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Bobby Bare
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Key Information
Robert Joseph Bare Sr. (born April 7, 1935), known as Bobby Bare, is an American country music singer and songwriter, best known for the songs "Marie Laveau", "Detroit City", and "500 Miles Away from Home".[2] He is the father of Bobby Bare Jr., also a musician.
Early career
[edit]Bare was born in Ironton, Ohio,[3] on April 7, 1935.[4]In the 1950s, he repeatedly tried and failed to sell his songs.[5] He finally got a record deal, with Capitol Records, and recorded a few unsuccessful rock and roll singles.[2] Just before he was drafted into the United States Army, he wrote a song called "The All American Boy"[6] and did a demonstration tape (demo) for his friend, Bill Parsons, to learn how to record. Instead of using Parsons' later version, the record company, Fraternity Records, decided to go with Bare's original demo.[2] The record reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, but Fraternity erroneously credited Bill Parsons on the label.[7][8] The same track, with the same billing error, peaked at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1959.[9] In 1965, an album of older recorded material, Tender Years (JM-6026), was released on the Hilltop label. That same year, the material was repackaged by Sears and released under the title Bobby in Song (SPS-115).
Career at RCA Victor (1962–1970)
[edit]Bare's big break in country music came when Chet Atkins signed him to RCA Victor. His debut single for the label was 1962's "Shame on Me". Follow-up "Detroit City" reached number six on the Country[8] and number 16 on the Hot 100 charts,[7] and in 1964 earned him a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. Then, a surge of hits followed, including "500 Miles Away from Home" (based on a traditional folk ballad written by Hedy West as "500 Miles")[7] and Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds". In 1965, he received two further Grammy nominations for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance and Best Country & Western single for the latter song. In 1966, he received a yet another Grammy Nomination for Best Country & Western Male Vocal Performance for his song "Talk Me Some Sense". He also recorded two duet albums with Skeeter Davis[2] and recorded six tracks as a trio with Norma Jean and Liz Anderson, which produced a major hit with "The Game of Triangles", a wife-husband-other woman drama that hit number five on the Billboard chart and earned the trio a Grammy nomination. In 1968, he recorded an album with a group from England called The Hillsiders.[10][11] In 1969, he had a top-five hit with Tom T. Hall's "(Margie's At) The Lincoln Park Inn".[8]
Career at Mercury (1970–1972)
[edit]Bare moved to Mercury Records in 1970 and immediately scored a top-three hit with "How I Got to Memphis",[2] and also had two top-10 hits with early Kris Kristofferson compositions, "Come Sundown" and "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" (both 1971).[2][8] He also scored a number-12 hit in 1972 with a version of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show's pop hit "Sylvia's Mother", written by Shel Silverstein.
Return to RCA Victor (1973–1977)
[edit]Bare returned to RCA in 1973, after two years at Mercury.[2] and scored once more with Billy Joe Shaver's "Ride Me Down Easy", which nearly made the top 10. He started to release novelty songs recorded live with selected audiences. One such song, "Marie Laveau", topped the country chart in 1974; the song was Bare's only number-one hit.[2] It was co-written by his friends Silverstein and Baxter Taylor, who received a BMI Award for the song in 1975. In 1977, Bare released an entire album of songs by songwriter Bob McDill called Me and McDill, which contained the popular hit "Look Who I'm Cheatin' on Tonight".[12]
Silverstein penned other songs for Bare, including a Grammy-nominated hit, "Daddy What If", which he recorded with his five-year-old son, Bobby Bare Jr.[2] The song was an immediate success, as well, not only reaching number two on the country charts, but nearly reaching the top 40 on the pop charts. Bare's album, Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies, became his most commercially successful album, finding him a new audience, with pop radio once again playing his songs and also gaining a new following with college kids.[2] These songs, all 14 written or co-written by Shel Silverstein, however, became Bare's last top-10 hits. In 1975, Bare recorded a children's album with his family, mainly of Silverstein songs, called Singin' in the Kitchen.[4] It was nominated in Best Group category in Grammy Awards.
His biggest hits during this time included "Alimony" (1975), "The Winner" (1976), and "Drop Kick Me, Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life)" (an unusual Christian-football waltz and a 1976 Grammy nominee for Best Country Song).[13] In 1977, he recorded "Redneck Hippie Romance"[14] and "Vegas" (a duet with his wife Jeannie).
