For those unaware, throughout Omnivore Recordings 12-year relationship with the Buck Owens Private Foundation, one request from the fans was clear and consistent—to make Bucks late-’60s/early-’70s releases available again as stand-alone reissues.

Omnivore is proud to answer that call and announce 9 titles to be released throughout the summer and fall of 2021.

Starting August 6th, Omnivore will put out these 9 albums, offered as standalone reissues. Each drop will consist of three albums: Sweet Rosie Jones, I’ve Got You on My Mind Again and Tall Dark Stranger, then on August 27th, they will release Your Mother’s Prayer, The Kansas City Song and I Wouldn’t Live in New York City, and then finally come October 1st, they will put out In the Palm of Your Hand, Ain’t It Amazing, Gracie and (Its a) Monsters Holiday.

The albums will be released as they were originally issued and for the first time, appear in their original configuration on CD and Digital, mastered from the original analog tapes, and with expanded artwork & new liner notes.

Originally released in 1970, I Wouldn’t Live In New York City saw Owens and His Buckaroos hit #12 on the country album charts. All ten of the songs were written or co-written by Owens, including the title track which hit #9 on the country singles charts, and gave Buck his 38th top 10 hit in the decade.

The album also introduces the newest and youngest Buckaroo, Jim Shaw on electric organ, harmonica, and piano.

Now, over four decades later, the classic album returns—mastered from the original analog tapes by Grammy-winner Michael Graves, Produced for release by Grammy-winner Cheryl Pawelski, and featuring expanded artwork including new liner notes from author Randy Poe (Buck ‘Em! The Autobiography Of Buck Owens).

1. I WOULDN’T LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY (IF THEY GAVE ME THE WHOLE DANG TOWN)
2. RENO LAMENT
3. DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS
4. THE WIND BLOWS EVERY DAY IN CHICAGO
5. THE KANSAS CITY SONG
6. (IT’S A LONG WAY TO) LONDONTOWN
7. HOUSTON-TOWN
8. SANTO DOMINGO
9. NO MILK AND HONEY IN BALTIMORE
10. BIG IN VEGAS

In truth, this album is a concept album of sorts – all the songs on the album are about cities or towns, mainly in America. But rather than an ode to each place Buck sings his impressions of the place either done through the eyes of a protagonist or as a stream of consciousness.

To add to the ambience he also inserts sound bites (or sound affects) of actual street sounds into the songs – gambling tables, sirens, riverboat whistles, etc.

Opening on the mellow title track I WOULDN’T LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY (IF THEY GAVE ME THE WHOLE DANG TOWN) and the uptempo woes of gambling within RENO LAMENT, he backs those up nicely with melodically entertaining twang of DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS, the weathered emotions of THE WIND BLOWS EVERY DAY IN CHICAGO, before we get one of my own personal favorites, the perky country track THE KANSAS CITY SONG.

Next up is the rerecorded, whimsical (IT’S A LONG WAY TO) LONDONTOWN and the interestingly-created (and complete with dialogue from NASA) HOUSTON-TOWN, and they are followed by the steel drums and a Latin flavored SANTO DOMINGO, the album rounding out on the traditional country theme of hard times for a hard luck couple on NO MILK AND HONEY IN BALTIMORE, closing on the storytelling of hopes and eventual disillusionment within BIG IN VEGAS.

Available for the first time since its original album release and for the first time on stand-alone CD and Digital formats the reissue of these latter day Buck Owens And His Buckaroos albums is a cause for celebration!

Official Purchase Link