Buck Owens Albums Ranked

Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. (August 12, 1929 – March 25, 2006), known professionally as Buck Owens, was an American musician, singer, songwriter and band leader. He was the lead singer for Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, which had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music chart. He pioneered what came to be called the Bakersfield sound, named in honor of Bakersfield, California, Owens’ adopted home, and the city from which he drew inspiration for what he preferred to call “American music”. From 1969 to 1986, Owens co-hosted the popular CBS television variety show Hee Haw with Roy Clark (syndicated beginning in 1971). According to his son, Buddy Alan (Owens), the accidental 1974 death of Rich, his best friend, devastated him for years and impacted his creative efforts until he performed with Dwight Yoakam in 1988. Owens is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Here are all of Buck Owens albums ranked.

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10. Sings Harlan Howard 

“Buck Owens, that purveyor of the Bakersfield sound, must have had plenty of trouble with the women-folk. For here, on his second album for Capitol Records, Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard, Owens grabs the sturdiest collection of the venerable songwriter Harlan Howard’s sad-bastard songs. Just scan the titles and you’ll know immediately what you’re going to be dealing with.”

9. Before You Go / No One But You 

“Raz ma-taz”, an instrumental featured on this album BEFORE YOU GO, showcases Buck Owens’ hot lead guitar playing, that single pickin’ distinctive Owens’ sound that is untouchable and unmatched…released 1965, this is yet another classic Buck Owens album that ranks on the top level of the country singer’s long and productive repertoire, of course backed up faithfully and thoroughly by his always trusted Buckeroos…more of that distinctive lead guitar is featured on the intro of, “Before You Go”, other notable songs featured, “Gonna Have Love”, “Getting Used To Loving You”, then we hear Tom Brumley’s steel guitar solo, “Steel Guitar Rag”, don’t forget the tight harmony team of Owens and Rich, wailing, “No Fool Like An Old Fool”, listen for the 50’s cover version of, “Charlie Brown”.”

8. Ruby 

“If you like Buck Owens, you should like this album. It is Buck’s take on bluegrass, not pure bluegrass. Buck’s wonderful voice and the Buckaroos excellent musicianship make this a winner. Buy it, you won’t be disappointed.”

7. Together Again / My Heart Skips A Beat 

“Split between uptempo honky-tonkers and weepy ballads, with Buck’s inimitable cartoon voice and some ridiculous steel guitar, this album forged a perfect mold. Hits like the title tracks along with the best filler imaginable (“Hello Trouble,” anybody?). I’d give up every single Velvet Underground album I own forever just to listen to this album once.”

6. Buck Owens (Capitol) 

“Buck Owens’s debut album hints at the mature sound that would make Owens and His Buckaroos major hitmakers within a couple of years. Owens had already distinguished himself as a session guitarist and as a singer-guitarist-songwriter by the time of the album’s release in 1961. In fact, the tracks were recorded between 1958 and 1960. The driving Bakersfield Sound that Owens (and later Merle Haggard) made so famous is here, but in a somewhat muted form.”

See more: Jerry Garcia Albums Ranked

5. I Don’t Care 

“This album sounds like a group of guys having a great time, sharing stories with hard-working guitars. It’s a party you want to go to. It’s got some swinging songs and although it’s mostly uptempo, the variety of harmonies and vocals makes it a disc that you don’t get tired of. I can’t believe it was almost forty years ago when I first heard it. If you’re a Buckaroo fan, I think this is for you.”

4. Carnegie Hall Concert 

“The best Buck Owens album, certainly his best live effort. I like this album better becuase it is before he had too many #1 hits so he did more songs in their entirity and less medleys! Doly Holly gets to siong and Fun and Games with Don and Doyle is hilarious! A Must own for all Buck fans!”

3. Your Tender Loving Care

“Although all of them are good, this is one of the best Buck Owens’ Capitol albums. No instrumentals and no filler sung by Doyle Holly, just great stuff by Buck & the Buckaroos.”

2. Buck Owens (1961) 

“It’s at these times when it’s good to get back to the basics. A good country song. A cold beer. Just chilling in a comfortable and well-worn lawn chair and watching the clouds go by. The bees dancing amongst the flowers getting their last taste of summer.”

1. I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail

“There’s definitely a few stinkers, like the sour-tasting “Wham Bam”, which while I don’t criticize it directly for its misogyny(it was a different time, etc) is just kind of unpleasant to listen to. But one can’t deny the power of forlorn ballads like “The Band Keeps Playin’ On” and “Cryin’ Time”. I love Buck‘s voice, and his storytelling on “Streets of Laredo” and “Memphis” is enthralling to listen to. It’s not too consistenly great, but the performances are tight and the highlights are among the best the Bakersfield sound can offer.”