Career at Columbia (1978–1983)
[edit]Bare signed with Columbia Records and continued to have hits including "Sleep Tight Good Night Man", which barely cracked the top 10 in 1978, alongside continuing to score critical acclaim with his releases Bare and Sleeper Wherever I Fall.[2] In 1979, he started off Rosanne Cash's career in a big way by being her duet partner on the top-20 hit "No Memories Hangin' Round".[2] In 1980, he almost cracked the top 10 with "Numbers", which came from his album Down and Dirty.[2] On that album, Bare started to experiment with Southern rock, which continued with his following album, Drunk and Crazy (1980).[2] The next year, Bare returned to his country roots with his Rodney Crowell-produced album As Is, featuring the single "New Cut Road". Bare was still doing well chartwise into the early 1980s. In 1983, his duet with Lacy J. Dalton, "It's a Dirty Job", hit the top 30. His last foray into the top 30 came that summer with the novelty song "The Jogger". He also released "Used Cars", the theme song from the film of the same name.
Film career
[edit]Bare was also given an opportunity to star in movies. He acted in a Western with Troy Donahue, A Distant Trumpet, and had a memorable scene being branded for desertion, and a few episodes of the TV series No Time for Sergeants. He turned his back on Hollywood to pursue his country music career.
Later country career (1983–present)
[edit]From 1983 to 1988, Bare hosted Bobby Bare and Friends on The Nashville Network, which featured him interviewing songwriters who sang their hit songs on the show. In 1985, he signed with EMI America Records, where he scored three low-charting singles. In 1998, he formed the band Old Dogs, with Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis, and Waylon Jennings. As of 2023, he is the last surviving member of the group.
In 2005, he released his first new album in two decades, The Moon Was Blue, produced[15] by his son Bobby Bare Jr., who is also a musician. He continues to tour today. In 2012, Bare performed a duet of the song "I'd Fight the World" on the Jamey Johnson album Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran.[citation needed]
On April 10, 2013, the CMA announced that Bare would be a 2013 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Other 2013 inductees included Cowboy Jack Clement and Kenny Rogers.[16]
After being inducted in the 1960s, but gradually drifting away, Bare was reinstated as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on April 7, 2018, by Garth Brooks.[17]
Eurovision 2012
[edit]In January and February 2012, Bare joined Petter Øien at the 2012 Melodi Grand Prix to compete for Norway's entry to the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May. His song "Things Change" got through to the Norwegian final, in which Øien and Bare finished third.
Filmography
[edit]- A Distant Trumpet (1964) ... Pvt. Cranshaw
- Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976) ... Singer
Discography
[edit]Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Organization | Award | Nominee/Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Grammy Awards | Best Country & Western Recording | "Detroit City" | Won |
| 1965 | "Four Strong Winds" | Nominated | ||
| Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Male | "Four Strong Winds" | Nominated | ||
| 1966 | "Talk Me Some Sense" | Nominated | ||
| 1968 | Best Country & Western Performance Duet, Trio or Group (Vocal or Instrumental) | "The Game of Triangles" | Nominated | |
| 1975 | Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | "Daddy What If" | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Country Music Association Awards | Musical Event of the Year | "Old Dogs" | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (October 8, 2020). "Bobby Bare Sings Shel Silverstein Plus Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 91. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ "Bobby Bare Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Bobby Bare". Countrymusichalloffame.org. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
- ^ "Bobby Bare Biography". Oldies.com. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 7 – The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the rock-a-billies. [Part 1]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
- ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2000). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, p.49. ISBN 0-8230-7690-3.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits, p.38-39. ISBN 0-8230-7632-6.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 419. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Alan Cackett – Bobby Bare". alancackett.com. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
- ^ The English Countryside, RCA Victor SF-7918 (LSP-3896)
- ^ "Me and McDill". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ Langer, Emily (October 20, 2014). "Paul Craft, who wrote country classics including 'Dropkick Me, Jesus,' dies at 76". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ Halsey, Derek (September 5, 2010). "George Jones, Bobby Bare to headline annual concert in Catlettsburg". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ "Bobby Bare: The Return Of The Quiet Outlaw". American Chronicle. May 23, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ "Country Hall of Fame Elects Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare, Jack Clement". Cmt.com. April 10, 2013. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
- ^ Watts, Cindy. "Garth Brooks welcomes Bobby Bare into Opry membership". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
Other sources
[edit]- Vinicur, Dale. (1998). "Bobby Bare". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 28–29.
