CD’s, Vinyl & Downloads
The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1974 Various Artists (Bear Family) Allow me to
begin by saying this. Of all the boxed sets I have
reviewed in my career as a writer, this has to be the most massive and comprehensive. The box itself is quite heavy, and no small wonder. It contains nearly 300 songs on ten compact discs, along with an album sized hardback book – 220 pages filled with full color and black and white historic photos (many never before published). The book contains a fore- word from Foo Fighters guitar slinger Chris Ahiflett, a huge country man, and in depth writings about the artists and music from Grammy Nominated writer Scotty B. Bomar (SOUTHBOUND: An Illustrated History of Southern Rock) who turns in profiles on every artist and track by track commentary. The ten CD set will teach those who are
not aware just how the Bakersfield Sound was born out of a small cottage industry to be- come the Country Music Capital of the West. Songs are included from the men most associ- ated with the Bakersfield sound, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, as well as 1940’s field recordings and music from early artists such as Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys, Tex But- ler, Red Simpson, and later Bonnie Owens, Johnny Bond and Bill Woods. Songwriter Harlan Howard’s first
recording (for Tally Records), and his then wife Jan Howard’s first known demo record, as well as Barbara Mandrell’s first ever solo record are all here. There are historic cuts from artists that include Ferlin Husky,
Clarence White, The Gosin Brothers, Tommy Collins, Jean Shepard, Wynn Stewart, and re- gional stars like Cliff Crawford, Jimmy Thomason, Fuzzy Owen, Don Markham Gary Paxton and of course Freddie Hart and David Frizell.
This one is a must have for country
music fans, taking us all the way from the be- ginnings of the Bakersfield sound to the year 1974, the year Merle Haggard moved away from Bakersfield and Buck Owens had his final Top Ten Hit as a solo artist, and guitarist Don Rich died in a motorcycle accident. Dim lights, thick smoke and loud, loud music – but to be honest, the songs sound just as good in a smoke free home with a Bose stereo sys- tem at moderate volume. Great stuff. Buffalo says, “Get this one, country and Americana fans and historians!”
-Michael Buffalo Smith
Kinky Friedman Resurrection (Echo Hill) Resurrection may well be the finest
album Kinky Friedman has ever released. The songs are all just great. Very reminiscent of the best of Kristofferson, Shaver or Prine. The title track is infectious and you can’t help but sing along by the end. Kinky is joined on vo- cals by his pal Willie Nelson, which only adds to the greatness. “Mandela’s Blues” kicks off the album,
and it is obvious from the outset that this is a special album. “Greater Cincinnati” bounces along with genuine pedal steel guitar and a great country vibe. Gone are the comedic lyrics of past ef-
forts. This is Friedman writing and singing from the heart. Songs like “I Love You When it Rains,” “Carrying the Torch” and “Spirit
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