1. Festival Family Presents FESTIVAL (original release 1975 - re-release 2007)

Songs include: Festival - Too Much Time - California - Put Out The Roses - Runnin' Blue - Pioneer Square - Sticks & Stones - Christmas Day Is Just Another Day Without You - Winding Down My Life

The Festival Family was a group of people, who reached out to people, who needed people, and loved good music. They were the people, and they were the music. This album was recorded in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, after a nightclub tour of 4 weeks in Nova Scotia, performing 7 days a week. Then, a 12-hour ferry ride to Newfoundland, to perform 7 days a week, over 5 weeks, in 5 cities, in Newfoundland. Then, an 18-hour ferry ride back to Nova Scotia, to record the album in the daytime, for 2 weeks, while performing nightly in a nightclub. The Canadian influence would continue to show through all of FESTIVAL's career. The Canadian influence appeared immediately in this first album, with the use of a baritone saxophone borrowed from Blaine Jollimore, whose brother, Keith, had played it in the Canadian group, LIGHTHOUSE, which was an early favorite of the members of FESTIVAL. The first album starts with the song, "Festival", by Bob Harris, a college schoolmate, and the song from which the group name was derived. There are three songs written by Archie Johnson, a California musician that FESTIVAL met in June 1974, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Archie wrote, "California", "Pioneer Square", and "Put Out The Roses", which became one of FESTIVAL's most popular songs. "Too Much Time", was written by Britt's younger brother, Dave, and it is about Britt. Dave also wrote,"Winding Down My Life", which is about Britt and Dave's hometown, Waldron, Indiana. "Christmas Day Is Just Another Day Without You", was written by Britt and Don, and the title says it all. The title of the album is "The Festival Family presents FESTIVAL", to recognize the members of the Festival Family, a communal family living on the Festival Farm, in Skidmore, Missouri, the support group, and family members of the band. This album expresses all of the emotions, and all of the love, that FESTIVAL had waited so many years to record. The song that probably best expresses the group's emotion at this time in their career is Ray Charles', "Sticks & Stones". It has the raw energy that only a first album can possess. This is truly the magic of a first album.

2. Nothin' But A Party (original release 1978 - re-release 2007) Songs include: Skidmore Shuffle - Branded - Oh, Baby - Life With You - I've Got A Bag of My Own - Bump Bounce Boogie - For a Little While - You're The One - What Is Soul - Higher and Higher - Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now - Goin' Back To Miami

This is FESTIVAL, in 1978. FESTIVAL was a high-energy big band, and their performances were “Nothin’ But A Party”. FESTIVAL was big band horns, backed by a rock rhythm section. FESTIVAL soon became known as “the world’s funkiest cowboy band”. In 1978, the 18-member Festival Family included four brothers, three married couples, and one child. They all lived together as a communal family on the Festival Farm near Skidmore, Missouri. The Festival Family motto was, “Living together in peace and harmony through music”. Their common bond was a love of music, a love of parties, and love for each other. Many of the Festival Family members had gone to college together at Northwest Missouri State University, in Maryville, Missouri. Britt Small was not only the bandleader; he was also the head of the family. The second album begins with, "Skidmore Shuffle", written by Britt and Don. Another Archie Johnson song, "Branded", could have been wttien about FESTIVAL's outlaw image in the music industry. Two more Dave Small songs, "Life With You", and, "Oh, Baby", explore FESTIVAL's divergent musical styles. More FESTIVAL influences are saluted with James Brown's, "I've Got A Bag Of My Own", Lou Rawl's, "You're The One", Jackie Wilson's, "Higher & Higher", Wayne Cochran's, "Goin' Back To Miami", The Mob's, "For A Little While", the Tower of Power's, "Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now", and an exploration into western swing with Becky singing Asleep At The Wheel's, "Bump, Bounce, Boogie". During one of their Canadian tours, FESTIVAL acquired the first album of a Scottish funk group, not yet released in the U.S., called the Average White Band, and put some special, up-tempo FESTIVAL funk on, "What Is Soul". While on stage, FESTIVAL entertained audiences with their energetic, and often, comedic style. Their performances gained them the reputation, “FESTIVAL ain’t nothin’ but a great big party”, and now you’re all invited!

