(It’s A) Monster’s Holiday
Omnivore, 2021
8/10
Listen to (It’s A) Monster’s Holiday
This 1974 album from Buck Owens And The Buckaroos marked the 23rd Top 10 country album for the band, and even features a Shel Silverstein rewrite along with some surprises in the form of laughs and screams on the adventurous 10 songs.
The title track starts as if it’s going to soundtrack a horror flick before Jerry Wiggins’ punchy drumming and Don Rich’s stylish guitar lines complement the country rocker, and “Amazing Love” follows with a much calmer delivery, where Owens’ intimate singing makes for a very romantic mood.
Further down the line, the warm keys of “I Love” help cultivate the expressive climate, while “Stony Mountain West Virginia” shuffles with a dance friendly energy that benefits from Rich’s fiddle and Ronnie Jackson’s banjo acrobatics. “You’re Gonna Love Yourself In The Morning” then moves with a mature, soulful approach that takes help from well timed female backing vocals.
Near the end, the near gospel feeling of “Great Expectations” showcases Doyle Curtsinger’s precise bass plucking, and “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)” exits the listen with all the hallmarks of Buck Owens we love- heartfelt, sincere and universally enjoyable songwriting.
Like all the recent Buck Owens reissues from the Omnivore label, this one comes with new liner notes and photos, and is remastered from the original analog tapes, which makes for an excellent package for these titles to be on CD and digital for the first time.
Travels well with: Buck Owens And HIs Buckaroos- In The Palm Of Your Hand; Buck Owens And The Buckaroos- The Kansas City Song