Buck's Rarest Album Finally Released
Harold L. Davis Jr. | Butler, PA, USA | 02/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At long last, a very rare Buck Owens album has finally been released in the United States. Buck was in Scandinavia during April 1970 promoting his Bakersfield Sound in Western Europe. He had been bringing country music to Great Britain, Holland, Sweden, Norway, and other European countries since 1969. This CD was recorded "live" at Njardhallen Hall in Oslo, Norway. Fans in North America were well aware of this album for decades but it was never released in America until now--much to our surprise and pleasure. Perhaps Buck's 1969 LP, "Live In London" was deemed too similar in song selection, preventing the release of this Scandinavian concert. Besides, this album was only released in Norway itself--just a few thousand copies--making it Buck's rarest LP ever. This concert was actually Buck's sixth "live" album in what would eventually turn out to be a grand total of 11 "live" albums for him!
What is unusual for this album is the makeup and sound of the Buckaroos. For the first time since 1963, there is no steel guitar here. Buck had released Jay Dee Maness from the band in October 1969 for failing to emulate the earlier styles of Buckaroo steel guitarists Tom Brumley and Ralph Mooney. He now decided in 1970 to try running the band without a steel guitar, hoping to widen his appeal to a more urbanized audience who had seen him on "Hee Haw." Thus this 1970 lineup includes Don Rich on guitar and fiddle, Doyle Holly on electric rhythm guitar, Jerry Wiggins on drums, and newcomer Doyle Singer on electric bass. Singer would go on to serve as the Buckaroo with the most tenure. He still plays bass with the Buckaroos at Buck's Crystal Palace, having been in the band for 39 years now!
You have heard all these songs before but not quite like this. Buck was "urbanizing" his style to take in more fans who might not exactly like country music. He wanted to take American country music to Europe, where he was already a huge success. His popularity was tremendous in the Scandinavian countries. We get a rare version of "Tall Dark Stranger" here never before heard on a "live" concert album.
I was deeply shocked that Buck's people would pull this rare gem out of the vaults and make it available to American audiences for the first time ever. There are so many other great Buck albums that Sundazed could have chosen to release. But I am pleased they chose to release his rarest album ever. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a trend--releasing Buck's "live" foreign albums. There are 1974 albums done in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan that never saw the light of day in America. Maybe now Sundazed will also release those for us eager Buck fans. Are you listening, Sundazed?
If you love Buck, you'll want this rarest of rare Buck albums in your collection, showcasing his magic charisma across the world in foreign places. He made it happen in America, Canada, England, and Japan. Now hear him do it again in Norway!"
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1