Customer Reviews

The Buck Owens Collection, 1959-1990

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to believe, but at 3 full CDs, this box leaves you wanting more Buck Owens. Rhino's done a nice job of presenting a comprehensive overview of Owens' career, from his earliest duets with Rose Maddox, through his "comeback" duet with Dwight Yoakam, and latter-day hit, "Hot Dog." It might have been interesting if a few of Owens' earlier sessions for Capitol (as a guitarist) were included, as well as his debut rockabilly single (as Corky Jones).

Still, what's here is magnificent. It can be difficult to see (in hindsight) what an impact Owens had on country music, and the domination that he exercised over the charts. His music, well represented in this box, certainly makes the case. The twin telecasters of Owens and Don Rich, as well as their harmony singing, are blueprints of electric country music. Owens' songs, and those from the pens of others, are delivered with an originality that only the very best ever achieved.

Perhaps the only shortcoming of this box is the enormous number of album tracks that they couldn't fit. Given Sundazed's reissue of all of Owens' original Capitol LPs, this generous 3-disc box (with excellent liner notes and historical photos) starts to feel like a sampler! A great place to whet your appetite.

When most people think of country music, they tend to think of Tennessee and Texas but California has a strong country music tradition of its own exemplified by the success of Buck Owens. He had a lot of success with his own record, while his songs provided hits for others and he was also an inspiration for other Californians including Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam. This compilation contains three CD's of Buck's finest music.

The box includes all of Buck's classics including Above and beyond (later successfully revived by Rodney Crowell), Act naturally (which was covered by the Beatles), Love's gonna live here, Together again, I've got a tiger by the tail and many others. Buck also wrote Crying time but released it on a B-side. Ray Charles covered it and had a huge pop hit with it. You can find Buck's version here. Buck originally recorded Streets of Bakersfield in 1974 but the song only became successful when Dwight Yoakam decided to cover it as a duet with Buck. Both versions are included here.

Apart from Dwight, this features other notable guests including Susan Raye (Buck's duet partner in the early seventies), Rose Maddox (on Loose talk and Mental cruelty), Emmylou Harris (singing Play Together again again) and Ringo Starr (on a re-recording of Act Naturally).

While Buck wrote many of his own songs, he also had big country hits with cover versions. Here, you will find his superb versions of Save the last dance for me, Johnny B Goode, Bridge over troubled water and Roll in my sweet baby's arms.

A close look at the Billboard country charts will show that one or two big hits are missing, but that doesn't really matter. Real country music fans will find much to get excited about here.

This is the man who almost singlehandedly invented the Bakersfield sound. If you haven't listened to Buck before, this is the place to start, as it covers his earliest raw cuts, some with Rose Maddox, into the Dwight Yoakam-inspired revival. Full of fiddles and steel guitar but also full of raunchy rock-stylings of the late Don Rich on guitar. If all you know of Buck is from the hokey overall-tinged Hee Haw spots, listen to this before you decide.

If you like Buck Owens (and even if you don't), this is the box set for you. Long before Dwight Yoakum was a thought in his daddy's mind Buck was cranking them out. If you only know Buck Owens from Hee-Haw you owe it to yourself to learn more about one of the giants of country music

Where do we start,

Buck will always be missed by us.
A great human being, A major influence on the bakersfield style and the country music industry.
A Songwriter like no other, and ofcourse Hee Haw was a great success due to him and to Roy Clark.

Now regarding the boxset, I really enjoyed it. 3CDs are packed with hits that will surely entertain you.

But, please note that the boxset has missed a number of amazing songs. So, please don't overlook buying the boxset, but also purchase:
1. The Carnegie Hall Concert by Owens, Buck .
2. In Japan!.
3. Buck Owens sings Harlan Howard.
4. In London [LIVE]

These 4 titles are what come to mind.

Thanks & enjoy,
Nawaf

this is a great box set collection. i could only think of a few i really like that didnt make it here with the other great songs.. but mainly live ones. i love buck owens' music he was great back then and to me he is still great today. yes dwight yoakam kinda helpd get buck back on the radio' in someways i know he got him to a younger group' i grew up watching him on heehaw. him and roy clark. but i guess my peronal favorites on this box set would be all the hits. im so glad to see buck still alive and goin strong' buck's the king of bakersfield country.

(March 27, 2006)
I was really saddened to hear of the passing one of my favorite singers. Didn't know what his health has been the last couple of years, but I was realy looking forward to seeing him perform at his club / restaurant in Bakersfield someday. It was because of Dwight Yoakam that I took to exploring Buck's catalog of genius which is sampled here in this box set. The first disc is total perfection. Of course there could have been more than the 3 discs included but this is the compilation to have if you're interested in knowing what REAL classic country sounds like. Buck, thanks for the great songs.

this is a wonderful box set! a must have for any serious music collector. of course, his early material is some of the greatest music to ever have been performed but also included is the best of his later 'stuff'. the only disappointment for me was/is the lack of any of his 'live at panther hall' material. A++++++++ five star box, buy it now!

I'm really not into box sets, but this is a good one. Buck Owens has no peers and once you listen to this set, you'll understand that noone will ever come close. The first two discs are my favorites, with the third seemingly out of place. Dont get me wrong, the third (late Buck) disc has some gems, but it lacks the magic of Don Rich and is infused with the weird late-'60's vibe that hit country music. There will never be another combination like Buck & Don Rich; and there will never be another star who can sing the saddest "cry-in-your-beer" song in that famous 3/4 upbeat. This is what country music is all about; and forget the Buck of Hee Haw....this is the most addictive collection of songs you'll ever come across. My teenage daughter and son even poked fun at the true honky-tonk, down-home, lyrics when I play them in the car....but I've since caught both of them humming and even singing the songs when they thought noone else was around. This is timeless music so dont miss out on it.

This is a three disc collection of Buck Owens' best material. It features nearly all of Buck's major hits, with the peculiar exception of the Number One hit "Where Does the Good Times Go". Besides the hits, a number of great non-hits are also included, This is great stuff, which I highly recommend.