- Bobby Bare Sr. Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2017)
External links
[edit]- Official website

- Bobby Bare at AllMusic
- Bobby Bare discography at Discogs
- Bobby Bare at IMDb
Bobby Bare
View on GrokipediaEarly life and family
Childhood and upbringing
Robert Joseph Bare was born on April 7, 1935, in Ironton, Ohio, into a poor farming family.[1][3][4] His early years were marked by significant hardship, as his mother died when he was five years old, leaving the family in turmoil.[1][3][5] Unable to adequately support his children, Bare's father was forced to separate the siblings; the younger sister was adopted, the older sister was placed with relatives, and Bare remained with his father on the farm, though the family dynamics remained unstable.[1][4][5][6] Bare's father struggled as a farmer on a hill farm, often working long hours but unable to provide stability amid the poverty that defined their rural existence.[4][3] From a young age, Bare contributed to the household by helping on the farm, an experience that instilled a deep sense of resilience.[4] By his early teens, conflicts with his stepmother led him to leave home and live with various relatives, including his grandmother, aunts, and uncles.[1][5] At around age 15, he began working to support himself, first on farms and later in nearby factories, including a clothing factory where he lied about his age to secure employment at 16.[3][4] Amid these challenges, Bare discovered music as an escape, constructing his first crude guitar from a coffee can, a stick, and screen door wires during his childhood.[1][3][5] By his mid-teens, he acquired a real guitar and began self-teaching by listening to local radio broadcasts and records.[5][4] His initial musical influences included country pioneers such as Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers, whose styles he absorbed alongside early heroes like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, shaping his path toward a career in country music.[4][1]Marriage and children
Bobby Bare married Anita Jacqueline "Jeannie" Sterling in 1964, shortly after meeting her while she worked as a shopkeeper and occasional singer in Nashville.[7] The couple marked their 60th wedding anniversary in 2024, a milestone that highlighted their enduring partnership amid Bare's demanding career in country music.[8] Jeannie, who had prior experience in performance, provided steadfast support by managing their home life and occasionally joining Bare on stage or in business endeavors, such as operating a family shop.[9] The Bares raised four children together in Hendersonville, Tennessee, just outside Nashville: daughter Cari Jean, born May 2, 1960 (Jeannie's daughter from a previous relationship, whom Bare adopted), sons Robert Joseph "Bobby" Bare Jr., born June 28, 1966, and Shannon Bare, born in 1969, and daughter Angela Bare, born circa 1976.[10][9] Tragically, Cari died on December 19, 1975, at age 15 from complications following surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.[11] Bobby Bare Jr. pursued a career in music as a singer-songwriter, while Shannon has occasionally performed with family members and assisted in music projects.[12][13] As a family man, Bare balanced extensive touring with active involvement in raising his children, drawing from his own challenging early life marked by family separation to prioritize stability in Nashville.[3] The family collaborated on the 1974 album Singin' in the Kitchen, a collection of Shel Silverstein-penned children's songs featuring Bare, Jeannie, Cari, Bobby Jr., and Shannon, which captured their close-knit dynamic and reached No. 29 on the country charts the following year.[14] Jeannie's role was pivotal in maintaining this home base, allowing Bare to focus on his artistry while fostering a musical environment for the children.[15]Musical career beginnings (1950s–1961)
First recordings and band formation
At the age of 15, Bobby Bare left his family farm near Ironton, Ohio, and hitchhiked to Columbus, where he took on various odd jobs, including dishwasher, delivery boy, and steelworker, to support himself. Using savings from these positions, he purchased his first guitar and taught himself to play by ear, drawing inspiration from country radio broadcasts featuring artists like Hank Williams.[4] This self-taught approach marked the beginning of his musical development amid the hardships of his youth, including poverty and the early death of his mother, which instilled a persistent drive to pursue music as an escape.[3] In the early 1950s, Bare relocated to the Springfield/Portsmouth area of northern Ohio, where he joined a local band as an unpaid vocalist, performing at honky-tonks and community events. These gigs honed his stage presence and exposed him to the regional country music scene. By around 1954–1955, he formed his own band, which played bars and local gatherings, and he secured a slot for an early morning radio program, further building his local reputation.[4][5] Seeking broader opportunities, Bare traveled to Cincinnati in the early 1950s to pitch his original songs but faced rejection from King Records. Undeterred, he hitchhiked to Los Angeles in 1953 with just $12 in his pocket, taking odd jobs like dishwashing and oil field labor while networking in the West Coast music community and writing songs influenced by peers such as Wynn Stewart and Harlan Howard.