Customer Reviews

In London

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

 

 

Buck Owens issued a lot of live albums (some of them released only in the country where recorded such as live albums in Stockholm, Australia and a second live album in Japan). This is the best of the live albums and not only because I happened to be in the audience that March 9,1969 (with my Dad - my present to him on his 44th birthday). While the previously released live albums recorded at Carnegie Hall and in Tokyo are indeed excellent, by the time this album was released, Owens had adopted a faster and more swinging tempo for hits such as "Act Naturally" and "Sam's Place". Indeed, his take on Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" (his then-#1 single) is easily the equal of the Chuck Berry original and smokes most of the other cover versions of the song. This version of the Buckaroos included Jerry Wiggins on drums and Jay D. Maness on steel guitar, both as good as the musicians they replaced( Willie C Cantu and Tom Brumley). By the time this album was recorded, Owens had such a long list of hits that he had to resort to medleys to get some of them worked into the show ("Love's Gonna Live Here"/"Cryin' Time" /"I've Got a Tiger by the Tail"/"Open Up Your Heart" and "Act Naturally"/"Together Again" are two of the medleys). To mark the occasion Buck had penned an uptempo instrumental tune "A Happening In London Town"

This CD (on Sundazed) is an expanded version of the 1969 Capitol album with four additional songs "I've Got You On My Mind Again" and "That's All Right with Me (If It's All Right with You)" both from his I'VE GOT YOU ON MY MIND AGAIN album (the title cut went to #1), "Wham Bam" (sung by Don Rich) and a short version of the instrumental "Buckaroo"

Just as instrumental in country music as Waylon and Willie leaving Nashville for Austin, Buck Owens' move to Bakersfield changed what we listen to forever. The heavy Telecaster sound and mostly lighthearted lyrics was a welcome change from background strings and choirlike choruses.

The duo of Buck Owens and Don Rich compare favorably to any other in any genre of music. The rest of the Buckaroos lineup changed from time to time, but it really didn't matter. The Owens/Rich sound stayed true to life, night after night.

I was fortunate enough to see Buck and the Buckaroos as a young boy of 11 years. I can still hear the music, the banter between songs, and those vocals. When Buck and Don smiled, you automatically did so as well. After Don's death, Buck was still a great show, but the two together were unbeatable.

This album, recorded in London, brings the live experience home. Newer fans might be surprised at the amount of joking and talking between songs, but at that time it was all part of the show, and the audience couldn't get enough of it. The music quality is excellent for a live recording. Fans of studio music wont be disappointed. There are several newly released tracks as well.

Do yourself a favor. Buy this album. Listen to it and then turn on CMT. Listen to a few of today's country songs. The influence of Buck Owens and Don Rich are everywhere.

Buck and the Buckaroos sound great and this CD is very pleasant to listen to. Jay Dee Maness took over for Tom Brumley on steel guitar. While Maness is very good, he's not as good as Brumley. What I also liked is how Buck blended a lot of humor into his shows. He's often cracking jokes, I bet it'd be a treat to see him play live. The best songs in my opinon are : "Happy Times Are Here Again", a touching "Dust On Mother's Bible", and an awesome Don Rich intsrumental "Cajun Fiddle" A lot of the medleys were good too, but too quick.

My big knock on the CD is it's quite short and seems rushed. Too many of the songs are played very fast and quick and a lot of them are crammed into short medleys. "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass" is done in a minute and a half. Most of the songs are 2 minutes long. It would have been nice if he'd play the full versions on his most popular songs in concert. A good quarter of the disc is Buck talking so all in all it's probably 30 minutes of music if even that. All in all, it's a good disc to reccomend to Buck fans, but it's not his greatest work by any means. I'd give it 3 and a half stars if it'd let me.

This is the 3rd live album reissue from Sundazed records.This has a differnt lineup of Buckaroos,ie,new drummer and steel guitar player.The concert is awesome if you like live CDs.I have Buck live at Carnegie Hall and In Japan and they all 3 are excellent.I has extra songs also not on the original album.I love my copy,am alreay wearing it out.