CMT Blog: Archive

In 1978, dozens of the most famous country artists of the era, such as Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, gathered at the Grand Ole Opry House to film several television specials that aired over the course of five months. After that, the specials lingered in the vaults for about 30 years, long enough to slip everybody's mind. Incredibly, the fine folks at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum teamed with an entertainment company called Shout! Factory to reissue the full series on a new pair of DVDs titled Country's Greatest Stars Live, Vol. 1 and 2. The set will be released Tuesday (Jan. 26). If you can look past the cheesy decorations and gaudy outfits, you'll have a rare chance to hear what country music sounded like in 1978, straight from the artists who would ultimately become legendary.

Highlights for me include Charlie Rich crooning "Behind Closed Doors," Johnny Paycheck riling up the crowd with "Take This Job and Shove It" and Roger Miller tickling everybody's funny bone on a quirky medley of hits. Meanwhile the First Lady of Country Music, Tammy Wynette, offers a poignant rendition of "You and Me." It's also a treat to hear some of these future country classics when they were brand new, such as the Kendalls' "Heaven's Just a Sin Away" and Anne Murray's "You Needed Me."

I could go on and on. As a student of country music history, there's a lot to learn from these DVDs. Glen Campbell makes a lively host during the first segment, setting the bar high for the rest of the series. And how often can you see Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe playing on the Opry stage? If you have a soft spot for the '70s, and sometimes wish you could still hear Ronnie Milsap or Dottie West on the radio, don't miss these DVDs.