Eric Johnson, John Hiatt, Texas Tornados, Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash

Eric Johnson

Live From Austin TX (New West)

John Hiatt

Live From Austin TX (New West)

Texas Tornados

Live From Austin TX (New West)

Dwight Yoakam

Live From Austin TX (New West)

Johnny Cash

Live From Austin TX (New West)

Five new titles from the New West series of Austin City Limits shows hit the market in a wide variety of styles and personalities. John Hiatt, Texas Tornados, Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash, and Eric Johnson all appeared on the long-running PBS staple between 1987 and 1993, leaving memorable performances, warm nostalgia, and occasional giggles at the mode of the day. That's the trouble with vintage shows, especially those from the Eighties. Here's Eric Johnson during his "Cliffs of Dover" period in 1988, with overly moussed hair and an outfit possibly stolen from a high school band director, yet utterly sublime on guitar. Dwight Yoakum taped in 1988 also, fierce and rocking with "Guitars, Cadillacs" and doing his knock-kneed boot scoot with guests Buck Owens and Flaco Jimenez. From 1993, John Hiatt's accomplished songwriting falls victim to repetitive styles and too much mugging for the camera. When he gets it right ("Thing Called Love," "Memphis in the Meantime"), he matches the best. The Texas Tornados are sentimental favorites in their 1990 segment, hot and fresh as a No. 2 dinner. Doug Sahm hams it up ("please stand for the San Antonio national anthem") as he introduces "Hey Baby Que Paso," but Freddie Fender is all Tejano pride amid his hits ("Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"). "See ya at the Hole in the Wall!" Sahm urges after the set. If only. The total class act is Johnny Cash in 1987, pre-Rick Rubin and hardcore to the bone. The voice, the face, the songs: This is Americana in its purest sense. With longtime drummer W.S. Holland and pianist Earl Poole Ball in tow, and guests Anita and June Carter, Cash's segment is pure history. As with the previous ACL DVDs, there's nothing extra save song lists, though CDs on all but the Cash set are also out simultaneously. That's Austin City Limits: Just the music, please.

(John Hiatt)

(Eric Johnson, Dwight Yoakam)

(Texas Tornados)

(Johnny Cash)