It’s the next-best thing to a time machine for music lovers. 

It is Kris Kristofferson’s Live at Gilley’s – Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981, a new LP capturing the one-time Highwayman with a full band behind him and an exuberant audience in front of him, wrapping his 1981 tour at the famed Texas venue. 

Fans who weren’t there in 1981 will feel like they are in 2022 as the partial-show release has just enough crowd noise to capture the excitement of the evening and the music proves Kristofferson was one of the rare artists not to fall victim to 1980s production and arrangement values. 

Kristofferson and band – acoustic and electric guitars, keys, rhythm section and occasional mandolin – stand at the crossroads of country, rock and folk music while playing stone classics such as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “The Pilgrim,” “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” and 12 others. 

Though he could never really sing ’em, Kristofferson sure could write ’em – “You Show Me Yours (And I’ll Show You Mine),” “For the Good Times” and “Why Me” are among the other tracks – and his ’81 band sure could play ’em.