3. Just Another Band From Skidmore (original release 1981- re-release 2007)

Songs include: Come Dance With Me - I'll Remember You - Keepin' Score - When You Believe - One More Mountain - Young and the Restless - Christmas Day Is Just Another Day Without You - Sticks & Stones - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Stoned On Sunday - Sons of the Pioneers Medley: Tumblin Tumbleweeds, Cool Water, Riders In The Sky

From the time they left college, and hit the road in 1973, the members of FESTIVAL were delighting and exciting folks, all over the United States and Canada. After recording their first album in Nova Scotia, and their second album in Minneapolis, FESTIVAL recorded their third album in Otho, Iowa, in 1981, as a tribute to their adopted hometown, Skidmore, a small, 100-year old town in Northwest Missouri. In October 1979, the people of Skidmore presented the Festival Family with the Key to the City of Skidmore, for its contributions to the community. The third album opens with three Dave Small songs, "Come Dance With Me", "I'll Remember You", an answer to, "Put Out The Roses"(on the 1st album), and "Keepin' Score", a musical comment on the plight of the rock musician. The Canadian influence comes to the fore again with Dr. Music's, "When You Believe In The Sound Of The Music", and, "One More Mountain To Climb". "Stoned On Sunday", was written by Canadian songwriter, George Brothers, a Nova Scotia entertainer. There are salutes to more of FESTIVAL's musical influences with Don's screaming trumpet solo on Maynard Ferguson's, "The Young & The Restless", and the Righteous Brothers', "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". There is a re-visit to, "Stick & Stones", and, "Christmas Day Is Just Another Day Without You", showcasing FESTIVAL's musical maturity over the six years since their first album. After discovering that they had a mutual love for the legendary Sons of the Pioneers, FESTIVAL recorded a medley of the Sons hits, "Tumblin' Tumbleweeds", "Cool Water", and, "Ghost Riders In The Sky". Because of their independent spirit, their dedication to a life of freedom, and their popularity in the Plains States, FESTIVAL gained a reputation as the “World’s Funkiest Cowboy Band”. But, because of their high-energy show, their fun-loving party attitude, their musical precision, and their fast-paced choreography, they also gained recognition as “the Midwest’s Premier Showband”. It was just a matter of time before the rest of the country discovered FESTIVAL, and they would become known as, “ the Big Band from the Prairie”, and “the Brass Band from the Grassland”, but they would always be, "Just Another Band From Skidmore".

4. FESTIVAL - The Early Years (Never before released - release date 2007)

Live performances from 1974, 1979 & 1983. Songs include: Disco Inferno - Skidmore Shuffle - Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose - Baker Street - Back In The U.S.A. - We Are Family - Color My World - Come Dance With Me - Jessica - Buried Alive In The Blues - Save The Planet - Strollin' In The Bones - Bobbie Sue - Rockin' The Paradise - Endless Love - Where There's a Will, There's a Way - James Brown Medley: Super Bad, Cold Sweat, I Got You
This is an incredible collection of newly-discovered, live FESTIVAL performances, from 1974 to 1983. It includes FESTIVAL singing a cappella, and instrumentals played FESTIVAL-style. There are fabulous show tunes, played to screaming audiences. "Color My World", sung in FESTIVAL-style mass harmony. The unbelievable opening vocals on, "Rockin' The Paradise", and then FESTIVAL rocking the song with unreal dynamics. Dan & Stan playing screaming guitar solos like you've never heard before on the Allman Brothers', "Jessica", Dan's swinging blues guitar on Billy & the Beater's, "Strollin' In The Bones", and the rhythm sections' tight version of the Janis Joplin Bands', "Buried Alive In The Blues". High-energy FESTIVAL funk on a, "Disco Inferno" entrance, and an invitation to party on,"Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose". Songs that feature Becky on lead vocal, "Back In The U.S.A.", "We Are Family", and "Rockin' The Paradise", and duets featuring Britt and Becky, "Endless Love", and, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way". There's a foray into country-rock, with Britt singing deep bass notes on the Oak Ridge Boys', "Bobbie Sue", which also features Ray, Dan, and Mark on lead vocals But, the icing on the cake is a James Brown medley, recorded live in The Cavern, in Rock Island, Illinois, in December 1974, that will make you want to get up, and dance. There is Britt scat-singing, playing trombone, and trading trombone licks with Ralph Taylor on trombone. A tenor sax solo by Mike Reinig, a Hammond organ solo by Jim Harris, and a bass solo by Mark Dobroth. You'll be amazed by Britt's ear-shattering screams on, "Super Bad", "Cold Sweat", and, "I Got You". Best of all, there is that unmistakable FESTIVAL ability to "run like wild horses, and then stop on a dime together". This album will “rock your socks”.

