Buck Owens
was one of the biggest stars in country music throughout the '60s, and while his gifts as a singer and songwriter were considerable,
Owens
was smart enough to surround himself with talent when he hit the road.
' backing band
the Buckaroos
were one of the very best in the business and were celebrated enough that they cut a handful of albums on their own that fared well on the country charts. While lead guitarist
Don Rich
was the best-known instrumentalist in
, fans of the pedal steel guitar have always held the group's steel player,
Tom Brumley
, in high esteem for his deft picking and fluid melodic sensibility.
Steelin' the Show
is a collection that pays tribute to
Brumley
's work with
, featuring 16 tracks from albums by
, both with and without
, as well as "Together Again," the
hit that included some of
's most sublimely weepy steel soloing.
wasn't a player who went out of his way to be flashy, but his chops were considerable, and his work with
was always satisfying, both musically and emotionally.
was also a solid ensemble player, and while these tracks put the spotlight on his steel, he also knew how to support the other
Buckaroos
when their turn came around. The performances are sublime all around on these sides, cut between 1964 and 1969. After leaving
in 1969,
went on to play in
Rick Nelson
's
Stone Canyon Band
and the
Desert Rose Band
as well as doing session work with artists as diverse as
Merle Haggard
,
Rod Stewart
, and
Chris Isaak
.
isn't the career retrospective one might hope for, but as a snapshot of
's glory days with
, it's great listening and a testament to the talent and intelligence of
, both individually and collectively. ~ Mark Deming