AMG Review of Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: Act Naturally

Thom Jurek
All Music Guide

The most remarkable thing -- save for the music itself -- on the first volume of Buck Owens' self-released singles overview of his mighty career is the success as both a singer and as a songwriter that came his way if not instantly, then pretty closely. Of the 18 tracks included here recorded between 1959 and 1965, 13 were in the Top Five, eight were number ones, and all but one were in the Top Ten! These include Buck's 1959 hit, "Under Your Spell Again," "My Heart Skips a Beat," "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail" (written with Harlan Howard), "Close Up the Honky Tonks," and "Love's Gonna Live Here," as well as the title track. Given that this release is from the Owens' estate and they own their own masters, these are the original 45 versions of these tunes and, despite the cheap cover artwork, well worth the investment.