Maurice & Mac vs. Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

Buck Owens and crew can't top Maurice & Mac's deep soul version of Mike Settle's tune "But You Know I Love You"  

Remembering country great Dick Curless on his birthday

Remembering honky tonk hero Dick Curless on his birthday with a few TV appearances with Buck Owens and more. 

That time Buckaroo Don Rich played a Mosrite custom Tele on Hee Haw

Check out Don Rich's custom Mosrite guitar used in Hee Haw's first episode feat. Loretta Lynn broadcast on June 15, 1969. 

Thanks to Deke Dickerson for sharing the image of Don Rich's custom Mosrite. 

Happy Birthday Harlan Howard & Patsy Cline!

Remembering Detroit-born songwriter Harlan Howard with his own versions of the songs that were hits for Patsy Cline and others. 

That time Buck Owens dabbled in psych back in 1969

Buck Owens' 1969 single "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass" not only had a pot reference but an unlikely fuzz guitar break too. 

Happy Birthday Buck Owens!

Remembering Bakersfield country great Buck Owens with a couple of his television performances with the Buckaroos. 

Watch Junior Brown play Don Rich's silver sparkle Telecaster

Guit-steel hero Junior Brown bends the strings on the 1964 Fender Telecaster which Don Rich made famous with Buck Owens' Buckaroos. 

Bear Family previews The Bakersfield Sound box with rare Merle & Buck tracks

Listen to Hag's early crack at "I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can" off the Scott Bomar-produced 10 CD box The Bakersfield Sound due August 9th.

Buckaroos steel player Tom Brumley gets spotlight on Steelin' The Show

Here's the scoop...

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — There are many reasons Buck Owens and His Buckaroos were the hottest band in country music in the 1960s. But one reason was certainly Tom Brumley’s magically graceful touch on the pedal steel guitar. And as you’ll hear on this album, he’s also a fine Dobro picker.

Steelin’ the Show, due out on Omnivore Recordings on December 14,  showcases Brumley’s skill and innovative playing in 17 tracks selected from nine releases by Buck and the Buckaroos, including “Together Again,” which features Tom’s peerless solo —one of the most famous pedal steel guitar breaks ever recorded.

Not just a perfect primer for the uninitiated, but also a fantastic aural journey for fans, Steelin’ the Show features an introduction from Tom’s family — Rolene, Tommy, Todd, and Tracie Brumley —as well as photos from their personal collection. Randy Poe, the co-writer of Buck’s acclaimed autobiography Buck ‘Em, contributed liner notes.

According to Bakersfield sound historian Scott Bomar, “Buck always had great players, but Brumley was a true craftsman. He wasn’t flashy or self-indulgent. He always knew exactly what to play. His tone, his control, and his restraint were only matched by his pure jaw-dropping talent.”

Track list:
1. Tom Cattin’
2. Steel Guitar Rag
3. Bud’s Bounce
4. The Neosho Waltz
5. Steel Guitar Polka
6. Seven Come Eleven
7. Free And Easy
8. Tom’s Waltz
9. Apple Jack
10. The Waltz Of The Roses
11. Pedal Patter
12. Tracie’s Waltz
13. Runnin’ Short
14. Highland Fling
15. Moonlight On The Desert
16. March Of The McGregor
17. Together Again (Buck Owens and His Buckaroos)

Shelved Buck Owens album from 1975 released by Omnivore

Country Singer's Prayer was recorded by Buck for Capitol but deep-sixed when the first two singles didn't click.

The Buck Owens Album That Never Was—Until Now!

By late 1975, Buck’s unequaled success at Capitol Records was finally winding down. His singles were no longer topping the charts, and after the death of Don Rich the year before, Buck was starting to lose the fire that drove him through an unprecedented run of groundbreaking hits in the ’60s and early ’70s. His contract was due to expire at the end of the year, and he and the Buckaroos readied one final album for them in November.

