Ibbotson rejoins the band and they return to Nashville to record Let’s Go, and “Dance Little Jean” goes Top 10 Country. The band also records Plain Dirt Fashion andPartners, Brothers, and Friends. “Long Hard Road” becomes the Dirt Band’s first Number One record, and the band eventually has 17 consecutive Top 10 country songs. They receive nominations from both the CMA and ACM, and perform at the 1984 Olympics in LA and at the first Farm-Aid concert. The Twenty Years of Dirt collection is released, coinciding with the band’s 20th anniversary of their first performance at the Paradox Club in Orange County on May 13, 1966. The Anniversary concert in McNichols Arena in Denver is a sell-out, with guests such as Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Doc Watson, John Prine, and others. At the end of 1986 John McEuen departs band.

  • Jeff Hanna – guitars/washboard/vocals
  • Jimmie Fadden – drums/harmonica/vocals
  • John McEuen – fiddle/banjo/mandolin/guitar
  • Bob Carpenter – keyboards/accordion/vocals
  • Jimmy Ibbotson – bass/guitars/keyboards/accordion/vocals