Honest Dollar CD (OVCD-595)

Remastered reissue of their 1992 live collection, expanded with two previously unissued performances

NRBQ founder Terry Adams once said he isn’t happy with a live performance unless something he hadn’t expected happens.  And that’s a big reason why this release is such a treat. It’s a collection of recordings from various shows that are chock full of welcome surprises. ——John DeAngelis (from his liner notes)

TRACK LIST

1. RIDIN’ IN MY CAR  (Harford, Connecticut 5/24/88)
2. BATMAN THEME  (Harford, Connecticut 5/24/88)
3. THAT I GET BACK HOME  (Roanoke, Virginia 4/7/88)
4. AIN’T IT GOOD  (Roanoke, Virginia 4/7/88)
5. AMY’S THEME (Branford, Connecticut 6/86)  w. John Sebastian on harmonica
6. TENNESSEE  (Cotati, California 7/10/86)
7. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS  (Cotati, California 7/10/86)
8. GREEN LIGHTS  (Roanoke, Virginia 4/7/88)
9. WACKY TOBACKY  (Stanhope, New Jersey 6/4/88)
10. NEW TUNE  (Roanoke, Virginia 4/7/88)
11. LUCILLE  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 8/9/91)
12. 1-2-3  (Palenville, New York 3/28/91) w. Tom Ardolino on vocal / Terry Adams on drums
13. I LOVE AIR CONDITIONING  (Woodstock, New York 6/9/84)
14. NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOU  (Madison, Wisconsin 12/14/86)
15. THE DUMMY SONG  (New Haven, Connecticut 4/30/81)
16. THE DUMMY SONG  (Northampton, Massachusetts 10/22/82)
17. IT’S A SIN TO TELL A LIE  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 8/9/91)
18. TURN ME LOOSE (North Adams, Massachusetts 10/20/90) - unreleased!
19. ROCKIN’ IN RHYTHM (Woodstock, New York 7/85) -  unreleased! w. Roswell Rudd

Honest Dollar gave listeners a special treat (and we’re not talking about the signed one-dollar bills the band inserted randomly into the copies of the original CD). Not only are there NRBQ classics like “Ridin’ In My Car” and “Wacky Tobacky,” but two “State” songs—“Deep In The Heart Of Texas” and Carl Perkins’ “Tennessee” (with new lyrics by Terry, added with Perkins’ consent.) And how about two distinct versions of “The Dummy Song,” which wouldn’t penetrate the public’s conscious until the 1998 film You’ve Got Mail. Plus the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Amy’s Theme” with a guest appearance from John Sebastian himself. Add in rip-roaring versions of Little Richard’s “Lucille,” Len Barry’s “1-2-3,” and Neil Hefti’s “Batman Theme,” and this was as close to experiencing the excitement of an NRBQ show as you could get in the comfort of your own home. And the fact that the material comes from nearly a dozen venues demonstrates the unpredictability that always makes an NRBQ show uniquely memorable.

This 2025 remastered reissue adds even more fun to the mix. There are previously unissued versions of Duke Ellington’s “Rockin’ In Rhythm” and the Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman classic “Turn Me Loose,” which coincides nicely with 2025 marking the celebration of Doc’s 100th birthday.