Big Backyard Beat Show is the second studio album by the American country band BR5-49, released in 1998 on Arista Records. The album was recorded in November 1997 and produced by Jozef Nuyens and Mike Janas.
Background and Performance
The album peaked at No. 38 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and at No. 7 on the UK Country Artists Album chart. Its lead single, "Wild One" (a cover of the Johnny O'Keefe song), was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Track Listing
The album contains 14 tracks with a total length of 41:05. BR5-49 wrote nine of the songs. Notable tracks include:
- "There Goes My Love" (written by Buck Owens)
- "Georgia on a Fast Train" (a cover of the Billy Joe Shaver song)
- "Seven Nights to Rock" (a version of the song made famous by Moon Mullican)
- "18 Wheels and a Crowbar" (a tale of road rage, recorded live at Robert's Western World in January 1996)
- "Goodbye, Maria" (featuring Santiago Jiménez Jr. on accordion)
Critical Reception
Reviews were mixed to positive. The Baltimore Sun praised the album's "blend of boogie piano, blues guitar, honky tonk twang, and Tex-Mex exuberance." USA Today noted that the originals "tend toward the dark or humorous." The Washington Post highlighted Chuck Mead's "dark, humorous streak." The Los Angeles Times offered a more reserved assessment, describing the band as "a particularly skilled bar band with a well-developed playful streak."
Supporting Tours
The band supported the album with tours in North America and the UK.
