Search - Buck Owens :: Sings Harlan Howard

Top Singer + Top Writer = Top Rate!

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 10/13/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Owens' second full-length for Capitol paired him with the burgeoning song catalog of the then newly-hot Harlan Howard. Owens and Howard would go on to write numerous hits together (including "Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache)" and "Tiger By the Tail"), but here Owens tackles songs mostly written by Howard on his own. These include titles that were iconic hits for others (e.g., Wynn Stewart's "Heartaches For a Dime," Guy Mitchell's "Heartaches By the Numbers," and Patsy Cline's "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down"), and a few lesser-known gems from Howard's catalog.Owens is joined on this 1961 release by several members of the soon-to-be Buckaroos, including Don Rich, Jelly Sanders, and Ralph Mooney. Owens and Rich had yet to pick up and twang their twin telecasters, so this set, like his eponymous debut, doesn't feature the full drive of the Bakersfield sound. Still, Owens was an accomplished vocalist from early on -- one ideally suited to Howard's clever lyrics -- and his band was already taking their hard country twang in an ever punchier direction.The Owens-Howard combo would refine and expand upon their connection with later hits, but the seeds of that success are here to hear. Highlights include "Foolin' Around," with Pee Wee Adams polite, yet apparently shocking for the time, drum flourish. Owens doubled harmony vocal is a template for the sort of singing he and Don Rich would turn into an art form (ditto for the doubling on "I Don't Believe I'll Fall in Love Today" -- a tune that would become a concert staple for the Buckaroos). Rich provides mesmerizing fiddle for "Heartaches By the Number," most especially the wandering opening line.Throughout the rest of the decade, Owens and his Buckaroos would expand upon their honky-tonk beginnings, adding more electric guitar, kicking up the beat, and reaching out more broadly for material. But the sort of steel-driven music heard here always remained the root. Sundazed's reissue adds an instrumental version of "Foolin' Around" pulled from the mid-60s "Buck Owens Songbook" album; not essential, but a nice bonus."

An old Buck Owens fan

Robert W> Labbe | Lawton, OK. United States | 03/03/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After listening to this cd I've come to two conclusions. As an old fan of Buck Owens since 1963 When I first heard "Act Naturally" I was sold. I really like the songs on this cd, but my only disappointment was in the final mix in the songs. Most songs don't have enough bass but the last cut "Foolin' Round" the instrumental version is way too bassy. The vocals are very good and so is the instrumentation. There's quite a few songs on this cd that I've never heard but I sure did enjoy them. Through the years I've accumulated alot of albums by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. I'm looking forward to buying more cd'c of Buck to replace my old scratchy albums. Other than the mix this cd is well worth getting for hard core country music lovers. Guitar Bob"

Classic 1961 album on cd -PLUS-

Darrin Warren | Osburn, Idaho | 12/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Harlan Howard was one of the most prolific songwriters in country music. The songs included here are the early examples of his work. Both Harlan and Buck have been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in recent years. This collection contains the hit "Foolin' Around". Vintage West Coast Country that sounds better than ever on cd."