5. Live On The Road 1983 (original release 1983 - re-release 2007)
1983 Live Performances. Songs include: In America - Mountain Music - Davy Crockett - American Made - Skidmore Shuffle - In The Mood - Bump Bounce Boogie - Find The Cost of Freedom - Still In Saigon - The Wall - America the Beautiful - Woodchoppers Ball - King Tut - Swingin' - Come Dance With Me - Dakota Woman - Feels So Right - Even Now - Rock This Town - Celebration

This album was recorded live in the summer of 1983, during concerts in Liberty, Missouri, and Pana, Illinois. It features the Festival Kids, Marty Small (age 5), and Jessi Pottratz (age 4) singing, " Davy Crockett", "American Made", and "America the Beautiful". These “live” recordings feature lead vocals by John, Curt, Don, and Britt, on "American Made" . Becky sings lead vocal and plays the piano solos on, "Bump Bounce Boogie". Dan sings lead vocal on, "Swingin'", and Don does the lead on, "King Tut". Ray sing s lead on, "Rock This Town". Mark sings lead, and Britt plays the drums on, Even Now". This is the debut recording of, "Dakota Woman", written by Britt, Don, and Dave Small. This album contains the characteristic lush, mass vocals of FESTIVAL, and the first recordings of the big band instrumentals, "Woodchoppers Ball", and "In The Mood", done FESTIVAL-style. There are very fast, live versions of the "Skidmore Shuffle", with Russ on trombone, and Becky on synthesizer, and, "Come Dance With Me", with Stan and Dan on guitars. Show versions of Alabama's, "Mountain Music", and, "Feels So Right". Kool & the Gang's, "Celebration", with Becky on the synthesizer caps the show. This album displays the beginning of FESTIVAL's turn toward patriotic, and veteran-oriented music. This was the first live recording of "The Wall", written by Britt, Ray, and Lyle Zoerb. It's also the first FESTIVAL recording of Charlie Daniel's, "Still In Saigon", and, "In America", Crosby, Stills, & Nash's, "Find The Cost Of Freedom", and the Ray Charles version of, "America the Beautiful". From this point on, the FESTIVAL albums became much more thematic. If nothing else, this album contains the raw, unbridled energy of a live FESTIVAL performance, and the screams of an adoring audience.

6. Tattered Flags/Broken Promises (original release 1985 - re-release 1998 on American Pride)

Songs include: Still In Saigon - Wounded Soldier - Missing - Freedom Now Speech - The Wall - God Bless The USA - Service Songs - We Gotta Get Out Of This Place - Leavin' On A Jet Plane Tattered Flags - Star Spangled Banner - Find The Cost Of Freedom - Ohio - Talking Old Soldiers - America The Beautiful

"Tattered Flags/Broken Promises" was recorded in Columbia, Missouri, in 1985, and is an expression of the plight of the Vietnam veterans, and veterans from all wars. It tells the story of wounded warriors, POW-MIAs left behind by the American government, and broken promises of benefits, and long-term medical care, made to those who were willing to lay their lives on the line to serve America. This is the music from the concert in front of the U.S. Capitol Building, on November 10, 1984, during the National Salute II to the Vietnam Veterans, and the dedication of the Three Fighting Men Statue. It features the first stage appearance of the Reverend John Steer, a Purple Heart veteran from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the same unit in which Britt served. John and Britt sing a duet, along with FESTIVAL on, "Wounded Soldier". There is a screaming version of Charlie Daniel's, "Still In Saigon", and a broken-hearted rendering of FESTIVAL's, "The Wall". There is a soulful rendering of Ray Charles' version of, "America the Beautiful", and a heroic FESTIVAL arrangement of Lee Greenwood's, "God Bless the U.S.A.". Britt does a rousing version of The Animals', "We Gotta Get Outa This Place", Becky sings Peter, Paul, & Mary's, "Leavin' On a Jetplane", and the band plays a medley of the, "Service Songs", as good as any military band. Britt asks Americans to take down tattered American flags, and then FESTIVAL harmonizes a beautiful rendition of, "The Star Spangled Banner", followed by Crosby, Stills, & Nash's, "Find The Cost Of Freedom", layered onto C, S, & N's, "Ohio", protesting the killing of four college students at Kent State University, by the Ohio National Guard, on May 4, 1970. With a fierce scream and growl, Britt delivers a heart-rendering performance of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's, "Talking Old Soldiers", a conversation between a young veteran, and an old veteran, about the feelings of being alone, the loss of friends in war, and the American public's uncaring attitude toward the problems of veterans. During the 1984 concert, Britt kept yelling at the Vietnam veteran audience, "There are live American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia". He brought a "prisoner of war" in rags and chains on stage, and FESTIVAL performed, "Missing", with lyrics written by Donna Long, and music written by Britt and Ray. This powerful album also includes Britt's reading of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L Davis', "Freedom Now" speech, a speech which CMH Sammy Davis gave during the concert in 1984, and sparked the beginning of the live prisoner of war movement in America. "Tattered Flags/Broken Promises", also marked the beginning of BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL's hard-fought, two-decade long battle for the public awareness of the existence live prisoners of war in Southeast Asia, of the cover-up of those facts by the American government, and the plight of the American veterans from all wars.

