Released in 1964 on Capitol Records, Buck Owens’ Together Again/My Heart Skips a Beat captures a defining moment in the evolution of the Bakersfield Sound. The album reached number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart, largely due to the strength of its two title tracks, both of which hit number one as singles. This is Buck Owens and the Buckaroos at their best. Classic country doesn’t get more classic than this. This album showcases the hard-edged honky tonk sound that set artists like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard apart from the Nashville Sound of the time.
Tom Brumley’s Steel Guitar Work Shines
With the exception of just two tracks (“My Heart Skips a Beat” and “Ain’t It Amazin’ Gracie”), Tom Brumley’s steel guitar is prominent throughout the album, giving it much of its signature sound. This was Tom’s first album with Buck Owens, and the only album he recorded with Buck using his Fender 1000 pedal steel guitar. Tom would later go on to prominently play ZB pedal steel guitars and remain closely associated with the brand. His performance on “Together Again,” where the steel is the sole lead instrument, remains one of the most iconic recordings in country music. Other standout performances include “Close Up the Honky Tonks”, the up-tempo “Truck Drivin’ Man”, and “A-11”.
Don Rich on Telecaster
No discussion of The Buckaroos would be complete without mentioning the great Don Rich. His signature harmony vocals are a perfect match for Buck’s lead, creating the tight vocal blend that defined the Buck Owens sound. Just as essential is Don’s sharp, twangy Telecaster playing. His lead guitar drives many of the uptempo tracks, and his excellent musicianship contributes to nearly every track, both vocally and instrumentally.
Track Listing:
- My Heart Skips a Beat
- Close Up the Honky Tonks
- I Don’t Hear You
- Save the Last Dance for Me
- Over and Over Again
- Truck Drivin’ Man
- Together Again
- A-11
- Ain’t It Amazin’ Gracie
- Getting Used to Losing You
- Storm of Love
- Hello Trouble
Album Credits:
Producer – Ken Nelson
Images:
You can stream the full album from the official Buck Owens YouTube channel below:
This review is intended for educational and commentary purposes. All album artwork and track names are the property of their respective copyright holders.
