Mike & Mitch O'Roark and the Freeborn Men Live Program Audio 1978

Mike & Mitch O'Roark and the Freeborn Men Live Program Audio 1978 CAT# 07278

Sometimes this regional private press stuff is such a mess.  The same problem is prevalent, the titles and cover are just a jumble of nonsense.  This is not a Kansas City thing, it's an everywhere thing.  This album for one lists the band as "Mike and Mitch O'Roark and the Freeborn Men", no problem, until you see the back and you realize the "Freeborn Men" consists of a single banjo player by the name of Jody Wisecup.  Further, the back lists the artist as The O'Roark Brotheres, the spine offers nothing, but the record label uses the cover moniker.  The title, also confusing, it's either Live Live Recorded at the Ozark Mountain Bluegrass Festival Eminence Missouri or it's just Live.  The record label lists it as the latter.  It's not that big of deal, and all told, but the private press charm, but you'd think someone would proof read things for consistency and not just run a quick spell check.

Moving on, I was excited I found this record after listening to a  Freeborn Men album on Kansas City's K Records.  I thought the regional bluegrass album showed promise, enough that I was scoping out other albums by the Freeborn Men or the O'Roark Brothers.  They are available, but when people online get a hold of private stuff, due the rarity they try to charge absurd amounts.  Given that most this regional country and bluegrass is usually goes the way of Nashville Pop after an album or two, I wasn't about to make that kind of investment.

Again, I was stoked (but not surprised, this can be found in and around KC with patience) when I picked this up for a dollar or two.  I can't say it should be worth a lot more than that, it's not ground breaking.  The live recording aspect of it doesn't add anything despite being done well.  But, it is a good listen.  The O'Roark brothers weren't sucked into Nashville garbage (well, they do a Kenny Rogers tune, but it's "Rueben James", which is pretty hardcore for Rogers).  The covers they choose (which is the whole album) are well selected, from traditional bluegrass tunes to outlaw country, to something like "July, You're a Woman" by John Stewart.  The O'Roark brothers are legit, enjoyable regional country/bluegrass, at least until I find another album.

Mike O' Roark and the Free Born Men How Do You Like It So Far? Big K Records

Mike O' Roark and the Free Born Men How Do You Like It So Far? Big K Records NO YEAR LISTED CAT# BK-11873

This LP was put out by Big K Records in Kansas City.  The label is a bit of unknown, likely due to the fact that there isn't as big of an interest in obscure country as there is rock n' roll, but they put out a bunch of vinyl regionally in their day.  The label focused on rural sounds in the Kansas and Missouri area and was located in Kansas City, Missouri.

This LP was typical of the label's releases.  Focused around traditional country and bluegrass.  During a time when Nashville was focusing on Countrypolitain, there were labels like Big K trying to provide people the traditional stuff.  All the players are native to the Kansas City area according to the back sleeve and even features a 15 year old on the stand up bass, Mitch O'Roark, who is obviously the band leader's younger brother.

The concern I always have for regional country is the fact that it was regional to Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma; y'know the middle states, which means a lot of this stuff can tend to be drenched in Jesus and influenced by the Ozark and Branson scenes.  Good news about this LP is it suffers only slightly from the Ozark scene.  None of that hillbilly Ozark Mountain crap though, there's no fiddle (well, truth be told, one song features it), but no spoons or washboards, just stringed instruments.  Also, there's no religion which is always a huge plus in my book (not that I mind the occasional gospel tune, but, when they start with their originals on the subject, fuck, I don't have time for that).

Overall, I'm not enough of bluegrass, old-time expert to know if this a long lost gem.  What I can say with authority is that it's rooted in traditional bluegrass and old-time music.  No original tunes by Mr. O'Roark, but he's credited for the arrangements.  It is an interesting Kansas City nugget for sure.  Also, "the Free Born Men" is clearly a reference to being from Kansas and not Missouri, right?  Points for that.