Like his old friend Waylon Jennings, Tony Joe White is a true American original that dares to stand out from the crowd in a music world full of pop, rock, and country clones who usually get the radio airplay that he has been denied. The country-rock classic "Polk Salad Annie" might have been his only major hit, but White is a prolific songwriter responsible for classic songs by others such as "Rainy night in Georgia".

Along with John Fogerty, Tony Joe is one of the pioneers of "swamp rock", but he is one of those rare performers who cannot be placed in one musical category. His sound is a unique mixture of blues, rock n' roll, and country that is simply "too good" for radio programmers to accept or understand.

In this Austin City Limits appearance from 1980, Tony Joe is backed by only a bass player and drummer as he accompanies himself on guitar and harmonica. This simple, stripped down approach brings out his sound perfectly. Every song in this performance is a White original that showcases his unique style. His manly, bluesy voice and funky, swampy guitar licks are on full display from the first song to the last. Along with his southern-fried classic "Polk Salad Annie", other highlights include "Mamas don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies", "Lustful Earl and the married woman", "I get off on it", "Even Trolls love Rock n' roll", and a cool little song called "Swamp Rap" where Tony Joe combines a funky swamp rock groove with rap music!

It is rare to find an artist who displays the originality and individuality of Tony Joe White in today's suffering music scene. Any lover of outlaw country, swamp rock, or southern rock should enjoy this highly recommended DVD. The sound and picture quality is also very good.

This CD was recorded on Austin City Limits in 1980, but nothing of the music sounds dated. White's funk and humor stands him in good stead here.

Of course, he revives his 60's standard, "Poke Salad Annie" and takes us reminiscing with a little bit of 80's contemporary with "Disco Blues."

I just wish the video had been released. I saw the show long ago on PBS and it was one of the most memorable ACS segments I've ever viewed.

As I mentioned in my review for a similar product in C.C. Music, "I've been waiting for this since 1980." Why? Well, the album from which this concert draws most of its material, "The Real Thang" (and that STILL hasn't been released on cd...are you listening anyone?)was released on the dreaded Casablanca label, home of (barf) disco. That being said (and, hopefully, ignored), the music is WAY beyond "great," "fantastic," etc; I mean, just dig the titles of the songs for a...hint: "Mamas Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be Babies," "Swamp Rap," "Redneck Women," and the song that ENSURES TJW's place in Rock and Roll Heaven, "I Get Off On It." Tony Joe had a quality that was (and HAS been) lacking in either the "Rock" or "Country" genres: a sense of humor. If this is the episode of "Austin City Limits" that I think it is, when Tony Joe resurrects his chestnet, "Poke Salad Annie," he even observes that the "poke salad" mentioned serve(d) as a (ahem) smoking mixture, too. Even his "adult contemporary" material, "Rainy Night In Georgia" is performed. TJW, I'm very grateful that 25 years later, this is FINALLY being made available to a public who only knew you from "Poke Salad," or that brilliant stuff you did with Tina Turner. Hope you'll tour behind this, and I'll volunteer to play bass if you do!

Another stellar entry in the Austin City Limits Concert series New West has been putting out...Tony Joe White live, caught on film here, adds a dimension of charisma not discernible on the basis of the records alone...worth the price of admission for the version of "Polk Salad Annie" a rocking and weirdly uplifting little dittie, if you haven't heard it. Pristine sound and visuals abound here, typical for the series....