Eighteen years ago Buck Owens took his final bow. Performing a set at his own club, Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, CA (as he would most weekends), Buck went home March 24, 2006 and passed away in his sleep the following morning.
I've always been aware of Buck. "Hee Haw" ran into the early 90's, and I was familiar with The Beatles' take on "Act Naturally." But it wasn't until 2005 that my friend Pierre Cormier played for me "Buck Owens and His Buckeroos - In London," originally released in 1969, that I finally kinda got it. I was struck by just how rock'n'roll the supposedly Country and Western Buckeroos sounded in a live environment. As a fan of early rock, I was taken with the album immediately, and got my own copy from Taz Records in Halifax, NS after a gig with my band Adam and the Accidents in 2006.
What resonates with me most about Buck's music, aside from his incredible band, is his ability to craft simple, memorable melodies. Also, Buck could concoct short, extremely concise, songs to house these great melodies. Country and Western music was not exactly embraced in my house growing up, yet all of Buck's songs sounded oddly familiar to me. Had I heard Buck Owens music in the background my entire life, or did I somehow always know it?
That's the magic trick.
credits
released March 24, 2024
All songs performed by Adam Mowery, except:
Robyn Nicholson: back up vocals on "Sweet Rosie Jones"
Vocals on 1, 2, 3, and 5 recorded by Pierre Cormier. All other sounds recorded, mixed and produced by Adam Mowery on a Tascam Portastudio 464
Recorded January - March 2024 in Adam's living room in Fredericton, NB, with additional recording at The Space in Saint John, NB, February 10, 2024
Art and layout by Adam Mowery
Photo of Adam by Keith Hallett
Special thanks: Mike Trask, Corey Bonnevie, Pierre Cormier, Robyn Nicholson, PAPAL VISIT
Adam has been independently releasing his home recordings since 2000, solo and as a member of the bands PAPAL VISIT, The Grubbies, Wooden Wives and The Port City All-Stars.
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