UPC: 4000127168986
Format: CD (8 disc)
Release Date: Jul 17, 2012
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Audio Mixer: Bill Inglot.
Illustrators: R.A. Andreas; Rolene Bumley.
Photographers: R.A. Andreas; Rolene Bumley.
Bear Family's final Buck Owens box set Tall Dark Stranger covers his last stint at Capitol Records -- the years 1969 through 1975, an era where his star shone brighter than ever thanks to his role as the co-host of the cornpone country variety show Hee Haw. Buck signed to Hee Haw in 1969 and the ramifications of television stardom were soon apparent: shelves needed to be filled with product and Buck & His Buckaroos were expected to be predictable, to give the people what they wanted...and to give a lot of it, to boot. Owens never was good at playing to people's expectations but he always was keen to make a buck, so the music on this generous box -- covering all of his solo recordings, sessions he had with Susan Raye, a vaguely embarrassing vaudevillian country comedy set with his son Buddy, and all the albums the Buckaroos recorded on their own -- is wildly inconsistent, finding Owens ready to push the boundaries of Buck music while being eager to satisfy the demand of the marketplace. Listening to these eight discs, the arc of his career is immediately apparent. At the outset, Owens is ready to experiment, to add all manners of sonic colors -- strings, sweetened backing vocals, anything that would have distracted from his driving freight train sound of the '60s -- and ready to tackle new songwriters like Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, eager to steer the Buckaroos toward a roaring bluegrass album called Ruby. He still was taking risks -- some of which never saw the light of day, like a revelatory duet with soul singer Bettye Swann -- and it was paying off, commercially and artistically, with the Buckaroos taking over the pandering through their albums which were either admirable genre exercises (a good collection of Merle Haggard covers) or bordering on easy listening. Then, Hee Haw happened. Soon, Buck was dialing back the adventure and adhering to his Bakersfield blueprint, cutting covers and novelties, shucking and jiving with Buddy, singing with Susan Raye, staying toward the middle of the road for the first time in his career. And then, his guitarist and lieutenant Don Rich died in a motorcycle accident and everything hit the skids. Buck kept up with Hee Haw -- he stayed there until the '80s, way past the point his songs actually hit the charts -- but he effectively checked out in the studio, never seeking out new sounds or songs, just riding out his contract. And all of this is evident on Tall Dark Stranger, a box that starts out strong and then gets bumpy, alternating between inspiration and pure product. Years have made the latter enjoyable if not necessarily compelling, particularly where the Buckaroos are concerned; their LPs are nothing more than professional shelf-filler, delivered by what arguably was the best band in the business. And the business that his music leaves the greatest impression on is this, the final act of Buck Owens' glorious peak: he made his name as a maverick but even he was ground down by the demands of the machine, who did not care for creativity or tragedy. It is a testament to his talent that even in the face of considerable commercial demands and personal tragedy, Owens continued to give the people what they wanted: perhaps it wasn't as brilliant as his best, but it was certainly enjoyable, as each of these eight discs prove to some extent. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Illustrators: R.A. Andreas; Rolene Bumley.
Photographers: R.A. Andreas; Rolene Bumley.