[4] Bare's first professional recordings occurred in 1955 in California, where he cut demos for steel guitarist Speedy West's publishing company; these caught the attention of Capitol Records executive Ken Nelson, leading to a contract. In 1956, he recorded three sessions at Capitol's Hollywood studio, backed by notable session musicians including Buck Owens on lead guitar, though the resulting singles—"The Shoes You Wore in Vietnam," "Down on the Corner of Love," and "Another Love Has Ended"—failed to chart and were not immediate commercial successes.[4][16] Throughout this period, Bare's emerging style blended traditional country with folk elements and hints of rockabilly, shaped by his radio exposure to singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers in childhood, as well as the rising energy of Elvis Presley, whom he later parodied in his songwriting.[4][3]Early hits under pseudonym
In 1959, Bobby Bare signed with the small independent label Fraternity Records in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he recorded the novelty talking blues track "The All American Boy," which he had written for his friend Bill Parsons as a demonstration tape. To circumvent complications from his existing recording contract with Challenge Records, Fraternity released the single under the pseudonym Bill Parsons, crediting Bare only as the songwriter. This decision allowed the label to avoid legal issues while Bare, soon to be drafted into the U.S. Army, focused on his military service. During his Army service from 1959 to 1961, stationed at Fort Ord, California, Bare won a talent contest with a band called the Latin Five.[1][17][4] Released late in 1959, "The All American Boy" achieved modest initial success in the United States, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and crossing over from country to pop audiences with its humorous narrative about a young man's rise to fame akin to Elvis Presley's before military induction. The track's international breakthrough came in 1960, reaching number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and exposing Bare's work to broader audiences despite the pseudonym. Follow-up releases on Fraternity, now under Bare's own name, included originals like "Down in Mexico" and covers such as "Book of Love" in 1961, but these faced significant hurdles from the label's limited resources, financial instability, and inadequate promotion, resulting in no major chart placements.[18][19][20] After his discharge from the Army in 1961, Bare relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, drawn by the burgeoning country music scene and connections with songwriters like Harlan Howard. His prior experience performing with local bands in Ohio had prepared him for professional recording sessions, aiding his transition. He recorded additional singles for Fraternity Records, including "Down in Mexico" and "Book of Love" in 1961, but they garnered only limited airplay and no significant chart success, hampered by the competitive market and Bare's evolving shift toward country material.[1] The pseudonym era left Bare frustrated by the lack of personal credit and royalties from "The All American Boy," despite its commercial viability, as the release overshadowed his contributions and yielded no financial gain. This experience underscored the vulnerabilities of early career deals and motivated Bare to prioritize songwriting involvement in future contracts, ensuring greater control and recognition for his creative input.[1]Rise to prominence at RCA Victor (1962–1970)
Breakthrough hits
Bobby Bare signed with RCA Victor in 1962, marking the beginning of his major label career under producer Chet Atkins. His debut single for the label, "Shame On Me," peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart that year.[21] This release set the stage for his rapid ascent in country music. Bare's breakthrough came in 1963 with "Detroit City," written by Mel Tillis and Danny Dill, which captured the struggles of Southern migrants in the industrial North. The song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Bare the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording.[2][22][23] Its crossover success highlighted Bare's ability to blend country storytelling with broader pop appeal. That same year, Bare followed with "500 Miles Away from Home," originally written by Hedy West and adapted with new lyrics by Bare and his manager Bill Walker. The track topped out at number 5 on the country chart and number 10 on the pop chart, further expanding his audience into folk music circles through its poignant theme of longing and isolation.[24] Throughout the 1960s, Bare continued his string of successes at RCA, including "Miller's Cave" in 1964, which peaked at number 4 on the country chart, and a re-release of the duet "A Dear John Letter" with Skeeter Davis in 1965, reaching number 11 on the country chart. "The Streets of Baltimore" followed in 1966, contributing to Bare's tally of more than 20 Top 40 country singles over the decade.[24][25] In 1964, amid this surge of hits, Bare was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, cementing his status as a Nashville mainstay.[26]Collaborations and style development
