Buck Owens Albums (59)
What The Critics Say
His years as comedic host of Hee Haw have obscured the fact that Buck Owens was a top-notch honky tonker who, along with Merle Haggard and Owens' guitar player Don Rich, helped establish the bright, rock-inflected Bakersfield sound in the mid-'60s. Having the Beatles cover one of your songs ("Act Naturally") didn't hurt things any when Owens & His Buckaroos played the London Palladium on March 9, 1969, and thanks to Rich's phenomenal guitar playing, which could match any British Invasion player jangle for jangle, the group had no trouble connecting with a hip U.K. audience. Tackling medleys of his hits, then tossing in gospel hymns, some hot instrumentals, and even a bit of Cajun fiddle, Owens races through a 17-song set that still comes in at well under an hour. It's great fun (although the cornball patter between songs is straight out of Hee Haw) and even revelatory, particularly on the two chiming, hyper- kinetic and surf-tinged instrumentals, "A Happening in London Town" and "Buckaroo." Other highlights include a cover of Merle Haggard's "Sing Me Back Home," the infectiously clever "It Takes People Like You (To Make People Like Me)," the goofy and sarcastic "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass?" and an inspired Doug Kershaw medley where Rich gets to play some Cajun fiddle on "Diggy Liggy Lo" and "Louisiana Man." The concert was originally released in truncated form by Capitol Records as a double LP under the title Buck Owens in London later that same year, and this reissue by Sundazed restores the full set list. Owens has always been fond of live albums, having released more than a dozen in his career, but the Palladium show, thanks to great sound, an enthusiastic audience, and Rich's amazing guitar tone, may well be the best of the bunch. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
'The Carnegie Hall Concert'
Release Date 12/26/2000
Tracks 16
Label Sundazed
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What The Critics Say
Buck Owens & the Buckaroos' 1966 concert at Carnegie Hall was a landmark not only for the band, but for country music: It signaled that country had firmly integrated itself not only into America's popular music mainstream, but also urban centers like New York. Owens and the Buckaroos had to deliver a stellar performance, and they did -- the group sounded like dynamite, tearing through a selection of their classic hits with vigor. Several decades removed from the performance itself, what really comes through is how musical and gifted the Buckaroos were, particularly Don Rich. For dedicated fans, it's a necessary addition to their collection. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard'
Release Date 11/11/1997
Tracks 13
Label Sundazed
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What The Critics Say
Harlan Howard wrote many of Buck Owens' biggest hits and best songs, including "I've Got A Tiger By the Tail," "Above and Beyond," "Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache)," and "Under the Influence of Love," so it's only natural that Buck recorded an entire album of Howard's material. And it's also not surprising that it's a stunner, too. Owens sang Howard better than nearly anybody and Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard is full of wonderful songs and performances. Only "Foolin' Around" is regularly featured on Buck's hit compilations, which means there's a wealth of lesser-known gems --- including "Heartaches By the Number," "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," "Keys in the Mailbox" and "Let's Agree to Disagree" -- that form the core of this record, one of Owens' most enjoyable LPs of the '60s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Open Up Your Heart'
Release Date 10/17/1995
Tracks 14
Label Sundazed
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What The Critics Say
Open Up Your Heart arrived in 1966, in the midst of Buck Owens' remarkable streak of success -- success that would propel him to the stage of Carnegie Hall in March of that year. This album followed a few months later, and while it is still firmly within his trademark Bakersfield sound, there are slight moves away from his twangy, purer material and toward material that was just a little sillier and a little poppier. Not that anybody could accuse Buck Owens & His Buckaroos of abandoning country music, or even making an overture toward the kind of country-pop coming out of Nashville, but the presentation of the music is a little streamlined and not quite as down-home as it used to be. To begin with, Owens handles all of the lead and harmony vocals on the album, with no instrumentals for Don Rich, even. Then, the songs are getting a little sillier, whether it's the characters who populate the chorus on "Sam's Place" or the corny jokes on "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line." Finally, the production is a little more open and bright, sounding like something coming out of an AM radio instead of a dark honky tonk. These are all subtle changes, and they don't change the fundamental sound of Owens' music, even if they change the feel. As such, Open Up Your Heart doesn't resonate quite as strongly as earlier efforts from Owens, nor does it warrant as many repeat plays, but it is still crafted and played well enough to make it a satisfying listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Roll Out the Red Carpet'
Release Date 10/17/1995
Tracks 14
Label Sundazed
