall

Tracks:

Are You Ready for the Big Show?
Tonight
God Knows When
Just Call Me Lonesome
Something Stupid
School of Hard Knocks
Intro to Went for a Ride
Went for a Ride
I'm Used to It
Folding Money
Leaning on What Love Can Do
How You Play the Hand
Nobody Wins
We Know Better
I'm In
Texas In 1880
Tonight

Product Description

1. Are You Ready For The Big Show 0:15
2. Tonight 4:14
3. God Knows When 4:01
4. Lonesome 3:27
5. Something Stupid 0:12
6. School Of Hard Knocks 3:18
7. Intro To "Went For A Ride" 1:45
8. Went For A Ride 4:06
9. I'm Used To It 4:13
10. Foldin' Money 6:57
11. Leanin' On Love 4:36
12. How You Play The Hand 4:09
13. Nobody Wins 4:19
14. We Know Better 0:08
15. I'm In 5:56

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Recorded over two nights in September 2000 at Austin's Continental Club, Are You Ready for the Big Show? stitches together a handful of Radney Foster favorites, five new songs, a little stage patter, and the whoops of an adoring crowd to produce a compendium of good-time Texas roots-rock. Aswirl in organ, slide guitar, and twinkling mandolin (courtesy of Nickel Creek's Chris Thile), the first four tracks sound like so much fun you won't notice they're all about hard luck and heartbreak. Things drag a bit in the middle--blame the far too precious "Went for a Ride"--but Foster recovers quickly with a sharp version of his 1992 hit "Nobody Wins" and a blazing pair of tunes drawn from 1999's See What You Want to See: "Folding Money" and the set-closing "I'm In." The likes of Pat Green, Jack Ingram, and brothers Bruce and Charlie Robison may aspire to the success of Robert Earl Keen, but this disc offers a better role model. --Anders Smith-Lindall

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic live record with first rate songs and performances.......2003-07-18

I'm always saying "man, there's nothin' on TV". Well, I was wrong about that, at least once. One night my TV found it's way to a some Opry show and it's Radney Foster doing a live gig. I'd never heard of him -- even though, come to find out, a country-fan friend of mine had been raving about Foster & Lloyd for years. Anyway, that spectacular TV performance led me to ordering this spectacular live CD. His approach reminds me of someone whose work I'm more familiar, John Hiatt -- a HUGE compliment. And, I go through CD's like water, but this one has stayed in my rotation for months now. I'm certain this is one of the best live albums put out by any artist in the past decade. And the songs! "I'm In", "Tonight", "God Knows When". What's more, I drive down the road with my 4-year-old son now often chiming in from the back seat "Now you ready, now you ready, now you ready for the big show?" And, I know exactly what he means.

Texas music at its best.......2003-04-26

I was and am a big fan of the old group Foster and Loyd and this album brings me back to those time. Eventhough Loyd is not singing with Radney Foster anymore, this album is great. The song "Folding Money" is worth the purchase of this album. This album has a stong Texas feel and makes you want to open a Shiner Bock on a Texas summer night and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

This is a good way to get the essential Radney Foster.......2003-02-14

Although he never seems to venture into Kentucky so I have never seen him live, I would imagine that a live performance from Radney Foster would be the way to experience his energy and passionate songwriting and performance.

The song to play over and over and over again is "Texas in 1880". The original Foster-Lloyd version was tremendous but there is a slightly different edge to the version that Foster does with Pat Green that makes it even better. Of course, it is just a great song period.

Most of the bigger hits are on the album but Tonight, the last bonus track on the album is a good song too.

I've played the CD for a lot of period who did not grow up on Foster and Lloyd in their heyday like I did and they go for the music as well.

Don McNay...

Foster Live is the way to capture him.......2003-02-12

Those of us who were big Foster and Lloyd fans want to hear the old stuff but Randy comes through with some new songs like Tonight that are catchy and fun.

My favorite Foster and Lloyd song, Texas in 1880 is enhanced in this newer and fresher track that was not recorded live and with Pat Green doing the parts that Bill Lloyd sang.

Foster has a hard core following and will be part of the music scene for many years to come. I'll thrilled that the Dixie Chicks recognize this great talents and started recording his song. Foster and Lloyd's success as songwriters have often overshadowed how good they are individual performers and I am thrilled Foster gave us a chance to hear what he sounds like live. If he ever gets close to Kentucky (his tours seem to go from one end of Texas to the other end of Texas only) I will be there.

Don McNay...

Best Live Album.......2002-11-26

I am listening to the album as I type! Song playing? Folding Money. I am more of a new Radney Foster fan. I wasn't old enough to enjoy Foster and Lloyd. I do enjoy their recordings now! This album is the best live recording I've heard, simply because the emphasis is on the music. Not the crowd. You can sing along with it. Besides that, the songs are great! I just wish he would have did a live recording of "Texas in 1880." That is my favorite song of his. While the new version is great, although I like the old Foster and Lloyd version better. Any true country fan should buy this album. Foster is surely better than some of country's bigger starts, such as, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, etc. I am kind of glad he has not reached that level of success, because I think that kind of success would hurt his music, at least for what I like. Anyway drop whatever you are doing and get this album at your local grocery! You will not be disappointed!

Music Album:

Music Album