Bare's tenure at RCA Victor marked a pivotal phase in his artistic evolution, where he honed a laconic, storytelling vocal style that fused country wit with folk poignancy, eschewing the traditional twang for a more universal appeal that drew from the 1960s folk revival. This approach was evident in albums like 500 Miles Away from Home (1963), which featured folk-influenced tracks such as the title song—a reworking of the folk standard "500 Miles"—and demonstrated his interpretive range through introspective narratives of longing and displacement. Similarly, Tender Years (1965) showcased his versatility, blending tender ballads with character-driven stories that highlighted his grainy baritone and understated delivery, allowing the lyrics to take center stage.[2][27][28] A key aspect of Bare's growth involved championing emerging songwriters, whose material helped shape his repertoire and launch their careers during this era. He frequently recorded works by Tom T. Hall, including "(Margie's At) The Lincoln Park Inn" (1969), a bold, narrative tale of infidelity that exemplified Hall's conversational storytelling and Bare's deadpan execution. Bare's advocacy extended to Kris Kristofferson, whose songs rooted in late-1960s compositions like "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" (recorded by Bare in 1971) added layers of emotional depth and poetic introspection to his sound, bridging country and folk sensibilities. These partnerships not only enriched Bare's catalog but also elevated the songwriters' profiles within Nashville's evolving scene.[2][29] This period also saw Bare embracing humorous, narrative-driven material that foreshadowed deeper explorations in later collaborations, such as his affinity for witty tales akin to Shel Silverstein's style—exemplified by Silverstein's 1969 hit "A Boy Named Sue" for Johnny Cash—though Bare's full partnership with Silverstein would flourish post-1970. Songs like "Detroit City," serving as platforms for such interpretive innovation, underscored his role in broadening country's appeal through clever, relatable vignettes delivered with wry authenticity. Overall, Bare's commitment to new voices and stylistic experimentation solidified his reputation as a forward-thinking interpreter, influencing the genre's shift toward more literate, story-centric songwriting.[30][2]Label transitions (1970–1977)
Mercury Records period
In 1970, Bobby Bare departed from RCA Victor primarily because longtime producer Chet Atkins no longer had the time to oversee his sessions, prompting Bare to seek greater artistic control elsewhere.[4] He signed with Mercury Records that year, allowing him to explore more personal song choices and production autonomy, building on his prior RCA collaborations with writers like Shel Silverstein and Kris Kristofferson.[1][2] Bare's debut Mercury album, This Is Bare Country, arrived in summer 1970, featuring the top-three country hit "That's How I Got to Memphis" (written by Tom T. Hall).[4] The follow-up, Where Have All the Seasons Gone (early 1971), showcased a shift toward a softer, more introspective sound with narrative-driven tracks emphasizing emotional depth over uptempo energy.[4] Key singles from this era included Kristofferson's "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" (peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1971) and Silverstein's "Come Sundown" (reaching #7 in 1970).[24][31] These releases highlighted Bare's evolving style, incorporating countrypolitan elements like lush arrangements and reflective lyrics amid the genre's broader shift toward polished sophistication.[32] Bare continued with What Am I Gonna Do (1972), which included the top-20 single "What Am I Gonna Do" and a cover of "Sylvia's Mother" (#20 in 1972). Despite these successes, Bare's Mercury tenure faced hurdles from the label's limited promotional resources compared to RCA, resulting in fewer crossover breakthroughs and no chart-topping singles during his approximately three-year stay (1970–1972).[5] This period marked a transitional phase for Bare, as the country music landscape increasingly embraced countrypolitan production, influencing his move back to RCA in 1973.[2]Return to RCA Victor
After a stint at Mercury Records that emphasized more introspective material, Bobby Bare re-signed with RCA Victor in 1973.[33] His return yielded success with the early 1973 album I Hate Goodbyes / Ride Me Down Easy, featuring the Billy Joe Shaver composition "Ride Me Down Easy" that reached #11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Later that year, Lullabys, Legends and Lies, a concept album entirely composed by longtime collaborator Shel Silverstein, blending storytelling, humor, and folklore in a narrative style that peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[34][35][36] The album spawned the key hit duet "Daddy What If" with his young son Bobby Bare Jr., which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1974.