Buck and Buddy

[Frank Freniere]

Reading the Rich Kienzle booklet that accompanies Rhino Records’ 3-disc “The Buck Owens Collection: 1959-1990” about Buck’s life and career, I discovered that Buddy Emmons and Buck actually recorded together one time, on Buck’s 1970 “The Kansas City Song” album on Capitol Records.

The album itself is unremarkable, but for two things IMO. There’s no Mooney, no Brumley, no “Bakersfield Sound” to speak of here. The songs don’t stand up to the best of Buck’s earlier work. However, there is some outstanding pedal steel guitar playing; and Buck’s voice is phenomenal. Without the strength of the songs to support him, Buck’s vocals are forced to carry most of the load. And he delivers.

It’s too bad producer Ken Nelson didn’t unleash the Big E like Jerry Kennedy did on Roger Miller’s “Trip In The Country,” and let him run wild all over the album. Maybe he was afraid Buddy would overshadow Buck?

To give you a little taste of what the album is like, click here for the beginning of “Bring Back My Peace of Mind,” where Buddy plays the first verse then disappears.

And as a bonus, here’s “I’d Love To Be Your Man” replete with Ray-Charles type strings, along with tablature for the intro.



“It’s A Long Way To London Town?” It’s a long way from Bakersfield, too.

[Jack Stanton]

Thanks, Frank! Very cool.

[Joachim Kettner]

This is a beautiful song, and I like the strings very much. But what strikes me is that either the strings or the steel play in their spaces, but never together. Check out the song "Whiskey and Soda" by Ray Price where strings and BE's steel play together. It's on Youtube. (I can't place a link because my toolbar suddenly vanished from my desktop???)

[Peter Freiberger]

Joachim, "Scotch And Soda"? JayDee Maness on steel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BoOMSv7j64

[Joachim Kettner]

Thanks Peter! Guess I'm not very good at identifying steel players.

[Craig Stock]

Great song, Thanks for posting that!

Without the Forum I would never have been introduced to that song.

[Peter Freiberger]

I doubt JayDee's feelings would be hurt to be mistaken for Emmons back then. How many of us will ever be good enough to be mistaken for Buddy Emmons?

Here's another from the same source, but who's on steel?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsFku65A ... re=related

Ray Price made a couple great albums in the mid '70's, presumably in L.A., with JayDee, "Say I Do", and "Like Old Times Again". Also great examples of JayDee's work in orchestral settings.

[Charles Curtis]

I'm guessing Jay Dee Maness?

[Barry Blackwood]

Listening to Buddy's work with Buck, I can't help but wonder if his playing didn't become a stylistic template for those who came after him..

[Peter Freiberger]

I think the template for later Buck Owens steel guitar (if there is one) would have to be Tom Brumley. Buck was pretty upset when Tom departed and threatened to sue Tom for wrecking Buck's signature sound. Buck's greatest commercial success was with Tom in the band.

I'm sure that's not Jay Dee on "Long Story Short". I'd guess Jimmy Day, or maybe even Curly Chalker on E9.

[chris ivey]

i think that was the greatest compliment to a player, being responsible for an artist's signature sound....like tom w/buck, john w/conway and jd w/desert rose. and for the artist to realize it is a good position for the player...you would think.
and ha ha on the lawsuit attempt.

[Barry Blackwood]

I think the template for later Buck Owens steel guitar (if there is one) would have to be Tom Brumley.

Tom was later Buck Owens, but not necessarily the template since several famous steelers came before him. To be the template in this instance, you would have had to have been the first to set the standard for all others that came after. Owens and the Buckaroos definitely enjoyed their greatest success during the period when Tom was with him but I'm not sure if Tom alone was the sole factor responsible for this, although his contribution as a sideman was monumental. Hey, I even owned a ZB during that time.

[Tracy Sheehan]

This may come as a shock to many but i was there and did not get this second hand. After a package show one night Buck, Tom,Don Rich and some other pickers and i were in a motel room shooting the breeze. I never said any thing about it as some of the married ones had girl friends with them. Buck and Don were arguing but not mad. Buck said he was going to stop using steel and Don was saying he was not.
I think Buck wanted to do like Ray Price had done and use strings,but i am only guessing at this but he was serious about wanting to quit using steel. Some time later Tom told me not to say any thing about it which i didn't that he was leaving Buck to go with Ricky Nelson. This was the last time i ever saw Tom and Don. I did see Buck one time later but this subject wasn't brought up.

I am only telling this after all these years as i am sure many will find it intersting. Tracy

[Kevin Hatton]

Tom Brumley's steel playing was signature to that band. As soon as he left the band sounded totally different. Not even JD could change that. If Buck was responsible for that he made a huge mistake.

[Dan Tyack]

IMHO there were two templates for steel for Buck Owens: Ralph Mooney for pre-Brumley, then Tom Brumley after that. Even Tom Brumley played the Mooney licks on the early songs when he played them live.

On that cut, Buddy sounds like he is going for a Tom Brumley type approach (he even echos the Together Again solo).

[Barry Blackwood]

Dan, I was under the impression that Buddy was pre-Brumley. Clue me in.

[Dan Tyack]

The link above with Buddy playing with Buck was 1970, Brumley played with Buck (and recorded all the steel) from somewhere around 1963 until 1969. I believe that Buddy only played with Buck after Tom left the band (when Buddy was living in LA).

[Barry Blackwood]

Thanks, Dan, I've been clued. That info makes my original statement incorrect since I was assuming Buddy came before Tom, not after. My apologies to y'all.

[Kenny Davis]

Buddy was also featured on a Buckaroos album. He was noted as an "Honorary Buckaroo", and did Cajun Steel Guitar - A steel guitar version of Don's Cajun Fiddle. If someone else doesn't do it first, I'll dig it out and get a date and more info.

[Dan Tyack]

I believe the Buckaroos album was Boot Hill, the year was 1970.

[Barry Blackwood]

Strange album cover.

[Frank Freniere]

OK, since we ended up here, here's tab for Cajun Steel Guitar.

[Glenn Suchan]

IMO, Buck's 'Signature Sound' (The Bakersfield Sound) came out of his association with Wynn Stewart, Ralph Mooney and Ken Nelson in the early days at Capitol Records. I think it was 'cooked up' with input from Wynn, Buck and Ralph under Ken Nelson's direction. To that extent, listen to this early 60's hit with Wynn Stewart with Ralph Mooney and you'll hear 'the sound'.

Hear ya' go. Wynn and Ralph:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnKfjUEIwyo

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

[Kenny Davis]

I've been thinking of what I would consider Buck's "Signature Sound". I had heard his early stuff with Ralph and Jay, but became more aware of him in the mid sixties as he started his television shows recorded here in Oklahoma City. Besides his recordings having the unique west coast sound, I think of Willie Cantu's rim shot and high hat, Don Rich's harmony and Tele, and of course Tom's incredible playing as Buck's signature sound.

Most folks don't know, that unless you saw Buck in person, or on his "Ranch" shows, you would have never got to here Don's amazing harmony work, as Buck sang his own harmony on his recordings. That's why the Carnegie Hall album is my favorite Buck recording - Don at his best!

[Jelle Biel]

Peter Freiberger,
for me this Ann Murray song is more representative

http://youtu.be/iE3z-6XO2Ds

Jelle