Forest “Bud” Isaacs has a special place in country music. In the early 1950’s steel guitar players were starting to use pedals which had first been devised around 1947. Bud played some outstanding pedal steel on Webb Pierce’s 1954 “Slowly”. It was the first really featured pedal steel work with what would be considered the modern mainstream pedal steel sound. It inspired many non pedal steelers to rig up everything from chicken wire to brake pedals until instrument makers put out units for sale. Bud was a pioneer of what became one of the signature sounds of country music. The very talented Bud Isaacs passed away a few years ago, he was playing right to the end.
Thanks so much for posting this! Buck and the boys at their very best. Great to see Tom Brumley on the steel. Loved the old local TV and radio shows. Glad there are still some relics of the past out there.
I love these live performances...every member of this group is an incredible talent! I'd never seen this show...was it local before it evolved into the Buck Owens Ranch Show?...just curious, thanks!!
What a treat! A whole show from Buck and the boys with solos from everyone at such a pivotal point in time. It's a shame we don't have video from the Carnegie show, but this is like dress rehearsal for it given the set list and Buck still tinkering with the medley order. Thank you, thank you, thank you for what you're doing here.
Yeah because you can tell that this show and Buck’s show (the early shows more or less) used the same, audience applause sound effects which gives a hint to it, and the show was filmed on a “Mathis Brothers Color Production”
Great post. Buck and the boys in top form. Their Bakersfield sound blew the crossover aimed ‘Nashville Sound’ out of the water. Thanks so much for this video.
Absolutely awesome and I heard songs on this that I have not heard on the Ranch show including the medley that would later appear on the “Live from Carnagie Hall” album which is my favorite.
this episode is GOLD! it reminds me why I do Country Bunker at all. it's because I feel in love with the Bakersfield Sound and became friends with Red Simpson and this music must live on in the streets, the taverns and be discovered by new generations
I knew i needed a Telecaster again after really getting into Buck and Don, about 5 or 6 years ago. Their music's been tremendous for my playing first of all and the telecaster sounds like what i've been going for all along.
Around this time, my brother was a new guitar player. Even though he went on to love so many rock bands and guitarists over the years, he would never miss a chance to see D.R. play. My brother's first electric guitar? A Telecaster of course.
I'm a rock guy, but I admit the country guys like this had the "flash" look long before Beatles and Bowie T Rex. I wonder if there is a direct connection....Did the Beatles see this look and get inspired before Sgt P? They covered Buck Owens on the Help soundtrack (Ringo sang Act Naturally) Isn't Mathis Bros furniture still in business?
The Beatles were on the same label (Capitol Records) in the U.S as Buck Owens so they asked for advanced copies of all of Buck's records. John Lennon's right strumming hand and Buck's are very similar.
