Buck Owens: Buck ‘Em! The Music Of Buck Owens (1955-1967)

Buck Owens
Buck ‘Em! The Music Of Buck Owens (1955-1967)
(Omnivore)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Timed perfectly with the release of Buck Owens’ autobiography, Omnivore continues to expand their reissue campaign of Buck Owens’ catalog that has included standard releases, a covers EP, and even a coloring book. The whopping 50-track compilation follows Owens and his bandmates during an incredible 12-year run of hits and his Bakersfield sound across two discs.

Country music was his forte, but we also get a sense of other genres he could touch upon like the rockabilly-leaning track “Hot Dog” and the Elvis-like “Sweet Thing.” The collection unfolds chronologically, giving us a sense of how his sound developed. The first couple of tracks (especially “Hot Dog”) sound as if they’re vinyl-sourced: not terrible, yet not pristine. Still, even with those bits of hiss, we get to hear the original mono single versions on more than a dozen tracks, often prized by collectors.

The booklet includes a nearly 20-page set of excerpts from the aforementioned autobiography penned by Owens and Randy Poe along with an assortment of beautifully-restored photos. Detailed recording date, sessionography, and catalog information closes out the set with 45 cover scans. It stops short of highlighting the chart data, although 11 number ones have been included. Maybe even more importantly to the weathered fan, alternate and live recordings of the likes of “Act Naturally,” “We Were Made For Each Other,” and “Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long,” – all live – and “How Long Will My Baby Be Gone,” “Above And Beyond,” and “My Heart Skips A Beat.” The last track, previously available on a Record Store Day exclusive item, sees its digital debut, but also to a wider release, as the reissued 45 is now out of print/sold out.

Owens, a prolific performer, was also an accomplished songwriter with a majority of the tracks presented here having at least a co-write. The tongue-in-cheek “Santa Looks A Lot Like Daddy,” penned by Owens and righthand man/fiddler/lead guitarist Don Rich, gives the view of a child sneaking a peek from a dark corner, thus destroying a childhood myth. While Owens could perform an upbeat number adored by many (The Beatles thought highly enough to record a version of “Act Naturally”), he could also throw down a mean slow jam as heard on “In The Palm Of Your Hand” or the duet “Sweethearts In Heaven” with Rose Maddox.

Larger Buck Owens collections exist, but a double disc collection is an excellent way to dip your toes in the wading waters of this legend’s catalog. Omnivore has done a marvelous job of balancing essential material for beginners and deeper digs of alternate versions for those who are more familiar.