Buck Owens - Capitol Singles & Albums 1957-62 (CD)

Country music guitarist, singer and songwriter Buck Owens was, along with Merle Haggard, one of the most noted pioneers of the Bakersfield sound which became popular during the early 1960s, and named after the California town where it had it's creative origins. The sound was characterised by twangy guitars and prominent drums in the contemporary rock 'n' roll-influenced style while retaining the traditional elements of fiddle and steel guitar. He was born in Texas, moving with his family during the Dust Bowl and Depression era to Arizona, settling in Bakersfield in 1951 when he was a truck driver, and becoming involved in it's thriving music scene. After making records for a small local label, he was signed by Capitol and had his debut hit in 1959. This 47-track 2-CD set comprises the A & B sides of his Capitol singles from his debut for the label in 1957 through to 1962, along with all the tracks not otherwise released on singles from his albums released during these years, "Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard", "Buck Owens" and "You're For Me". It features all his twelve country chart entries from this era, including the Top 10 10 hits "Second Fiddle", "Under Your Spell Again", "Above And Beyond", "Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache)", "Foolin' Around", "Under The Influence Of Love" and "Kickin' Our Hearts Around", plus his Top 10 duets with Rose Maddox "Loose Talk" & "Mental Cruelty". It's an entertaining overview of his key formative career before he embarked on his better-known era as a high-profile hit maker through the 1960s and '70s and offers a fascinating insight into the roots of the Bakersfield sound.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. I Know What It Means
2. Come Back
3. Sweet Thing
4. I Only Know That I Love You
5. Walk the Floor
6. I'll Take a Chance on Loving You
7. Second Fiddle
8. Everlasting Love
9. Under Your Spell Again
10. Tired of Livin
11. Above and Beyond
12. Til These Dreams Come True
13. Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache)
14. I've Got a Right to Know
15. High As the Mountains
16. Foolin' Around
17. Mental Cruelty
18. Loose Talk
19. Under the Influence of Love
20. Bad Bad Dream
21. Nobody's Fool But Yours
22. Mirror Mirror on the Wall
23. Save the Last Dance for Me
24. King of Fools

Disc: 2

1. Kickin' Our Hearts Around
2. I Can't Stop (My Loving You)
3. You're for Me
4. The House Down the Block
5. Think It Over
6. I Don't Believe I'll Fall in Love Today
7. Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
8. Let's Agree to Disagree
9. The Keeper of the Key
10. Lyin' Again
11. Heartaches for a Dime
12. Heartaches By the Number
13. The One You Slip Around with
14. The Key's in the Mailbox
15. I'll Catch You When You Fall
16. I'll Give My Heart to You
17. Take Me Back Again
18. Fool Me Again
19. Down on the Corner of Love
20. Mexican Polka
21. Country Polka
22. Down to the River
23. Blues for Life