Born in Texas on August 12, 1929, Buck Owens hits the diamond anniversary today. Now, Buck was the affable straight man on Hee Haw for many years, and he perhaps lacked the "edge" of, say, Merle Haggard, or the mystique of Hank.
However, Buck was one of the hit makingest SOBs ever to put out a country record. You couldn't argue against "Together Again" or "Tiger by the Tail."
I'm also intrigued by the absolute resolute wrongheadedness of the sentiment of "Welfare Line." Is this any way to impress a woman? (Note: Not at all a "political" sentiment, as one would usually understand such things.)
Personally, I have a soft spot for "Made in Japan." The perfect sad song of lost love, and somehow the racial sentiment would certainly be unacceptable now, innocent though it may be. Somehow, I don't think the opening lyrics would fly now, "My transistor radio comes from far away." Made in Japan, like his lost love. Great stuff.
As one of the top couple of exemplars of the classic Bakersfield country sound, Buck Owens kicked ass and took names.
Happy birthday, Buck!
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
and hats off the the smart folks at Sundazed Records for reissueing the entire Buck Owens & the Buckaroos back catalog.
2 - Eric Olsen
I love the Buck and the Bakersfield crew, tough country with a rockin' rhythm, and Dwight's Buck's duet on "Streets of Bakersfield" is one of my favorite country tunes ever.
Live long and be well, Buck!
3 - Shark
Big Al, you can't get away with not paying homage to the late great Don Rich, who sang harmony and played fiddle and lead guitar.
Buck would never have developed the "Bakersfield sound" without Rich, and some think Buck and the Buckaroos were never the same after Rich died in a motorcycle accident in the mid-70s.
Aside: In the early 80s, I saw Buck with Dwight Yoakum and k.d. lang.
Whew. The hair on my neck up for two hours.
4 - ruth
Did buck owens ever sing on the durty old streets of old baltamore