Live from Lawrence was the fourth album in the "Fresh Sounds From Middle America" series of compilation albums, and like the previous album in the series it was a collaborative effort by Fresh Sounds Records and the KJHK radio station.

[1] KJHK held a competition called "Quest for Vinyl" for bands that wanted to appear on the compilation.

[2] The "Fresh Sounds" series was originally devised by Bill Rich, of Talk Talk magazine,[3] as a way to promote regional bands nationally.

[4][5] However, in an interview with the Lawrence Journal-World, execs from several independent record companies cast doubt that such an appearance would be a springboard to greater success for the bands.

[6] The organisers of this volume in the series were Bill Rich (Fresh Sounds), Brad Schwartz (KJHK station manager), Sam Elliot (KJHJ faculty advisor) and Michael Bassin (KJHK entertainment coordinator).