Search - Buck Owens :: Buck Owens (Sundazed)

Strong debut points to invention ahead

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 02/24/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having worked as a studio ace and scored with a pair of Capitol hit singles of his own, Owens finally landed an album deal. Collecting the two hits (1959's "Second Fiddle" and "Under Your Spell Again"), he set about to build a full-length album. The open track, Harlan Howard's "Above and Beyond," was picked up from Wynn Stewart, and by edging up the beat and adding a harmony to his stellar lead vocal Owens created a #3 chart hit. He dipped into the Harlan Howard songbook a second time, co-writing the album's fourth hit, "Excuse Me (I Think I Have a Heartache)."The album tracks combine pre-LP singles such as "Tired of Livin'," "My Everlasting Love," "Walk the Floors," and "I'll Take a Chance on Lovin' You," with newly recorded sides that include "I Gotta Right to Know" and "'Til These Dreams Come True." Fans of the Bakersfield Sound will note several missing elements -- notably the stinging twin Telecaster guitars Owens and Don Rich would wield shortly, as well as Rich's telepathic harmony singing.Even without the full Bakersfield sound, the roots of Owens' glory is certainly here: brilliant songwriting and a voice that's equal parts honky-tonk hellraiser and tear-jerking balladeer. Ralph Mooney's steel and Rich's fiddle sound surprisingly traditional in this setting, but it's that tradition that made their subsequent invention so thrilling. Those making country music with a purposeful ignorance of country's roots can hardly be called country musicians, but those steeped in the classics and making willful choices to step across convention (as Owens and the Buckaroos would repeatedly and successfully do) are innovators. The foundation of Owens' invention is right here.Bonus tracks include the non-LP single, "High as the Mountains," and the original recording of "Nobody's Fool But Yours," pulled from a Capitol various artists compilation. Tracks 1, 5, 9, 10, 13, 14 are stereo, the rest mono."

Not Just a Hint of Things to Come

popmusicfan | northeastern Ohio | 01/22/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Buck Owens's debut album hints at the mature sound that would make Owens and His Buckaroos major hitmakers within a couple of years. Owens had already distinguished himself as a session guitarist and as a singer-guitarist-songwriter by the time of the album's release in 1961. In fact, the tracks were recorded between 1958 and 1960. The driving Bakersfield Sound that Owens (and later Merle Haggard) made so famous is here, but in a somewhat muted form. The rhythmic drive of these honky-tonk songs suggests some of the work of Hank Williams (Sr.) from the late 1940s and stands in sharp contrast to some of the commercial country music of 1960, rockabilly aside. Although it is tempting to hear this album as "just" a hint of things to come, it is also a well-recorded collection of good songs -- well worth purchasing on its own terms. Buck as lovable loser, Buck singing deliberately well-worn cliche lines, and crisp musicianship are all here. None of the material is ever sappy, nor self indulgent. It's amazing that Buck Owens and company could produce such foot-tapping music that covers such a wide range of emotions, and yet sound convincing pretty much all the while. One of the better country debut albums of the time, "Buck Owens" continues to wear well nearly half-a-century after its release!"

Great Album

Jess | Coal Country, PA | 08/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sundazed continues to put out re-releases of the Buck Owens library of music, and here's one of the very first. This Buck Owens album contains 14 numbers, including the hits: "Above & Beyond", "Second Fiddle", "Excuse Me, and an early version of "Nobody's Fool". But, the songs included here that did not chart, or were not released on 45rpm, are every bit as good. Incredibly enough, nearly all of these songs are Buck Owens' penned (and a few Harlan Howard). This is absolute unapologetic, classic country music. Therefore, you will enjoy it. No filler material here. Great sound, great price. A+"