BUCK OWENS & HIS BUCKAROOS
Carnegie Hall Concert (Sundazed)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Though he's gained long overdue recognition as one of the masters of the Bakersfield honky tonk sound that was the main bulwark against the onslaught of the Nashville Countrypolitans in the sixties, back in the day Buck Owens hardly seemed like a candidate for the Carnegie Hall stage. The schmaltz and cornpone humor that would become familiar to millions during his tenure on Hee Haw was drawn straight from his stage show. Owens himself doubted whether it would appeal to a presumably sophisticated Manhattan audience.

Listening to the reaction of the crowd that caught this show in 1966, it's obvious that it did indeed appeal to at least enough New Yorkers to fill Carnegie Hall. For good reason. If the jokes were a little broadly drawn, they were mainly at the expense of the men on stage in the spangly suits. And those men were a killer C&W band. Anchored by Owens' alter-ego, guitarist Don Rich, the Buckaroos could produce note perfect renditions of the string of country hits that they'd recorded, and note perfect renditions of damn near anything else they chose.

The energy and excellence of the performance translates well onto this recording, whose reissue is richly deserved. The sixteen tracks include three medleys so damn near every early Buck Owens hit you care about is represented somewhere here. If you're among the late conversions and you don't care yet, this is a terrific place to start.

Track List:

Introduction * Act Naturally * Together Again * Love's Gonna Live Here * Medley: In The Palm Of Your Hand * Cryin' Time * Don't Let Her Know * Only You (Can Break My Heart) * Medley: I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me) * My Heart Skips A Beat * Gonna Have Love * Buck Talks To The Audience * Waitin' In Your Welfare Line * Buck Introduces The Band * Buckaroo * The Streets Of Laredo * I've Got A Tiger By The Tail * Fun 'N Games with Don And Doyle * Twist And Shout * Medley: Under Your Spell Again * Above And Beyond * Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache) * Foolin' Around * Hello Trouble * Truck Drivin' Man * Buck's Closing Remarks

© 2001 - Shaun Dale