ALBUMS
- BUCK OWENS: YOUR TENDER LOVING CARE: 1967: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Back when I was a kid- I am talking under 10- Buck Owens was my Beatles. The first concerts I went to was my grandparents taking me to see Buck. I had some of his albums back then but of course those are long gone. I have most of his cd’s now but no vinyl until I came across a few a couple weeks back. This is Buck in his prime- the mid to late 60’s. A very solid album- hits- Sam’s Place, Your Tender Loving Care- both #1 country hits.
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- BUCK OWENS: AIN’T IT AMAZING GRACIE: 1973: 3 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The real gem here is Streets of Bakersfield. A little past his peak years-the title track was a #14 country single hit. Don Rich was still there- he would die tragically in a motorcycle accident in 1974. After Rich’s death it wasn’t the same.
- GLEN CAMPBELL: GENTLE ON MY MIND: 1967: This was Campbell’s big break though album and single. He had released five albums previously but was best known as a crack session musician. None of his previous albums had even charted and he only had a couple minor hit country hits. This album went to #1 country and #5 pop. Gentle On My Mind the single only hit #30 country which is shocking. Interesting album- he covers Donovan, Harry Nilsson, Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers to fine results. Not what I’d call a pure country album-country-folk-pop. Always thought Glen was underrated.
- BUCK OWENS AND HIS BUCKAROOS: I’VE GOT A TIGER BY THE TAIL: 1965: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Buck at his absolute peak- the first song I remember loving was I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail at age 5. I thought it was about a tiger. The song was a #1 country hit and #25 on the pop charts. Great songs and a great sound- Don Rich and his telecaster really stands out. The Bakersfield Sound at its best.
- BUCK OWENS AND HIS BUCKAROOS: BEFORE YOU GO/ NO ONE BUT YOU: 1965: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Buck Owens had 9 #1 country albums in the 1960’s- this was another one of those. Not quite as sparkling as I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail which had been released four months earlier.
- KENNY ROGERS: THE GAMBLER: 1978: 2 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Have never been a Kenny Rogers fan- but I do love one of his songs- The Gambler.
- DIAMOND CUTS: 7TH INNING STRETCH: 2004: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: More baseball songs- about Warren Spahn, Pete Rose, Herb Score, Curt Flood, Babe Ruth- and Harry Caray singing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game”- Steve Goodman’s A Dying Cub Fans Last Request”- and many others.
Glen Campbell was underrated as a guitar player… I see now that young guitarists are watching his clips…the guy could play anything.
I think his television show- though popular may have hurt his image- like Buck and Roy on Hee-Haw. It would probably be mind numbing to know the sessions in the 60’s that Glen played on…and of course was a member of the traveling Beach Boys.
I didn’t know about the Beach Boys part until “Catch a Wave”… I saw one heavy metal guy raving about his guitar playing on youtube…
You are right…That seemed to cheapen their image.
No doubt it helped their bank accounts but there was a price to pay. I think with Buck it was the death of Don Rich that sent his recording career spirally downward- he later said that after Rich’s death that all the joy was out of the music.
I’ve read that in a few places and Owens. That was tragic…I also read where he did not like Hee Haw and saw what it did to his career.
Johnny Cash I don’t think was affected by his show but his was different.
I think you are correct- Cash’s show was different- I haven’t seen The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour since it was on but even to me as a kid it seemed a little cornball. Cash’s didn’t.
Cash probably dictated the way his show was going to because of the clout he had…
This is true… another thought on Steve Forbert- I think in a way his lack of big commercial success may in his case in a strange way be a good thing. He had the one hit- Romeo’s Tune #11- the first album was great and remembered but he didn’t have a handful of hits where he has ever had to come out and tour as a nostalgia act- he has always been a current performer putting out albums every so often. I don’t know his set lists but it’s not like he has to come out and ‘have to play’ the same songs every night.
He stays truer to himself…Yes I agree…that ties into the problem with the Stones…they don’t have to…but do.
and of course those they play all the time now are conveniently post- Brian Jones for the most part.
Sometimes I think they want to erase that part of their history. They had more variety with Brian that is for sure.
The most overplayed song in history? I nominate Start Me Up.
Yea and Microsoft didn’t help. In 95 the playing ramped up.
The other day i saw a commercial using She’s A Rainbow…
Yes I saw that also. It was nice hearing something different. There are some songs off of that album that I like. 2000 Light Years from Home and 2000 Man.
Didn’t realize Don Rich died in a motorcycle accident. He and Buck were a dynamic duo. I listened to Gentle on My Mind a Lot as a kid. “It’s Over”, “Without Her”, “Mary in the Morning” are some of my faves. I could have sworn, “Everyday Housewife” was on this album, but I don’t see it on the playlist.
Everyday Housewife was on the next album Wichita Lineman…. Buck’s music just wasn’t the same without Don. They were great playing together.
My mom had that album also then. I wonder what happened to all of the LPs she had…. I remember seeing 78s up in my grandparents’ closet. All long gone now…
I have friends who say the same thing about their albums- – and they always say somewhere between moves they lost them- I wonder who ended up with them!
Co-incidently today I have finally transferred my father’s vinyl I inherited to the pc (he died 1993!!!). There was Dinah Washington, Cat Stevens and … Glen Campbell. BTW you have not rated the Glen.
hmmm.. i’d give it 4 stars…. are you familiar with MOJO magazine? I get it every month and my wife says they rate everything 4 stars. Everytime I put 4 stars down I think of MOJO…. sounds like you inherited some good stuff!
I quite like the magazine CDs, Mojo, Uncut, Prog and Classic Rock. Mojo did seem to do a lot of ‘classic albums revisited by bands who either thought it a good idea to copy the original [boring] or do the songs completely differently [either good or bad but I admire them anyway]’
I get Mojo- Uncut and Q- should get Classic Rock… not a fan of Prog Rock but it looks like a well done magazine.