Growing Up In A Country / Mad Mike’s Breakdown

Release: RCA JB-10523 Growing Up In A Country / Mad Mike’s Breakdown (45)
Artist: Bodie Mountain Express
Release Date: 1975

Disc: (1975) Yellow label. NOT FOR SALE.

How does this record and artist connect to the Elvis collecting universe?
The story was too compelling to leave out. What follows is drawn entirely from the description of an eBay auction.¹.

Thanks to eBay member man_from_plaid for sharing this update on the Bodie Mountain Express:

In 1974–75 the band connected with Jody Reynolds in Palm Springs, who introduced them to Greg McDonald and Colonel Parker. Parker signed them to an RCA contract, though only one single appeared and it failed to chart. After Elvis’s death they toured with Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and worked Vegas shows with Jim Stafford and Bobbie Gentry.

On December 31, 1975, Bodie was among the openers for Elvis’s New Year’s Eve show at the Pontiac Silverdome, alongside Jackie Kahane, Freedom, the Sweet Inspirations, and J.D. Sumner & the Stamps. Elvis appeared after 11 p.m. to mixed reviews; some questioned Parker’s choice of “hillbilly” warm-up acts, though the 60,000-plus turnout was remarkable.

Just two months earlier, Bodie had debuted at San Bernardino’s Swing Auditorium with Jim Stafford, Emmylou Harris, and Upton’s Spiral Starecase. The Sun-Telegram praised their “new grass” blend of rock and bluegrass, noting strong potential despite poor production that evening.