Bear Family's final Buck Owens box set Tall Dark Stranger covers his last stint at Capitol Records -- the years 1969 through 1975, an era where his star shone brighter than ever thanks to his role as the co-host of the cornpone country variety show Hee Haw. Buck signed to Hee Haw in 1969 and the ramifications of television stardom were soon apparent: shelves needed to be filled with product and Buck & His Buckaroos were expected to be predictable, to give the people what they wanted...and to give a lot of it, to boot. Owens never was good at playing to people's expectations but he always was keen to make a buck, so the music on this generous box -- covering all of his solo recordings, sessions he had with Susan Raye, a vaguely embarrassing vaudevillian country comedy set with his son Buddy, and all the albums the Buckaroos recorded on their own -- is wildly inconsistent, finding Owens ready to push the boundaries of Buck music while being eager to satisfy the demand of the marketplace. Listening to these eight discs, the arc of his career is immediately apparent. At the outset, Owens is ready to experiment, to add all manners of sonic colors -- strings, sweetened backing vocals, anything that would have distracted from his driving freight train sound of the '60s -- and ready to tackle new songwriters like Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, eager to steer the Buckaroos toward a roaring bluegrass album called Ruby. He still was taking risks -- some of which never saw the light of day, like a revelatory duet with soul singer Bettye Swann -- and it was paying off, commercially and artistically, with the Buckaroos taking over the pandering through their albums which were either admirable genre exercises (a good collection of Merle Haggard covers) or bordering on easy listening. Then, Hee Haw happened. Soon, Buck was dialing back the adventure and adhering to his Bakersfield blueprint, cutting covers and novelties, shucking and jiving with Buddy, singing with Susan Raye, staying toward the middle of the road for the first time in his career. And then, his guitarist and lieutenant Don Rich died in a motorcycle accident and everything hit the skids. Buck kept up with Hee Haw -- he stayed there until the '80s, way past the point his songs actually hit the charts -- but he effectively checked out in the studio, never seeking out new sounds or songs, just riding out his contract. And all of this is evident on Tall Dark Stranger, a box that starts out strong and then gets bumpy, alternating between inspiration and pure product. Years have made the latter enjoyable if not necessarily compelling, particularly where the Buckaroos are concerned; their LPs are nothing more than professional shelf-filler, delivered by what arguably was the best band in the business. And the business that his music leaves the greatest impression on is this, the final act of Buck Owens' glorious peak: he made his name as a maverick but even he was ground down by the demands of the machine, who did not care for creativity or tragedy. It is a testament to his talent that even in the face of considerable commercial demands and personal tragedy, Owens continued to give the people what they wanted: perhaps it wasn't as brilliant as his best, but it was certainly enjoyable, as each of these eight discs prove to some extent. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracks:
Disc 1:
1 - Tall Dark Stranger
2 - I've Got a Happy Heart
3 - Somewhere Between
4 - Just a Few More Days
5 - Lonesome Valley
6 - My Savior Leads the Way
7 - But You Know I Love You
8 - Today I Started Loving You Again
9 - I'm a Natural Loser
10 - Biggest Storm of All
11 - If I Had You (By My Side)
12 - Down at the Corner Bar
13 - Nobody But You
14 - Lay a Little Light On Me
15 - Catfish Capers
16 - Bossanova Buckaroo Style
17 - Sweet-T-Pie
18 - Roll Your Own
19 - When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
20 - That Old Time Religion
21 - Big in Vegas
22 - Love Is Strange
23 - Cinderella