Available on the American Pride double CD set listed below (#14)

7. America Called (original release 1987 - re-release 1998 on American Pride)

Songs include: Combat Themes – Come On In – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – Captured Eagles – Waiting For An Army To Die – Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground – Old Hippie – Didn’t Go To Nam, But I Do Give A Damn – America Called – Goodnight Saigon – Brothers In The Night

This album,"America Called", was recorded "live" in the yard of the Festival Farm, on a warm summer night, in 1987. When they began touring in June 1973, they were just another band from Skidmore, but when BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL left “The Wall”, in November, 1982, they had become the “musical voice of America’s veterans”. Performing at the National Salute I in (1982), and the National Salute II in (1984), in Washington, D.C., the New York Vietnam Veteran’s Ticker Tape Parade, in 1985, the Chicago Vietnam Veteran’s Welcome Home Parade, in 1986, the Great Texas Welcome Home in 1987, and numerous state Vietnam veteran’s reunions across the country, they began to express the heart and soul of the Vietnam veterans. “America Called” is about the unity and brotherhood of people who served because they loved their country. The song, "America Called", was written by a Vietnam Donut Dolly named, Emily Strange, and then given to FESTIVAL by Jim Logsdon, a double amputee from the 101st Airborne Division, in Vietnam. It’s about the men and women who served because “America Called”. There are two original songs by FESTIVAL, and one, "I Didn't Go To Nam, But I Do Give A Damn", written by Michael Martin, and sung by Dan. The album begins with,"Adagio For Strings", from the movie,"Platoon", and continues with a medley of popular military TV themes. Then, the veterans are welcomed home with a series of power vocals by Britt; "Captured Eagles", about prisoners of war, and "Waiting For An Army To Die", about Agent Orange, with incredible sound effects & rhyhm work on the bongos by Linda, which drive the band to a new level. Then a salute to the lady veterans with Willie Nelson's, "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground". The album ends with a hard-core version of Billy Joel's, "Goodnight Saigon", in a rousing medley of brotherhood with, "Brothers In The Night", from the movie "Uncommon Valor". The medley of the two songs being sung together, represents, together then, together again.

Available on the American Pride double CD set listed below (#14)

8. Dakota Woman (original release 1988 - re-release 2007)

Songs include: Dakota Woman – The Only One – Fat City Blues – Amazing Grace – Dream On – Tennessee With Me – Tumbling After – We Touch – Grandma’s Got A Moustache

This album is dedicated to the Festival Family ladies. Their strength and dedication provided the foundation for BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL to endure the hardships of their touring schedules for many years. The love and affection of the Festival Family ladies were the embodiment of the greatness of the pioneer spirit of the American woman. This album contains seven FESTIVAL songs, more than any other album. "Dakota Woman", was written by Don and Britt, and sung by Britt. "The Only One", and, "We Touch", written by Dave Small, and sung by Britt. "Tumbling After", written by Dave Small, and sung by Becky. "Tennessee With Me", written and sung by Ray. "Grandma's Got A Moustache", written by Dan about Britt's Grandma Small, and is sung by Dan. This album is an homage to the Festival Ladies, and all of the ladies of FESTIVAL's very large extended family. The picture of Britt with the Festival Family Ladies includes: Front row: Anna Small{age 5}. Second row: Shelly Chesnut-Hafner, Linda Waba, Britt Small, Jonnie K. Small, Martha Marteny-Roth. Third Row: Cheryl Wetzel, Becky Reinig, Annette Landrus, Carla Mitchell-Wetzel, Brenda Struve, Jessi Pottratz. All of the Festival Family Ladies dresses were made by the loving hands of Marilyn "Mom" Small. We miss you and you will forever be in our hearts.

