Country Gold, Vol. 1

Dennis Weaver hosts this rather dated TV-variety special that features C & W singers on the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville, and also on location in Dallas and Las Vegas. The line-up includes: Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn (performing "Coal Miner's Daughter"), Larry Gatlin, Mel Tillis, Merle Haggard, Barbara Mandrell, Lynn Anderson, Roy Clark, Don Williams, The Carter Family, and country legend Ernest Tubb. No Garth Brooks. No Reba McIntyre. No Randy Travis. And not that much in the way of big hits from the singers either. In introducing Larry Gatlin, Weaver tries to make a statement about the bad rap country music has received for being "simple"--claiming that C & W often strikes a philosophical cord (an interesting notion). But then Barbara Mandrell comes out singing "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed," and we're back on familiar ground again. While a couple of the songs are truly live, the majority appear to be lip-synched (the funniest example of which is Merle Haggard, who strums his guitar about three times, and then just stops, apparently not concerned about keeping up the pretense). Even the strong interest in country music today can't turn this tired and lifeless TV variety show into a good prospect. Not recommended. (Available from most distributors.)