24 - I'll Be All Right Tomorrow
25 - Hurry Come Running Back to Me
26 - Ensenada
27 - Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
28 - Take Care of You for Me in Kansas City
29 - One More Time
30 - Goin' Home to The Bayou
31 - Country Pickin'
32 - Rompin ' And Stompin'
Disc 2:
1 - We Were Made for Each Other
2 - Everybody Needs Somebody
3 - Togetherness
4 - Kansas City Song
5 - I'd Love to Be Your Man
6 - Together Again
7 - Fallin' for You
8 - Cryin' Time
9 - Foolin' Around
10 - Down in New Orleans
11 - Wind Blows Every Day in Oklahoma
12 - Full Time Daddy
13 - Great White Horse
14 - Black Texas Dirt
15 - Bring Back My Peace of Mind
16 - Guitar Pickin' Man
17 - Dublin Waltz
18 - I'd Love to Be Your Man
19 - Cajun Steel Guitar
20 - Fishin' Reel
21 - Potter's Field
22 - When I'm with You
23 - Pick-Nickin'
24 - Boot Hil
25 - Up On Cripple Creek
26 - (It's a Long Way To) London Town
27 - Scandinavian Polka
28 - Amsterdam
Disc 3:
1 - Let the World Keep On a Turnin'
2 - High as the Mountains
3 - Today I Started Loving You Again
4 - I've Never Had a Dream Come True Before
5 - Tennessee Bird Walk
6 - Then Maybe I Can Get Some Sleep
7 - Your Tender Loving Care
8 - Think of Me
9 - I Thank Him for Sending Me You
10 - I Don't Care (Just as Long as You Love Me)
11 - I Wouldn't Live in New York City (If They Gave Me the Whole Dang Town)
12 - No Milk and Honey in Baltimore
13 - Reno Lament
14 - Houston-Town
15 - Santo Domingo
16 - Down in New Orleans
17 - Wind Blows Every Day in Chicago
18 - (It's a Long Way To) Londontown
19 - Kansas City Song
20 - Big in Vegas
21 - Reno Lament
22 - No Milk and Honey in Baltimore
23 - Bridge Over Troubled Water
24 - I Am a Rock
25 - Homeward Bound
26 - Devil Made Me Do That
27 - Everything Reminds Me You're Gone
28 - Catch the Wind
29 - San Francisco Town
30 - Within My Loving Arms
31 - (I'm Goin') Home
32 - Love Minus Zero-No Limit
33 - No Limit
Disc 4:
1 - Ring of Fire
2 - Last Date
3 - Paso
4 - King of the Road
5 - Orange Blossom Special
6 - Tall Dark Stranger
7 - Detroit City
8 - Gentle On My Mind
9 - It's Such a Pretty World Today
10 - Okie from Muskogee
11 - Ruby (Are You Mad)
12 - Heartbreak Mountain
13 - Uncle Pen
14 - Corn Liquor
15 - Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms
16 - I Know You're Married But I Love You Still
17 - Ashes of Love
18 - Ole Slew Foot
19 - Rocky Top
20 - Salty Dog Blues
21 - One of Everything You Got
22 - Home On Christmas Day
23 - All I Want for Christmas Is My Daddy
24 - Very Merry Christmas
25 - It's Not What You Give
26 - Good Old Fashioned Country Christmas
27 - Christmas Ain't Christmas Dear Without You
28 - Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy
29 - Santa's Gonna Come in a Stagecoach
30 - Tomorrow Is Christmas Day
Disc 5:
1 - Too Old to Cut the Mustard
2 - Wham Bam
3 - Pfft You Were (Was) Gone
4 - You're a Real Good Friend
5 - Tobacco White Lightning and Women Blues No. 2
6 - I Won't Go Huntin' with You Jake (But I'll Go Chasin' Wimin)
7 - Cigareets, Whuskey and Wild, Wild Women
8 - Beautiful Morning Glory
9 - I'll Still Be Waiting for You
10 - Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)
11 - Today I Started Loving You Again
12 - Fightin' Side of Me
13 - Silver Wings
14 - Okie from Muskogee
15 - Legend of Bonnie and Clyde
16 - Hungry Eyes
17 - Swinging Doors
18 - I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am
19 - Mama Tried
20 - Made in Japan
21 - Arms Full of Empty
22 - Ain't It Amazing, Gracie
23 - Looking Back to See
24 - You Ain't Gonna Have Ol' Buck to Kick Around No More
Disc 6:
1 - I Love You So Much It Hurts
2 - There Goes My Love
3 - Sweethearts in Heaven
4 - Whole Lot of Somethin'
5 - Get Out of Town Before Sundown
6 - Something's Wrong
7 - In the Palm of Your Hand
8 - Good Old Days (Are Here Again)
9 - I Know That You Know (That I Love You)
10 - When You Get Back from Nashville
11 - When You Get to Heaven (I'll Be There)
12 - Long Hot Summer
13 - Streets of Bakersfield
14 - She's Had All the Dreamin' She Can Stand
