Live (Barbara Mandrell album)

Live is a live album by the American country music singer Barbara Mandrell, released in August 1981.

Live
Live album by
ReleasedAugust 7, 1981
GenreCountry pop
LabelMCA Nashville
ProducerTom Collins
Barbara Mandrell chronology
Love Is Fair
(1980)
Live
(1981)
...In Black & White
(1982)
Singles from Live
  1. "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool"
    Released: April 20, 1981
  2. "Wish You Were Here"
    Released: August 17, 1981
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

This album spawned two hit singles, "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" and "Wish You Were Here". "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" became Mandrell's signature song, and a return to her roots, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1981. The song features an uncredited appearance by George Jones. "Wish You Were Here" peaked at #2 on the Billboard country charts, and also appeared on the (Billboard) Adult Contemporary charts, reaching #40. The album includes cover versions of popular songs, including "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and the Hank Williams' hit "Hey Good Lookin'", and closes with a full-length vocal version of "Country Girl", the theme song to Mandrell's 1980-82 television show, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.

This album was one of Mandrell's biggest-selling albums in the United States, receiving a "Gold" certification by the RIAA, after the album moved 500,000 copies. It is only one of two albums by Mandrell that received a certification by the RIAA in the United States. The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart (her highest peak position on that chart), as well as #86 on the Billboard 200.

Track listing

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  1. "Intro... / Sleeping Single in a Double Bed"
  2. "Unsung Heroes"
  3. "She's Out There Dancing Alone"
  4. "Doin' It Right"
  5. "Years / Love Is Fair"
  6. "Hey Good Lookin'"
  7. "Wish You Were Here"
  8. "Instrumental Medley: Mountain Dew / Fireball Mail / Old Joe Clark / Uncle Joe's Boogie"
  9. "In My Heart"
  10. "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" (featuring George Jones)
  11. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
  12. "Country Girl"

Personnel

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All tracks except 10

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Track 10

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Charts

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Singles

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Year Single Peak chart positions
US Country US AC CAN Country
1981 "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" 1 14
"Wish You Were Here" 2 40 11

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[5] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ AllMusic
  2. ^ "Barbara Mandrell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Barbara Mandrell Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. ^ "American album certifications – Barbara Mandrell – Live". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 30, 2021.