Buck’s last single for Capitol, “Country Singer’s Prayer,” did not make a typical Owens showing on the charts—so a decision was made to shelf the album, and assign the selection number to Best Of Buck Owens, Vol. 6, which included two singles originally intended for the album that never was: “The Battle Of New Orleans” and what would have been its title track.

Omnivore Recordings, in conjunction with the Buck Owens Estate, is proud to present Country Singer’s Prayer—Buck Owens’ final Capitol album, which has remained unissued to this day. Mastered from the original tapes, and presented in what was the intended sequence, also included are the B-sides to Buck’s departing two singles.

With new liner notes by Scott B. Bomar featuring interviews with Jim Shaw (longtime Buckaroos piano player and co-writer of “Country Singer’s Prayer”), and R.J. Jones (aka Rocky Topp, the other co-writer of the title track), this is a fascinating chance to experience Buck’s last envisioned Capitol album.

While Owens did revisit some of these songs for the pointedly named "Buck 'Em" album after signing to Warner Bros. Records, these original recordings produced at Buck’s Bakersfield studio with the Buckaroos have remained in the vault. Watch Omnivore's promo trailer followed by the track "He Ain't Been Out Bowling With The Boys" 

Buck Owens' Complete Capitol Singles 1957-1966 due December 9

Omnivore's 2CD collection of Buck Owens' primo honky tonk swingers will be a revelation for Hee Haw fans. 

"To say that Buck Owens was a singularly unique figure in country music would be light years beyond cliché. There have been four, maybe five, other artists in the history of the entire genre who have left as indelible a sonic imprint on so many millions of listeners’ ears. This collection of music should introduce new listeners and reacquaint old fans with just how cool country music can be."
—Dwight Yoakam


"The reason my Capitol records sounded the way they did—real heavy on the treble—was because I knew most people were going to be listening to ’em on their AM car radios. At the time, nobody else was doing anything like that, but it just seemed like common sense to me. And it was one more reason that you knew it was a Buck Owens record as soon as it came on the radio—because it just didn’t sound like those other records . . ."
—Buck Owens


The cream of the crop from the ’60s biggest country star!

For the first time, Omnivore Recordings, in conjunction with the Buck Owens Estate, is releasing  Buck Owens and The Buckaroos’ The Complete Capitol Singles: 1957-1966, collecting all 56 singles from Buck's pre-Hee Haw creative peak, in their original form, taken from the original mono master tapes. Along with 13 #1 country chart hits are four duets with the great Rose Maddox and the yuletide classic "Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy" just in time for Christmas.

Newly remastered, and featuring liner notes from Buck’s autobiography (written with Randy Poe), plus an introduction by Dwight Yoakam, The Complete Capitol Singles: 1957-1966 presents the golden age of Buck Owens in an entirely new way.

These are the records that made Buck Owens a legend and defined the Bakersfield Sound.

The Complete Capitol Singles: 1957-1966 track list:

   Disc 1:
1. COME BACK
2. I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS
3. SWEET THING
4. I ONLY KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU
5. I’LL TAKE A CHANCE ON LOVING YOU
6. WALK THE FLOOR
7. SECOND FIDDLE
8. EVERLASTING LOVE
9. TIRED OF LIVIN’
10. UNDER YOUR SPELL AGAIN
11. ABOVE AND BEYOND
12. ‘TIL THESE DREAMS COME TRUE
13. EXCUSE ME (I THINK I’VE GOT A HEARTACHE)
14. I’VE GOT A RIGHT TO KNOW
15. FOOLIN’ AROUND
16. HIGH AS THE MOUNTAINS
17. MENTAL CRUELTY with Rose Maddox
18. LOOSE TALK with Rose Maddox
19. UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LOVE
20. BAD BAD DREAM
21. NOBODY’S FOOL BUT YOURS
22. MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL
23. SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME
24. KING OF FOOLS
25. KICKIN’ OUR HEARTS AROUND
26. I CAN’T STOP (MY LOVIN’ YOU)
27. YOU’RE FOR ME
28. THE HOUSE DOWN THE BLOCK