15 - Your Monkey Won't Be Home Tonight
16 - Good Old Days (Are Here Again)
17 - Old Faithful
18 - Take a Taste of My Wine
19 - I Think I'm Going to Like Loving You
20 - Sweethearts in Heaven
21 - I've Got a Happy Heart
22 - Arms Full of Empty
23 - All the Dreamin' They Can Stand
24 - Honey... Let's Fall in Love
25 - When You Get to Heaven (I'll Be There)
26 - Love Makes the World Go Round
Disc 7:
1 - Love Makes the World Go Around
2 - Loving You
3 - I Won't Be Needing You
4 - Songwriter's Lament
5 - That Loving Feeling
6 - Someday I'm Gonna Go to Mexico
7 - Colors I'm Gonna Paint the Town
8 - It Never Will Be Over for Me
9 - Happy Hour
10 - Your Daddy Was a Preacher (And Your Mama Was a Dancing Girl)
11 - Hello Trouble
12 - Big Game Hunter
13 - (It's A) Monsters' Holiday
14 - I Wish I Was a Butterfly
15 - John Law
16 - Stony Mountain West Virginia
17 - Let the Fun Begin
18 - Holdin' On
19 - Great Expectations
20 - All Around Cowboy of 1964
Disc 8:
1 - Meanwhile Back at the Ranch
2 - On the Cover of the Music City News
3 - Great Expectations
4 - Amazing Love
5 - I Love
6 - You're Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning
7 - Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'
8 - Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)
9 - 41st Street Lonely Hearts' Club
10 - Weekend Daddy
11 - I Finally Gave Her Enough Rope
12 - Run Him to the Roundhouse Nellie
13 - Drifting Away
14 - He Ain't Been Out Bowlin' with the Boys
15 - It's Been a Long, Long Time
16 - Different Kind of Sad
17 - You Don't Find Work in Pool Rooms (And Love Don't Make the Bars)
18 - How's Everything
19 - California Oakie
20 - Battle of New Orleans
21 - Country Singer's Prayer
22 - Mexican Jumping Bean
1 - Tall Dark Stranger
2 - I've Got a Happy Heart
3 - Somewhere Between
4 - Just a Few More Days
5 - Lonesome Valley
6 - My Savior Leads the Way
7 - But You Know I Love You
8 - Today I Started Loving You Again
9 - I'm a Natural Loser
10 - Biggest Storm of All
11 - If I Had You (By My Side)
12 - Down at the Corner Bar
13 - Nobody But You
14 - Lay a Little Light On Me
15 - Catfish Capers
16 - Bossanova Buckaroo Style
17 - Sweet-T-Pie
18 - Roll Your Own
19 - When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
20 - That Old Time Religion
21 - Big in Vegas
22 - Love Is Strange
23 - Cinderella
24 - I'll Be All Right Tomorrow
25 - Hurry Come Running Back to Me
26 - Ensenada
27 - Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
28 - Take Care of You for Me in Kansas City
29 - One More Time
30 - Goin' Home to The Bayou
31 - Country Pickin'
32 - Rompin ' And Stompin'
Disc 2:
1 - We Were Made for Each Other
2 - Everybody Needs Somebody
3 - Togetherness
4 - Kansas City Song
5 - I'd Love to Be Your Man
6 - Together Again
7 - Fallin' for You
8 - Cryin' Time
9 - Foolin' Around
10 - Down in New Orleans
11 - Wind Blows Every Day in Oklahoma
12 - Full Time Daddy
13 - Great White Horse
14 - Black Texas Dirt
15 - Bring Back My Peace of Mind
16 - Guitar Pickin' Man
17 - Dublin Waltz
18 - I'd Love to Be Your Man
19 - Cajun Steel Guitar
20 - Fishin' Reel
21 - Potter's Field
22 - When I'm with You
23 - Pick-Nickin'
24 - Boot Hil
25 - Up On Cripple Creek
26 - (It's a Long Way To) London Town
27 - Scandinavian Polka
28 - Amsterdam
Disc 3:
1 - Let the World Keep On a Turnin'
2 - High as the Mountains
3 - Today I Started Loving You Again
4 - I've Never Had a Dream Come True Before
5 - Tennessee Bird Walk
6 - Then Maybe I Can Get Some Sleep
7 - Your Tender Loving Care
8 - Think of Me
9 - I Thank Him for Sending Me You
10 - I Don't Care (Just as Long as You Love Me)
11 - I Wouldn't Live in New York City (If They Gave Me the Whole Dang Town)
12 - No Milk and Honey in Baltimore
13 - Reno Lament
14 - Houston-Town
15 - Santo Domingo
16 - Down in New Orleans
17 - Wind Blows Every Day in Chicago
18 - (It's a Long Way To) Londontown
19 - Kansas City Song
20 - Big in Vegas
21 - Reno Lament
22 - No Milk and Honey in Baltimore
23 - Bridge Over Troubled Water
24 - I Am a Rock
25 - Homeward Bound
