4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A solid document of the Buckaroos at their peak, November 28, 2003
This review is from: Roll Out the Red Carpet (Audio CD)
Given their touring schedule, it's a wonder that the Buckaroos were able to knock out such a steady stream of high-quality albums throughout the sixties. They did it in large part by recording when they could, and collecting up tracks to make albums later on. This is an example of just such an album, collecting a dozen tracks recorded throughout 1965 for a February 1966 album release.
Unusually, the album has no tent-pole singles, leaving it a star shy of 5, but it still provides a terrific slice of the Bakersfield sound. The Telecasters twang, the steel weeps, and Owens and Rich wrap their voices around each other with effortless ease. Several of the album's highlights are instrumental tracks, including the fiddle-driven "Cajun Fiddle," and the steel spotlight, "Tom Cattin'." The bulk of the disc is taken up by new Owens compositions, written solo, with his pal Red Simpson, and with his former wife, Bonnie.
Owens voice was at its peak during the mid-60s, and just about everything he laid it on is worth hearing. He's brilliant on weepers like "He Don't Deserve You Anymore," "That's What I'm Like Without You," and the steel-lined "Cinderella," and shines on the joyous title track and upbeat "There Never Was a Fool." Don Rich pitches in to sing lead on his own "I'm Layin' It On the Line," and bassist Doyle Holly sings "After You Leave Me."
A few of the tracks are a bit lighter-weight (e.g., "We Split the Blanket"), but anyone who's seen Owens live knows that a sense of humor is a big part of his show. There are many fine sides to be found here, and the combination of serious, silly and joyous is a lot like the Buckaroos' set list to this very day. Sundazed's reissue adds instrumental versions of "Only You (Can Break My Heart)" and "My Heart Skips a Beat," both culled from "The Buck Owens Songbook" album.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic 1966 album on CD, August 15, 2003
This review is from: Roll Out the Red Carpet (Audio CD)
I have been collecting records for almost 30 years and one of the first albums of Bucks I found was this one. It showcases Buck and the Buckaroos at the height of their popularity. Buck and Don Richs perfect harmony is here, along with Dons fiddle and Tom Brumleys steel guitar. There is solos from Doyle Holly and multi-talented Don Rich. A good album which ironically contains no hits but still a gem. Vintage west coast country with a couple of bonus tracks.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
You're as good as gone, or my name ain't John., March 1, 2007
This review is from: Roll Out the Red Carpet (Audio CD)
This album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos was recorded between May and August 1965. Somewhat unusually, there were no hit songs on the album, since none of the songs were released as singles. Which doesn't imply a lack of quality in the songs, because most of them are quite good. Buck himself sings eight original songs. Guitarist Don Rich and bassist Doyle Holly sing one song each. And there are two instrumentals; one being a fiddle instrumental and the other being a steel guitar instrumental. The CD adds two bonus tracks, which are instrumental versions of Buck's hits played by the Buckaroos and featured on the album The Buck Owens Songbook. This is another solid CD that will appeal to Buck's fans.
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