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What The Critics Say
While Roll Out the Red Carpet continued the tradition of solid long-players for Buck Owens & His Buckaroos, it ironically was their first album not to have a single in the charts. The stability of the lineup as well as a few Buckaroo instrumentals and vocal duets -- featuring lead Buckaroo and longtime Owens collaborator Don Rich -- contribute to the power of this oft-overlooked effort. The increasingly subtle yet significant impact of rock & roll can be heard throughout Roll Out the Red Carpet. The cross-referencing of the British Invasion with the equally guitar-heavy Bakersfield sound is more than evident. Beatles classics such as "What Goes On," as well as the vocal arrangements to "And Your Bird Can Sing," have audible roots in compositions such as Rich's "I'm Layin' It on the Line" or "There Never Was a Fool." The unique vocal blend that Owens and Rich share could have easily been the prototype for the Lennon and Starr duet on the former Fab Four favorite. The Buckaroos' instrumentals are particularly potent this go-round as well. On "Cajun Fiddle," Owens marries the light electric guitar sound of Bakersfield with a swampy bayou fiddle from Rich. The same airy groove would be incorporated into performance favorites such as "Fishin' on the Mississippi." "Tom Cattin'," the other instrumental on Roll Out the Red Carpet, is a more traditional hoedown featuring an ethereal sounding pedal steel guitar rhythm track -- presumably overdubbed by Buckaroo steel string man Tom Brumley. Instrumental versions of "Only You (Can Break My Heart)" and "My Heart Skips a Beat" are added as bonus tracks on the Sundazed Records CD reissues. Both tracks were originally issued on the karaoke-style Buck Owens' Songbook long-player. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
'I've Got a Tiger by the Tail'
Release Date 5/17/1995
Tracks 14
Label Sundazed
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What The Critics Say
Buck Owens had his share of country hits prior to the release of I've Got a Tiger by the Tail and the hit single that spawned it. But "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail" was Owens' national breakthrough, featuring everything right about his Bakersfield honky tonk sound sweated down to a 2:12 single that proved to be a irresistible piece of crossover magic to non-country fans without diluting his basic sound one iota. This 14-track CD reissue brings together the original Capitol tracks from that album (which also included the hit "Cryin' Time," later to be a crossover hit of its own when recorded by Ray Charles), along with two bonus tracks. These are live versions recorded in Bakersfield at the Civic Auditorium in October 1963 of "This Ol' Heart" and "Act Naturally," taken from the Capitol anthology album Country Music Hootenanny. The sound of Don Rich is all over this album, with his signature biting Telecaster guitar style, plus his vocalizing on "Wham Bam" (which features Owens on lead guitar) and a feature with Buck on a duet of Chuck Berry's "Memphis." Bass player Doyle Holly handles the vocal chores on "Streets of Laredo," while Don Rich's fiddle work is highlighted on the instrumental "A Maiden's Prayer." But ultimately it's Owens' show with tracks like "Trouble and Me," "We're Gonna Let the Good Times Roll," "If You Fall Out of Love With Me," "The Band Keeps Playin' On," and the ballad "Let the Sad Times Roll On" being classic examples of Owens' Bakersfield honky tonk sound at the height of its freight-train rumbling powers. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Buck Owens' career was in high enough gear by this point for I Don't Care to be his third album for the year. The reason was simple: the hit status of the title track, which held the number one position on the country charts for six weeks. Like his previous albums, this one features solo performances from Owens (this batch featuring "Don't Let Her Know," "You're Welcome Anytime," "Playboy," "This Ol' Heart," and a duet with Rose Maddox, "Loose Talk") mixed with solo turns by the rest of the band. In addition to Don Rich's takes on Roger Miller's "Dang Me" and "Louisiana Man," this also features two vocals from bassist Doyle Holly ("Abilene" and a version of "Understand Your Man" that's positively growly), "Bud's Bounce," a showcase for steel guitar man Tom Brumley, and a surprise guitar solo from Owens on "Buck's Polka." [The two bonus tracks feature instrumental versions of "Don't Let Her Know" and the title track, both under the direction of Rich from the 1966 Buck Owens' Songbook album.] ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
'Live at Carnegie Hall'
Release Date 1/21/1994
Tracks 12
Label Country Music Foundation
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What The Critics Say
Buck Owens & the Buckaroos' 1966 concert at Carnegie Hall was a landmark not only for the band, but for country music: It signalled that it had firmly integrated itself not only into America's popular music mainstream, but also urban centers like New York. Buck and the Buckaroos had to deliver a stellar performance, and they did -- the group sounded like dynamite, tearing through a selection of their classic hits with vigor. Several decades removed from the performance itself, what really comes through is how musical and gifted the Buckaroos were, particularly Don Rich. For dedicated fans, it's a necessary addition to their colleciton. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