26 - Devil Made Me Do That
27 - Everything Reminds Me You're Gone
28 - Catch the Wind
29 - San Francisco Town
30 - Within My Loving Arms
31 - (I'm Goin') Home
32 - Love Minus Zero-No Limit
33 - No Limit
Disc 4:
1 - Ring of Fire
2 - Last Date
3 - Paso
4 - King of the Road
5 - Orange Blossom Special
6 - Tall Dark Stranger
7 - Detroit City
8 - Gentle On My Mind
9 - It's Such a Pretty World Today
10 - Okie from Muskogee
11 - Ruby (Are You Mad)
12 - Heartbreak Mountain
13 - Uncle Pen
14 - Corn Liquor
15 - Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms
16 - I Know You're Married But I Love You Still
17 - Ashes of Love
18 - Ole Slew Foot
19 - Rocky Top
20 - Salty Dog Blues
21 - One of Everything You Got
22 - Home On Christmas Day
23 - All I Want for Christmas Is My Daddy
24 - Very Merry Christmas
25 - It's Not What You Give
26 - Good Old Fashioned Country Christmas
27 - Christmas Ain't Christmas Dear Without You
28 - Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy
29 - Santa's Gonna Come in a Stagecoach
30 - Tomorrow Is Christmas Day
Disc 5:
1 - Too Old to Cut the Mustard
2 - Wham Bam
3 - Pfft You Were (Was) Gone
4 - You're a Real Good Friend
5 - Tobacco White Lightning and Women Blues No. 2
6 - I Won't Go Huntin' with You Jake (But I'll Go Chasin' Wimin)
7 - Cigareets, Whuskey and Wild, Wild Women
8 - Beautiful Morning Glory
9 - I'll Still Be Waiting for You
10 - Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)
11 - Today I Started Loving You Again
12 - Fightin' Side of Me
13 - Silver Wings
14 - Okie from Muskogee
15 - Legend of Bonnie and Clyde
16 - Hungry Eyes
17 - Swinging Doors
18 - I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am
19 - Mama Tried
20 - Made in Japan
21 - Arms Full of Empty
22 - Ain't It Amazing, Gracie
23 - Looking Back to See
24 - You Ain't Gonna Have Ol' Buck to Kick Around No More
Disc 6:
1 - I Love You So Much It Hurts
2 - There Goes My Love
3 - Sweethearts in Heaven
4 - Whole Lot of Somethin'
5 - Get Out of Town Before Sundown
6 - Something's Wrong
7 - In the Palm of Your Hand
8 - Good Old Days (Are Here Again)
9 - I Know That You Know (That I Love You)
10 - When You Get Back from Nashville
11 - When You Get to Heaven (I'll Be There)
12 - Long Hot Summer
13 - Streets of Bakersfield
14 - She's Had All the Dreamin' She Can Stand
15 - Your Monkey Won't Be Home Tonight
16 - Good Old Days (Are Here Again)
17 - Old Faithful
18 - Take a Taste of My Wine
19 - I Think I'm Going to Like Loving You
20 - Sweethearts in Heaven
21 - I've Got a Happy Heart
22 - Arms Full of Empty
23 - All the Dreamin' They Can Stand
24 - Honey... Let's Fall in Love
25 - When You Get to Heaven (I'll Be There)
26 - Love Makes the World Go Round
Disc 7:
1 - Love Makes the World Go Around
2 - Loving You
3 - I Won't Be Needing You
4 - Songwriter's Lament
5 - That Loving Feeling
6 - Someday I'm Gonna Go to Mexico
7 - Colors I'm Gonna Paint the Town
8 - It Never Will Be Over for Me
9 - Happy Hour
10 - Your Daddy Was a Preacher (And Your Mama Was a Dancing Girl)
11 - Hello Trouble
12 - Big Game Hunter
13 - (It's A) Monsters' Holiday
14 - I Wish I Was a Butterfly
15 - John Law
16 - Stony Mountain West Virginia
17 - Let the Fun Begin
18 - Holdin' On
19 - Great Expectations
20 - All Around Cowboy of 1964
Disc 8:
1 - Meanwhile Back at the Ranch
2 - On the Cover of the Music City News
3 - Great Expectations
4 - Amazing Love
5 - I Love
6 - You're Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning
7 - Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'
8 - Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)
9 - 41st Street Lonely Hearts' Club
10 - Weekend Daddy
11 - I Finally Gave Her Enough Rope
12 - Run Him to the Roundhouse Nellie
13 - Drifting Away
14 - He Ain't Been Out Bowlin' with the Boys
15 - It's Been a Long, Long Time
16 - Different Kind of Sad
17 - You Don't Find Work in Pool Rooms (And Love Don't Make the Bars)
18 - How's Everything
19 - California Oakie
20 - Battle of New Orleans
21 - Country Singer's Prayer
22 - Mexican Jumping Bean