Buck Owens - Live from Austin, TX

iTunes Review

Buck Owens’ appearance on Austin City Limits in October 1988 was something of a homecoming for the Bakersfield giant, and Live Form Austin, TX shows that he had lost none of his vim in the intervening years. “Act Naturally” is loose and lively, and reminds the listener that Owens’ naturalistic approach to country music is not a relic, but a vital philosophy. Many of the longtime members of the Buckaroos are onboard to summon the classic Bakersfield sound. In addition to the band’s snappy, swinging rhythms, it is a true joy to witness the revitalization of the inimitable two-part harmonies in “Crying Time” and “Tiger By the Tail,” provided here by Owens and longtime bassist Doyle Curtsinger. Yoakam appears alongside Buck for the sterling “Under Your Spell Again,” proving again that he is not only Buck’s benefactor, but his brightest student. Renditions of Chuck Berry’s “Memphis” and “Johnny B. Goode” affirm Owens’ affinity for rock ‘n’ roll, but there is no substitute for weeping pedal steel of “Together Again.” Played by Terry Christofferson, the sound is a crystalline representation of San Joaquin loneliness.