| Country Pickin': The Don Rich Anthology | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Compilation album by | |
| Released | December 19, 2000 |
| Recorded | 1963–70 |
| Genre | Country |
| Label | Sundazed |
| Producer | Ken Nelson, Buck Owens |
Country Pickin': The Don Rich Anthology is a compilation album featuring Don Rich, American guitarist, fiddler, and long-time sideman of Buck Owens, released in 2000.
Don Rich was the leader of The Buckaroos, Buck Owens' band, as well as Owens' collaborator and friend. He was a noted guitarist and fiddler who died in a motorcycle accident in 1974. Owens is quoted in the liner notes of this anthology saying "I think my musical life ended when his did." Rich is recognized as one of the chief architects of the Bakersfield sound. [1]
Rich performed lead vocals on some of Owens' albums, and the Buckaroos released their own records. The tracks of the anthology are taken from The Buckaroos' solo albums.
The extensive liner notes by music historian and journalist Rich Kienzle include a biography, rare photos, and tributes from Owens, Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Marty Stuart and others.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| No Depression | (favorable) [1] |
While praising the compilation and Rich's contributions to Buck Owens' career, music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the songs "solid, respectable songs, delivered handsomely" and "[It] might not be a lost classic, but it's fine listening and an appropriate, loving testament to one of the finest guitarists and musicians of his time." [2]
Writing for No Depression magazine, David Hill expressed similar sentiments, writing: "Country Pickin’ makes it clear just how talented Rich was. Most of the songs were culled from the Buckaroos’ solo albums on Capitol, and while you can’t really compare them to the best of Owens’ work — classics such as “Cryin’ Time” or “Act Naturally” or “Together Again” — that’s not really the point. These were recorded in a different spirit, probably at the end of Owens’ regular sessions. But they hardly sound tossed-off. Country Pickin’ may not be essential listening, but it sure is a lot of fun." [1]
Production notes:
Alvis Edgar Owens Jr., known professionally as Buck Owens, was an American musician, singer, songwriter and band leader. He was the front man for Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, which had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts. 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".
A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World is the eleventh studio album by Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers, released in 1970.
Donald Eugene Ulrich, best known by the stage name Don Rich, was an American country musician who helped develop the Bakersfield sound in the early 1960s. He was a noted guitarist and fiddler, and a member of The Buckaroos, the backing band of country singer Buck Owens. Rich was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1974 at the age of 32.
The Buckaroos were an American band led by Buck Owens in the 1960s and early 1970s, who, along with The Strangers, were involved in the development and presentation of the "Bakersfield sound." Their peak of success was from 1965 to 1970. In 2005, CMT named the Buckaroos No. 2 on its list of the 20 Greatest Country Music Bands.
Carnegie Hall Concert is a 1966 album by the Country band Buck Owens and his Buckaroos. The album was recorded live at Carnegie Hall, as Buck Owens and his Buckaroos became the second country band ever to perform there.
Dwight Sings Buck is country music artist Dwight Yoakam's 17th studio album, and a tribute album to Buck Owens. The album was released on October 23, 2007, by New West Records.
Jazz From the Hills is an album by American guitarist Chet Atkins and The Country All-Stars. It is a reissue of sessions from 1952–1956.
Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard is an album by Buck Owens, released in 1961.
Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins is an album by Buck Owens, released in 1963. It reached number one on the Billboard Country Albums charts.
Together Again/My Heart Skips a Beat, or simply Together Again, is an album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, released in 1964. The double-sided single "Together Again"/"My Heart Skips a Beat" reached number one on the Billboard country chart.
I Don't Care is an album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, released in 1964. It reached Number one on the Billboard Country charts and Number 135 on the Pop Albums charts. The single "I Don't Care" spent six weeks at number one.
I've Got a Tiger by the Tail is an album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, released in 1965. It reached Number one on the Billboard Country charts and Number 43 on the Pop Albums charts.
Roll Out the Red Carpet for Buck Owens and his Buckaroos is an album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, released in 1966. It reached Number one on the Billboard Country charts and Number 106 on the Pop Albums charts.
Dust on Mother's Bible is an album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, released in 1966. It reached Number one on the Billboard Country charts.
In Japan! is a live album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, released in 1967.
21 #1 Hits: The Ultimate Collection is an album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, released in 2006. Released shortly after his death, it is a single-disc compilation containing all of Owens' number one chart hits.
It Takes People Like You to Make People Like Me is an album by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, released in 1968.
Sing Me Back Home is the fifth studio album by American country singer and songwriter Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1968 on Capitol Records.
Swinging Doors and the Bottle Let Me Down is the second studio album by country singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1966 on Capitol Records. It is sometimes called Swinging Doors and has also been released with two fewer songs as High On A Hilltop.
Roots, Volume 1 is the fifty-third studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 2001. It reached Number 47 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
