In 1995, Garth Brooks took an uncharacteristic break from the spotlight. As an artist who was not only outselling any other musician in the world at the time, but also one who had seemingly single-handedly put country music back into the mainstream, he had been a constant presence in popular culture since the release of his debut album in 1989. It was a well-earned breather, but rather than allowing him time away from work, the rest resulted in an unexpected artistic evolution. Where earlier he had often either recorded other writers compositions or provided lyrics to songs already in development, as the dust settled in 1995 Brooks discovered that he himself had an untapped talent for writing songs. Brooks was back in the saddle, and as a new album quickly came together, the record company went into overdrive, keen to release by the end of the year. It was soon announced that not only was the LP, Fresh Horses, due to land in November, but that it would be accompanied by a 220 date tour that would run for two and a half years. Clearly Garth Brooks wasn t ready for his break just yet. Before setting off on this record-breaking world tour, Brooks decided to air material that would be reflective of the forthcoming public shows. Not only did he make both national and international television appearances to promote his new album and tour, he also performed live radio sessions and concerts. In Europe, he decided to take a visit to the NDR Studios in Hamburg and laid down a ten-track set that captured phenomenal renditions of songs both new and old. Broadcast nationally and simulcast in the US and across Europe, it is this very special performance that is presented on The Last Frontier. With first-rate renderings of tracks from Fresh Horses (The Fever, Beaches of Cheyenne, She s Every Woman) alongside unique takes on the classic hits (The Dance, The Thunder Rolls), it showcases Brooks at his peak, both the best-selling musician of the decade and the most commercially successful country artist in the history of the genre. A man who had taken a traditional musical form and thrust it into the modern world, and who remains, to this day, its most remarkable ambassador.