Customer Reviews

"Buck Owens - All-Time Greatest Hits, Vol.1"

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Buck Owens dominated the country charts in the 1960s. With his signature frieght train sound, catapulted by Don Rich's searing lead guitar riffs and high tenor harmonies, Owens became the torch bearer of the Bakersfield Sound. This compilation serves up some of Owens' biggest hits including Act Naturally, Tiger by the Tail, and Together Again. It also showcases Owens' early Capitol releases including, Excuse Me I Think I've Got a Heartache and Under Your Spell Again. But this compilation does not stop there. Also included is Owens' Made in Japan, which features Don Rich's masterful fiddle overdubs and flawless guitar work. Owens'version of Streets of Bakersfield and Big in Vegas give the listener some of Owens' later works. Overall, this album displays a slice of each stage in Owens' career with Capitol Records. The style and sound featured on this album make modern country acts look like sharecroppers. This is an important album in my collection and it should be in yours too.

When this first of what would turn out to be three volumes appeared from Curb in 1992 it represented a bit of a departure from their usual approach. Here they included some informative liner notes [most of their products do not], in this instance one page. As is the case with most of their releases I also have to admit that the sound reproduction is excellent.

Of course, they continued their practice of limiting the selections to less than 12, and also managed to include in two of the volumes one track that does not technically fit the title of "all-time greatest hits." So, in that regard, they stuck to their usual pattern. The three volumes also flit all over the place, with no rhyme nor reason to their presentation.

This one, for example, starts off with his 17th Country hit, Act Naturally [# 1 for four weeks in 1963 and later covered by no less than The Beatles], then goes to a selection [Streets Of Bakersfield] that, while it may be identified with him, cannot be counted among his greatest hits since it never charted. At least not this version. In 1988 he had a # 1 with it in a duet with Dwight Yoakam, but that is NOT the version included here.

Track 3 presents Together Again which, as a B-side, reached # 1 in 1964 and remained there for two weeks [the A-side, My Heart Skips A Beat, was a # 1 for seven weeks and is included in Vol. 3]. Track 4, Before You Go, was also a # 1 in 1965 [six weeks] as well as a # 83 Billboard Pop Hot 100 crossover, and from there they jump to a 1972 # 1, Made In Japan, before going all the way back to 1961 for Foolin' Around [# 2 Country and # 113 Hot 100 "bubble under"] at track 6. That same kind of flip-flopping is evident on all three volumes.

By purchasing the three you do get 31 of the 90 songs he put onto the Country charts from 1959 to 1989, ninetween of which crossed over to the Pop charts, including most of his # 1 hits, although they do leave out How Long Will My Baby Be Gone [# 1 in early 1968], which might have been a better choice than Streets of Bakersfield in retrospect [OR they could have gone to an even dozen].

Since these came out there have been numerous other Buck Owens compilations made available with many more tracks and much more in the way of liner notes and discographies [nothing like that included here either]. However, if you are only looking for a specific song and it's on one of these volumes go for it, as all are originals.

If you really like your music to be Real country buy this buck!!! It's great and i'm only 25 yrs. old! And it sounds great to me,try it,you'll be glad you did.

Let's start with some honesty. I bought Vol. 1 in a bargain bin on a whim, because I have always secretly liked Buck Owens, though we did openly watch Hee Haw, but I love this album and I love the series. It makes me want to name my dog Arlo, buy a pick up truck and ride out in the desert (watching out for Desert Tortoises, of course)! Good things about this series are the sound (very good) and that it includes gems (like Excuse Me -I think I've got a Heartache on Vol. 1 and Buckaroo on Vol. 3) that aren't on the 20 hit single CDs. The only bad thing is that the individual CDs of this series are short. I want them to keep going when family members say: "Your's is over; my turn now."

This a great start for getting to know his music, unfortunately it makes you long for more. I would suggest buying this & vol 2 to get a real taste & flavor of his genius & the great musicians for a cheap start. Now I want to get the Bear set "Act Naturally". You can see why the Beatles loved his stuff. Country music should get back to this stuff.

i bought this cd for 1 song but can't seem to get it out of my cd player it is so good, you can now call me a buck ownes fan, his streets of bakers., puts to shame the duet with dwight

I got this for a Christmas gift. They really do like it & enjoy it. They said It was the best gift they got.

People who only know Buck as the picking and grinning Roy Clark sidekick ought to know that he made some fine music--heck, the Beatles even liked him. This collection, albeit brief, is a good overview of Buck's work.

So sad that we recently lost this great entertainer. But we can still hear him singing his great songs that we will always remember on this "Greatest Hits" CD. He has others, but I like this one the best. I highly recommend this to others.

True, hard-core Western Country! Thanks Buck Owens for years of super music that stayed true to the sound. Live on. Live well. Be happy. Listen to Buck.