Gary Buck's County Scene

 

Elrod

Gary Buck's

Country Scene

Tower Records T 5054

1967

From the back cover: When you think about it, the country scene takes in a lot of territory: Southern songs, Western cowboy songs, folk songs from the hills, brokenhearted love songs and laments, railroad ballads, and a diversity of other songs are all classified as country music. Many singers and entertainers specialize in one, or at most two kinds, and build their reputations around these. Gary Buck has shown from the start that he's big enough to stride across the entire country landscape, with talent to spare.

Smooth, golden, warm, and mellow, Gary's voice can handle a lament of a broken heart ("That's Why I Sing in a Honky Tonk"), move right on into a romantic country love song ("I'll Be Watching You"), tackle a hilariously humorous ditty, and then suddenly turn to steel in a ballad about a no-good trifler-with-a-lady's- affections. Gary has also revived a kind of song that's been too much neglected of late, that is, the oldtime country ballad that tells a story. There are two outstanding examples of these in this album: "Elrod," about a little boy lost; and "Jeannie's Last Kiss," about a fateful misunderstanding in a fatal love affair.

Gary picks his songs with care, often favoring the compositions of the finest writers in the country field. Such great talents as Bobby Bare, Neal Merritt, Harlan Howard and Ned Miller are represented in this album. And still another fine songwriter is represented also, with a new hit that has become a great favorite with country listeners everywhere. The song is "Stepping Out of the Picture, and the composer (who also wrote the words) is none other than Gary Buck!

The Weather Man

Whatever's Right

Stepping Out Of The Picture

That's Why I Sing In A Honky Tonk

Elrod

Jeannie's Last Kiss

If That's All You've Given

Once Upon A Sunday

I Wouldn't Know Where To Begin

I'll Be Watching You