Buck Owens Together Again/My Heart Skips A Beat CD

If you wanted to give someone the quintessential Bakersfield honky-tonk country album (that wasn't a Merle Haggard album), THIS would be it. The beat, strong yet possessed of a near-shuffle-type groove, the chilling harmonies, the weeping pedal steel, the terse twang of the guitars and Owens' expressive singing combine with memorable originals and classic covers ("Close Up the Honky Tonks," "Truck Drivin' Man," "A-11") and a countrified take on the Drifters' "Save the Last Dance for Me" comprise a country music album classic.

Named after his double-sided number one hit single of early 1964, Together Again/My Heart Skips a Beat is one of Buck Owens' strongest albums of the '60s, as well as one of his few records to stick firmly in the honky tonk camp. Despite the rolling drums of "My Heart Skips a Beat," the jumpy "Truck Drivin' Man," the jokey "Ain't It Amazin' Gracie," and a Bakersfield overhaul of "Save the Last Dance for Me," the majority of the album is straight-ahead honky tonk. Whether it's Owens' excellent weepers "I Don't Hear You" and "Getting Used to Losing You," or terrific versions of classics like "Close Up the Honky Tonks" and "A-11," the record is filled with superb, pure honky tonk. Sundazed's CD reissue adds the singles "Love's Gonna Live Here" and "Act Naturally," which don't follow in the honky tonk theme of the album, but since both are classics, it's not worth complaining. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Full Title - Together Again/My Heart Skips A Beat. Named after his double-sided number one hit single of early 1964, 'Together Again/My Heart Skips A Beat' is one of Buck Owens' strongest albums of the '60s, as well as one of his few records to stick firmly in the honky tonk camp. Now Sundazed brings you this reissue with 2 bonus tracks 'Love's Gonna Live Here' and 'Act Naturally', both of which were originally released by Capitol as singles. 1995.

Recorded at Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, California between December 6, 1961 and June 10, 1964. Originally released on Capitol (2135). Includes liner notes by Rich Kienzle.

Buck Owens & His Buckaroos: Buck Owens (vocals, guitar); Tom Brumley (pedal steel guitar); Don Rich (fiddle, acoustic & electric guitars, background vocals); Doyle Holly (electric bass, guitar); Willie Cantu (drums).

Reissue producer: Bob Irwin.

Personnel: Buck Owens (vocals, guitar); Doyle Holly (guitar, electric bass); Jelly Sanders (guitar); Ron Rich (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, fiddle); Ralph Mooney (acoustic guitar); Jay McDonald, Tom Brumley (steel guitar); George French, Jr., George French (piano); Kenny Pierce, Bob Morris, Bobby Austin (electric bass); Mel King, Wayne Stone, Ken Presley, Melvin King, Mel Taylor, Willie Cantu (drums).

Liner Note Author: Rich Kienzle.

Recording information: Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (12/06/1961-06/10/1964).

Additional personnel: Jelly Sanders (guitar); Ralph Mooney, Jay McDonald (pedal steel guitar); George French, Jr. (piano); Bobby Austin, Kenny Pierce, Bob Morris (electric bass); Wayne "Moose" Stone, Ken Presley, Mel King, Mel Taylor (drums).