Buck Owens and His Buckaroos - In Japan! [Bonus Tracks] (CD)

All Music Guide

Long one of the finer efforts in the Buck Owens album catalog and also one of the finest live country records of all time, In Japan shines in its compact disc reissue. Originally released by Capitol in 1967, this finds Buck Owens His Buckaroos in the prime of their chart-topping existence and playing like a well-oiled machine, firing exquisitely on all cylinders. The opening and closing remarks and between-song translating banter to the audience from MC Tetsuo Otsuka make for wonderful ambience throughout, and Owens' good-natured master-of-ceremonies turns work hand in glove with him. Musically, the Buckaroos, led by Don Rich, are at the top of their game, and the live versions here of "Open Up Your Heart," "Roll Out the Red Carpet," and "Where Does the Good Times Go" sometimes eclipse their better-known hit studio versions. Although his Live at Carnegie Hall album is considered by most fans as definitive, here's another one that shouldn't be dismissed for a second. - Cub Koda, All Mu...sic Guide Read more Less