9. Colors (original release 1990 - re-release 1998 on American Pride)

Songs include: Colors – Wind Beneath My Wings – America Remember Me – Trilogy – Walkin’ On A Thin Line - Somewhere Out There – The Ballad Of The Green Beret – More Than A Name On The Wall – God Bless America

Colors is the musical expression of BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL’s patriotic dedication to America, that made them the “musical voice of America’s veterans”. After 17 years on the road together, BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL became known as “the man who wouldn’t quit and the band that wouldn’t back down”. The song,"Colors", was written especially for Britt, by Vietnam veterans Danny Parker and Larry Knight. The song is about Britt, and his dedication to the sanctity, and protection of the American flag. Actress Martha Raye nicknamed Britt, "the tattered flags guy", when he visited at her house. Britt has developed a well-known reputation for taking or cutting down tattered American flags whenever he sees them. "America Remember Me", was written by a Missouri Vietnam veteran named Ron Saucier, and given to Britt to record. It's the cry of every prisoner of war that has been left behind, and abandoned by his country. Britt's voice flies like an eagle on, "Wind Beneath My Wings", and growls out the anguish and hurt of the vanquished Vietnam veteran on, "Walkin' On A Thin Line". Britt and Becky create the vision of a lost soul on their duet, "Somewhere Out There', and Britt laments the hurt of a mother who has lost a son on, "More Than A Name On The Wall". Britt takes "Trilogy" to a whole new level of patriotic grandeur, and BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL lift "God Bless America", to a rousing new height. BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL had truly become the "Band of the Airborne", and "The All-American Showband".

Available on the American Pride double CD set (#14)

10. A Festival Christmas (original release 1990 - re-release 2007)

Songs include: Santa Clause Is Comin' To Town - Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas - Christmas Song - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Christmas Day Is Just Another Day - Silver Bells - I'll Be Home For Christmas - White Christmas

When BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL recorded, they always did songs their own way, in their own style. But, they also enjoyed recreating the old arrangements of standard songs, and this was especially true on their Christmas songs. " A Festival Christmas" is a collection of America’s favorite Christmas songs, done FESTIVAL style. While maintaining the true spirit of the most loved Christmas songs, they also did subtle things to make each of them their own. After hearing this album, Britt's mother said that she would never listen to her Bing Crosby albums again. These are truly beautiful treatments of some of your favorite Christmas songs, so have yourself a Merry Festival Christmas.

11. Put Out The Roses (original release 1991 - re-release 2007)

Songs include: Put Out The Roses - Mack The Knife - Memory - In The Mood - Sometimes When We Touch - To Love Somebody - Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now - Up Where We Belong

“Put Out The Roses” wass the 11^th album recorded by BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL, and It is a collection of songs most requested by their fans. Of course, there is the title song, "Put Out The Roses", the most popular BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL song. But, there are also songs from BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL's Las Vegas show like, "Mack the Knife", as only Britt could sing it, and "Memory" from the musical "Cats", also sung as only Britt could do it. Britt's interpretation of the dynamic ballad, "Sometimes When We Touch", and a full three-part harmony rendition of, "To Love Somebody". There are two duets featuring Britt and Becky, "Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now", and "Up Where We Belong", which sails into the sky. An amazing new element in the band started to come to the fore, and that was the pedal steel guitar work of Stan. He puts the cherry on the top of every song. BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL had developed another new sound, a pedal steel guitar with a big brass band.

12. Cross Country CD (original release 1993)

Songs include: Cross Country - Tennessee With Me - Boot Scootin' Boogie - Lady Of The Prairie - Some Gave All - Alone On Sunday - Friends In Low Places - Achy Breaky Heart – Forever - Winding Down My Life

BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL had risen from their prairie roots to become one of America’s greatest showbands. This 12^th album released by BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL also marked the group’s 20^thanniversary on the road together. The title song, “Cross Country”, was written by Britt’s brother, Dave Small, and it's a true story. Dave also wrote the never-before recorded “Forever”. Dave wrote it when he was only 14-years old. Dave also wrote “Winding Down My Life”, which was also on the first FESTIVAL album, in 1975. "Lady Of The Prairie", was written by Ray, & is about the life of Britt, and his wife, Jonnie. "Cross Country" also includes "Some Gave All", which Britt sang while standing on top of The Wall, during the National Veterans Day Ceremony, in Washington, DC. Some of the songs on this album were recorded just for fun. "Boot Scootin' Boogie", "Achy, Breaky Heart", and "Friends In Low Places", were songs that were requested by fans, and recorded for fun, All of the songs on this album were requested by, and recorded for the fans of BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL, and they were all recorded in BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL's own studio, Max Stout Studio, in Skidmore, Missouri. Salute!!

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11. Put Out The Roses (original release 1991 - re-release 2007)