As Goodman As It Gets

When I drive back from CES, I have a tradition.  After days in Las Vegas and sensory overload of electronics, as I drive through the desert I need some calming sanity, and so the first thing I play on the drive is a mixed tape I put together a few years ago of "The Best of Steve Goodman."  (I later put together a volume 2 which is better than most people's best.)

I just love Steve Goodman, who's best known (and for most people, only known) for his song, "The City of New Orleans," which I posted here.  It occurred to me that I should post a whole lot more Steve Goodman.  So, at least to start rectifying that, here's some.

It's a wonderful song, "The 20th Century's Almost Over," but even more pointed for posting this one is that it shows how tremendous a performer Steve Goodman was -- just utterly joyous, beyond infection, having a rapport with audiences that was remarkable.

(I've told a story -- perhaps here, too -- about going to the Universal Amphitheater when Steven Martin was at his height of maniacal popularity.  And Steve Goodman was the opening act.  None of the crazed Martin fans wanted an opening act.  But by the end of Steve Goodman's set, he had the 13,000 people in his hands all going crazy for him. In fact, halfway through the guy in front of me (who'd heard me talking about Steve Goodman throughout) turned around and with huge, wide eyes shouted out, "Who is this guy??!!  He's GREAT!!"

And so is.

I believe this is from his appearance on the show, Austin City Limits.