(May 2025) Episode 648 is BUCK OWENS. His music is perfect. I don’t mean it’s my favorite or meets some objective universal measure of excellence (like J.S. Bach). But to my untrained ear, this is what quality country music sounds like. It’s straightforward, unadorned and rhythmic. That’s the Bakersfield sound he’s famous for. He rolled through the 60s with album after quality album. But his career and reputation changed after he started hosting Hee Haw; that’s the only way I knew him from my youth – as a corn-pone TV presenter rather than a productive musical artist.
Favorite album: I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail
Favorite song: Under Your Spell Again
Compared to expectations: ↑
Recommendation: Buck ’Em! The Music Of Buck Owens (1955-1967) is a good anthology for the casual fan.
Opus Project 
Given this artist – high time to go after Dwight Yoakam, as they were buddies and Buck pretty much inspired Dwight. I am a DY fan for sure – great song writing in this same tradition.
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