Sweet Rosie Jones
Omnivore, 2021
8/10
Originally released in 1968, Sweet Rosie Jones was released when Buck Owens was juggling his TV show, touring and recording, and it finds the country star expanding his horizons into folk territory alongside a firm Bakersfield sound.
Now available on CD and digitally for the first time, Omnivore Recordings packages the reissue with a thick booklet of photos and text from the biographer Randy Poe.
“Hello Happines, Goodbye Loneliness” starts the listen with frisky keys, jumpy drumming and Owens’ inimitable delivery in the upbeat and dance friendly country rock, and this timeless formula continues to warm and emotive title track, as well as the upbeat and swift “If I Had Three Wishes”, which will leave you unable to sit still.
In the middle, the crisp and harmonic “You’ll Never Miss The Water (Till The Well Runs Dry)” offers a wise, melodic album highlight, where Jerry Wiggins turns in an excellent drumming performance, while “Sally, Mary, And Jerry” emits a scrappy display of Owens’ strong vocal work. “Everybody Needs Somebody” then trims the pace back with Bert Dodson on bass in a poetic and romantic climate.
The album finishes with the playful “The Girl On Sugar Pie Lane”, which brings some grit into the smooth rural rocker, and “Happy Times Are Here Again” closes out the affair with a bouncy and classic country energy that you won’t forget soon.
The ‘60s were a great time for Owens, and Sweet Rosie Jones found its way to #2 on the country album charts, which is where the title track ended up on the country singles chart. Certainly an important piece of his discography, this effort sounds better than ever thanks to the mastering from the original analog tapes by the esteemed Michael Graves, and is ideal for both the longtime fan and first time listener.
Travels well with: Bobby Bare- Great American Saturday Night; Tex Ritter- The Songs Of The West