One of Omega’s more interesting concert recordings over the years was an outing in Boulder Colorado for what was to become a music documentary on Kris Kristofferson, later titled Breakthrough.
The Company had worked with Kris several years before on a series of PBS broadcasts for Dallas-based KERA Television, featuring Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphy, Waylon Jennings, Rita Coolidge, and a dozen other artists. But this project would prove to be special. The opportunity to work closely with the talented songwriting icon in an intimate setting like the Boulder Theatre along with his talented band, The Borderlords, as well as bandleader guitarist/actor Stephen Bruton, did not disappoint.
The concert was recorded January 19, 1989 and shot on 16MM film, as part of a music documentary project produced by Kell and Lori Kearns’ Idanha Films, which was later released on DVD in 2004. The documentary became a companion to the Oh Boy Records’ reissues of Kristofferson’s albums Third World Warrior and Repossessed. In the documentary, Kris focuses his attentions on human rights issues.
The DVD features clips of Kristofferson’s band, The Borderlords, inter-cut with interview footage in which the artist speaks candidly about his commitment to social justice. The release draws a visible parallel between Kristofferson’s personal beliefs and his storytelling skills as a singer/songwriter.
Omega’s President, Paul Christensen, engineered the recording assisted by Steve Lowney, Phillip Barrett and Darrell Henke. Christensen also mixed and sweetened the project for later soundtrack release at Omega’s Dallas Love Field-based, Omega Audio & Productions studio.
Here are samples of several of the songs including, Me And Bobby McGee, The Pilgrim, Hero, To Beat The Devil, Third World Warrior, Under The Gun, as well as the final credits roll.
