Customer Reviews

The Very Best Of Buck Owens, Vol.2

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the second of two volumes of Buck's greatest hits. Together, they include all Buck's number one country hits and almost all of his other top five country hits but many great songs are omitted.

This set includes Above and beyond (later revived by Rodney Crowell), Love's gonna live here, Crying time (written by Buck but released as a B-side, later made famous by Ray Charles), Buckaroo (a rare instrumental chart-topper) and many others. Buck wrote many of his own songs but was occasionally successful with covers. On this collection, you can find his version of the Chuck Berry classic, Johnny B Goode.

This volume and its companion contain the essential Buck Owens solo tracks but many great songs are omitted. Rhino also released a 3-CD boxed set containing 62 songs including hit duets with Dwight Yoakam, Rose Maddox and Susan Raye. If you can afford it, I recommend that instead of the two single CD's.

Buck was the biggest selling Country artist of the 60's decade. He scored more top 10 hits than any other Country artist in that decade. I prefer this volume over volume 1 because of songs like "Made in japan", "Foolin around", "My heart skips a beat", and "Under the influence". Back in 1989 in Macon,Georgia at WDEN-I did a show called The Classic Country Showcase- I must've played Made in Japan every week (along with Easy Lovin by Freddy Hart and Room 269 by Freddy Weller)- "Japan" is my favorite by him. Buck was just one plain cool country singer with an incredible sound. If you ever go through Bakersfield, California get on Buck Owens Boulevard at night and go see The Buck Owens palace showplace. It is absolutely beautiful. Keep Honky Tonkin'

Just received my copy of the Very Best of Buck Owens Vol. 2".
I have listened to this disc a couple of times now and I find that I enjoy this one every bit as much as Volume 1. I was listening to most of these tunes for the very first time and already I have developed a number of favorites including "Think Of Me", "Where Does The Good Times Go" and "Made In Japan". On this compilation you will find such other notables as Buck's biggest hit of all time "Love's Gonna Live Here", his #1 instrumental hit "Buckaroo" and a great live version of Chuck Berry's classic "Johnny B. Goode which was yet another #1 hit for Buck in the summer of '69. As in Volume 1 there are great liner notes and Buck himself tells a brief story about each and every tune. Buck Owens and the Buckaroos were one of the great American musical acts of the 20th century. Any serious collector should have at least one of these "Very Best Of" CDs in their library.

Partnered with Vol.1 it is a very comprehensive carrer spanning collection of Buck Owens best work. A casual listener would be satisfied enough to not feel inclined to seek out individual albums, many of which never made the transfer from vinyl records to compact discs. A great country and western collection would be incomplete without some of these timeless selections by Owens. This CD gets alot of attention from friends who visit, some play it for nostalgia, others out of curiosity. There is nothing not to like about this collection, whether you are a long time admirer of Buck or just discovering him.

I love dealing with Amazon. no problems on this last order. On time, good condition, and I love the album. I seem to be able to always find what I'm looking for on Amazon.

Perfect delivery and condition. Was ordered for an older person and she is delighted with the CD!

I bought this for my dad and every time I talk to him he says how much he likes it.

I bought Vol 2 for the songs "Big in Vegas" and "Made in Japan", but I've really enjoyed having my ears opened up to tunes like "Above and Beyond" and "Buckaroo". This CD plus Vol 1 are well worth the purchase.

I'm not a country fan per se, but back in the 60's my Dad kept the radio tuned to WEXT, the country & western station in Connecticut. I'm rediscovering the best C&W of that era including Buck, Merle Haggard and George Jones. Rhino makes it easy to collect the best of the best.

Most people, if they know Buck at all, probably vaguely remember him as co-host of longrunning country variety series HEE HAW. Music lovers know him as the renegade who helped spawn what became known as the "Bakersfield sound": hard edged electrified honky-tonk that was equal parts country weepin' and rock attitude. (Made explicit in a live version of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode")

As usual, Rhino provides great sound and interesting liner notes that tell you more about what you're listening to.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Hard to select just a few but I'd count "Foolin' Around" as Buck finds himself conflicted about his adulterous woman, hating her cheating but still wanting her("When you're finished foolin' round with 2 or 3/Come on home and fool around with me"). "Love's Gonna Live Here" is the flip side..after being "fooled around" on once too many Buck's left her and he's moving on. The tempo-shifting "Before You Go" is still original, barreling along until doing a dead-stop into the waltz of the chorus. A weeping steel guitar takes on an Oriental tinge for "Made in Japan" (which was backed with fine B-side "Black Texas Dirt" on the original 45..well worth hearing if you can find it.)

BOTTOM LINE:
If he's good enough for the Beatles ("Act Naturally") and Dwight Yoakam ("Streets of Bakersfield") to cover, he's good enough for you.

4 1/2 stars

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.