Kris Kristofferson
April 22, 1973 · Record Plant Sausalito
Tom Donahue put Kris Kristofferson on KSAN from the Record Plant on April 22, 1973, at the height of his run as one of Nashville's most in-demand songwriters. Rita Coolidge and Doug Sahm both sat in, in keeping with the loose, all-star spirit Donahue cultivated around these broadcasts. Kristofferson had already written "Me and Bobby McGee," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," and "Help Me Make It Through the Night" for other artists by this point, and was still building his own recording career as a performer. The broadcast catches him in an informal, collaborative setting rather than a solo showcase.
- Type
- Live Broadcast
- Date Recorded
- April 22, 1973
- Date Broadcast
- April 22, 1973
KSAN 95 FM broadcast. Record Plant Sausalito, 4/22/1973. Tom Donahue series. CENSUS 2026-05-31: Recording CONFIRMED. Best source: Internet Archive (kris-kristofferson-1973-record-plant-sausalito). On Raechel's schedule notebook list (4/22/73), linked to the 72-hour marathon window. Title corrected from 1974 to 1973 per Tom, date field, and notebook. Audio: Yes. Confidence: High. CONTEXT: April 1973 was the height of Kristofferson's early career. Jesus Was a Capricorn had spawned 'Why Me,' his only No. 1 solo single (gold by November 1973). He won Country Song of the Year for 'Help Me Make It Through the Night.' Received an honorary doctorate from Pomona College April 1973, with Johnny Cash and Rita Coolidge. GUESTS: Rita Coolidge (his partner, married later in 1973) and Doug Sahm guested. Coolidge and Kristofferson's first LP Full Moon (Sept 1973) went to No. 1 country. Kristofferson died September 28, 2024, age 88. Country Music Hall of Fame 2004. Recording Type: FM Broadcast. Audio: Yes. Confidence: High. CENSUS 2026-06-29 — PERSONNEL (per Internet Archive tracklist, kris-kristofferson-1973-record-plant-sausalito): Kris Kristofferson - guitar, vocals. Rita Coolidge - keyboards, vocals (tracks 16-21, 24, 32). Doug Sahm - guitars, bass, vocals (tracks 14, 32). Nick Gravenites - guitar, vocals (tracks 25-28, 32). David Blue - guitar, vocals (tracks 30, 32). KSAN host: Tom 'Big Daddy' Donahue. Track 32 is a full-cast jam. This expands the earlier GUESTS line: Gravenites and David Blue also perform in this set. Five musicians linked in People table 2026-06-29; Donahue created in People as host, not linked as a Musician. ARTICLE: see Articles table (April 22 group-page candidate).
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