Garage Sale Vinyl: Tanya Tucker

Live / MCA Records / March 1982

by Christopher Long

There we were, having a super-swell girls’ day out — me and two of my fave besties. Our mission was to find me some fab new threads, as I had a major TV appearance coming up and it was imperative that I projected a groovy vibe. As a result, we were hitting a myriad local thrift joints in Melbourne, Florida.

I’ve said it before, but it’s a brilliant point that warrants repeating. If you’re a true vinyl enthusiast, anytime you’re at any type of retail outlet with an LP concession, it’s worth checking out what they’ve got, ‘cuz you never know what you might find — even if you’re at the Goodwill store in Melbourne, Florida. While my compadres were perusing the “Everything’s a Dollar” clothing rack out front, I made a beeline to the used album rack in back.

I ain’t gonna lie. I had been on a massive Tanya Tucker binger in recent weeks. So, when I located a copy of the country music superstar’s 1982 live album buried in the Goodwill bin, I was pretty amped. But wait, it gets better. The vinyl was in absolute pristine condition, and the sticker price was… 25¢.

Overseen by celebrated producer Snuff Garrett, Live was Tucker’s first concert LP. Recorded in the fall of ‘81 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel Casino Resort in Reno, Nevada, the album dropped in the spring of ‘82, during a period when Tucker’s once red-hot career had cooled considerably.

While live albums had become career boosters for many artists of that era, Tucker’s live effort proved rather underwhelming. Tucker’s vocals were pure TNT, fiery and sassy as ever, but the overall record felt phoned-in, reflecting little (if any) connection between the artist and her adoring audience. The 11-song set featured a slew of signature Tucker staples, yet the show as it’s presented here was sort of a wham, bam, thank you, ma’am-type affair, clocking in at a mere 28 minutes, from start to finish.

But be sure, the record did have several entries in the win column. In addition to its array of chart-busters, the single-LP hit parade also included the engaging soon-to-be single, ““Somebody Buy This Cowgirl a Beer,” as well as a convincing recreation of the Robbie Robertson classic, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” And then there’s that front cover concert photo depicting the tight-looking, bare-tummied, purple Spandex-clad, southern-fried siren — an image SO powerful it could make even the sparkliest rhinestone cowboy completely batshit crazy.

In sum, Tanya Tucker is an iconic country music artist with an impressive and exhaustive body of work. Her hit singles over the last 50 years are nearly endless. And her voice is truly one-of-a-kind. However, this particular record packed minimal punch. But, for a quarter AND the cover, it’s a total “keeper,” brah!

(3/5) ⭐⭐⭐

Tanya Tucker Live Track List

SIDE ONE

1. Opening / Halfway to Heaven (Goldstein, Getter, Peritore) – 2:54

1. Medley: What’s Your Mama’s Name / Blood Red and Goin’ Down / Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone) (Montgomery, Frazier, Putman, Coe) – 6:50

1. The Jamestown Ferry (Vickery, Borchers) – 2:27

1. Somebody Buy This Cowgirl a Beer (Brown, Dorff, Garrett) – 2:12

SIDE TWO

1. Can I See You Tonight (Van Hoy, Allen) – 2:31

1. Pecos Promenade (Collins, Pinkard, Garrett) – 2:23

1. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (Robertson) – 3:30

1. Delta Dawn (Harvey, Collins) – 3:25

1. Texas (When I Die) (Bruce, Borchers, Bruce) – 3:16

Tanya Tucker