“My transistor radio comes from far away…when it’s night over here over there it’s breaking day. I remember all the good times I had walking in the sand. With a beautiful girl that I met made in Japan.” “Made in Japan” a wonderful love song and the name of this here painting of country music legend, Alvis Owens Jr. or Buck. Note the similarities between Alvis and Elvis? Coincidence??? I think not! In my world, Buck Owens is the Elvis of country music. His “country” rises above all country and becomes music without a category, for this is what true beautiful music is, uncategorized. Buck called Bakersfield California his home and characterized what is known as “the Bakersfield sound”. Folks, there really are not many reasons to go to Bakersfield, but when Buck was alive, my friends and I would make the trek out there and catch him perform at The Crystal Palace and make a weekend of it. Buck never failed to entertain. The man was hilarious onstage. He was even gracious enough to sign many items for us. It was truly an honor to witness this musical legend. He is very very much missed. I do not see a reason to ever go to Bakersfield again.
Now dig peeps, Buck along with guitarist and harmonist, Don Rich and The Buckaroos, had many hit records. Even an obscure British band, The Beatles, covered one of his tunes. The list includes “Act Naturally”, “Crying Time” (oh, but Big Huerta, we thought that was Brother Ray Charles??!” Nay mon-kay, ‘twas Buck! Also Ray covered “Together again” so don’t be getting all up in my grill thinking you know Buck! Ok, then we copasetic??? Let us proceed, the aforementioned “Made in Japan”, “The Streets of Bakersfield (another historically footnoted band, The Rolling Stones, paid homage to Buck in “Far Away Eyes”), “Big in Vegas”, “Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass” (this was in a Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses movie) and TBH’s personal fave, “Under Your Spell Again”. The cool thing about Buck is that everyone digs him when given the opportunity. Even punk rock peeps dig the sound of Alvis! Maybe it’s that red, white and blue Telecaster or his sweet work on Hee-Haw. Folks, if you think what I’m throwing down is pure mystery, Spotify the man, get an ear full of Buck and call me in the morning. You’ll see you’ve caught a tiger by the tail.
The painting is pretty goofy looking. I don’t know why. Buck used to be pretty goofy onstage. I mean he threw out some great zingers at people that were dancing. He almost sounded like he had a few drinks in him, not sure, don’t need to know, but he was pretty dang funny. I also gave him some flowers just to gussy him up. Remember, he is country and country folks like to gussy. The red eyes symbolize the Japanese flag. As in this version of Buck was made in Japan. Perhaps that explains the goofiness of it all… Hey, I just paint man…what comes out on canvas is someone else’s doing! Until next time, Don’t sit and judge me until you’ve walked the streets of Bakersfield.