[37] In 1974, Bare continued his commercial rebound with "Marie Laveau," a voodoo-themed narrative song written by Shel Silverstein that topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for one week and showcased Bare's flair for eccentric, story-driven country amid the rising outlaw movement.[38] Bare's deepened partnership with Silverstein during this era explored innovative narrative albums, laying groundwork for later works like The Winner and Other Losers in 1978, while balancing humorous tracks with heartfelt ballads to navigate the evolving 1970s country landscape.[39][40] Over the 1973–1977 period at RCA, Bare notched more than a dozen Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, reflecting his adaptability and enduring appeal.[1] Adding a personal dimension, Bare incorporated family into his recordings, such as the 1975 album Singin' in the Kitchen, featuring Silverstein songs performed with his children, which underscored his growing family stability and contributed to a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[37]Columbia Records era (1978–1983)
Major releases
Bobby Bare signed with Columbia Records in 1978 following his departures from previous labels. His debut album for the label, Bare, was released that same year and was self-produced by Bare, featuring tracks like "Greasy Grit Gravy" and "The Gambler" that highlighted his narrative-driven songwriting style. This release continued his collaborations with songwriter Shel Silverstein, building on their successful partnership from Bare's RCA era. Also in 1978, Sleeper Wherever I Fall followed, further exploring introspective themes.[41][42] In 1980, Bare issued Down and Dirty, an album that incorporated Southern rock influences alongside traditional country elements. The standout single "Numbers," penned by Silverstein, depicted a comedic barroom seduction through numerical innuendo and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Another single from the album, "Tequila Sheila," further exemplified Bare's blend of humor and storytelling. Later that year, Drunk and Crazy followed, featuring Silverstein compositions such as the title track and "Food Blues," which explored themes of indulgence and life's absurdities with a rowdy, reflective tone.[43][44] Subsequent releases included As Is in 1981, which delved into personal introspection through songs like "Dollar Pool Fool," and Ain't Got Nothing to Lose in 1982, maintaining the rock-infused country sound with tracks emphasizing resilience and experience. In 1983, Drinkin' from the Bottle, Singin' from the Heart closed the era, blending heartfelt ballads and energetic performances. Bare's Columbia output totaled seven studio albums, collectively shifting toward mature themes of aging, relationships, and self-reflection while preserving his signature wit and acoustic roots. The production across these records, often overseen by Bare himself with studio support, contributed to a polished yet authentic sonic quality that suited his evolving artistry.[42][45]Chart performances
During his Columbia Records tenure from 1978 to 1983, Bobby Bare's chart performance reflected a period of renewed creativity amid shifting industry dynamics, with several notable singles and albums achieving solid country radio airplay while struggling to match the heights of his earlier career. A career highlight came with the 1979 single "Numbers," which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in early 1980, praised for its satirical take on inflation and demonstrating crossover appeal through its witty, narrative style that resonated beyond traditional country audiences.[46] The accompanying album Down and Dirty provided the material for this track and further showcased Bare's evolving sound.[1] Album success included Drunk and Crazy in 1980, which peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, bolstered by singles like "Willie Jones" (featuring Charlie Daniels) that reached number 19 on the Hot Country Singles chart the same year.[47] These releases highlighted Bare's commercial viability, with the album's blend of Southern rock influences contributing to its performance.[45] However, momentum waned in the later years, as evidenced by the 1981 remake of "Miller's Cave," which only reached number 42 on the Hot Country Singles chart. Over the Columbia period, Bare amassed more than 10 Top 40 entries on the country singles chart, though fewer number-one hits emerged compared to his RCA days. This decline was influenced by the urban cowboy trend, which emphasized polished, pop-oriented production and favored younger artists, alongside Bare's age in his mid-40s potentially limiting radio exposure.[48] The era concluded with "The Jogger" in 1983, peaking at number 29 on the Hot Country Singles chart and underscoring the transition away from major label peaks.[49]| Year | Single | Peak Position (Billboard Hot Country Singles) |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Sleep Tight, Good Night Man | 11 |
| 1979 | Numbers | 11 |
| 1979 | Healin' | 23 |
| 1980 | Willie Jones | 19 |
| 1980 | Tequila Sheila | 31 |
| 1981 | Miller's Cave (remake) | 42 |
| 1982 | New Cut Road | 18 |
| 1983 | The Jogger | 29 |
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