   Disc 2:
1. ACT NATURALLY
2. OVER AND OVER AGAIN
3. WE’RE THE TALK OF THE TOWN with Rose Maddox
4. SWEETHEARTS IN HEAVEN with Rose Maddox
5. LOVE’S GONNA LIVE HERE
6. GETTING USED TO LOSING YOU
7. MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT
8. TOGETHER AGAIN
9. I DON’T CARE (JUST AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME
10. DON’T LET HER KNOW
11. I’VE GOT A TIGER BY THE TAIL
12. CRYIN’ TIME
13. BEFORE YOU GO
14. (I WANT) NO ONE BUT YOU
15. ONLY YOU (CAN BREAK MY HEART)
16. GONNA HAVE LOVE
17. BUCKAROO
18. IF YOU WANT A LOVE
19. SANTA LOOKED A LOT LIKE DADDY
20. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS DEAR IS YOU
21. WAITIN’ IN YOUR WELFARE LINE
22. IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
23. THINK OF ME
24. HEART OF GLASS
25. OPEN UP YOUR HEART
26. NO MORE ME AND YOU
27. WHERE DOES THE GOOD TIMES GO
28. THE WAY THAT I LOVE YOU

The Perlich Post's Top Reissues of 2012

Single Artist Releases
1. WITCH - We Intend To Cause Havoc!
2. Don Cherry - Organic Music Society
3. The Flatlanders - The Odessa Tapes
4. Hannibal Marvin Peterson - The Tribe
5. Feedtime - The Aberrant Years
5. Ebo Taylor ‎– Twer Nyame
6. Dan Penn – The Fame Recordings
7. Myrian Makenwa ‎– La Extraordinaria
8. Edzayawa - Projection One
9. Tim Maia – Nobody Can Live Forever
10. Henri-Pierre Noel - Piano
11. Azanyah - The One
12. Yabby You & Bretheren - Deeper Roots: Dub Plates & Rarities, 1976 to 1978
13. Can - The Lost Tapes
14. The Funkees - Dancing Time: The Best Of Eastern Nigeria’s Afro Rock Exponents, 1973-77
15. Lee Perry - Sound Doctor: Lee Perry And The Sufferers' Black Ark Singles & Dub Plates 1972 To 1978
16. Sandy Denny – The Notes and Words: A Collection of Demos and Rarities
17. William Parker - Centering: Unreleased Early Recordings, 1976-1987
18. Henri Guédon - Cosmozouk
19. Grupo Los Yoyi - Yoyi
20. Buck Owens - Tall Dark Stranger
21. The Lijadu Sisters ‎– Afro-Beat Soul Sisters: The Lijadu Sisters At Afrodisia, Nigeria, 1976-79
22. Reverend Gary Davis - An Afternoon With Reverend Gary Davis
23. Ilaiyaraaja – Fire Star: Synth-Pop & Electro-Funk from Tamil Films 1985-1989
24. Pauline Oliveros - Reverberations Tape and Electronic Music 1961-1970
25. Alfonso Lovo - La Gigantona
26. George Jackson - Let The Best Man Win: The Fame Recordings Volume 2
27. William Sheller - Lux Aeterna
28. Derdiyoklar İkilisi - Disco Folk
29. Augustus Pablo - Dubbing On Bond Street
30. Lee Hazlewood – The LHI Years: Singles, Nudes & Backsides, 1968-71
31. Afro Funk - Body Music
32. Pharoah Sanders - In The Beginning
33. Ahora Mazda - Ahora Mazda
33. Rob – Make It Fast, Make It Slow
34. Brenda Ray ‎– D'Ya Hear Me! Naffi Years, 1979-83
35. Karen Dalton - 1966
36. HE3 Project - Chapter Three
37. Tronics – Love Backed by Force
38. Emil Richards - Stones / Journey To Bliss
39. The Outsiders - Monkey On Your Back: Their 45s
40. Baris Manco - Sakla Samani, Gelir Zamani
41. Doug Jerebine ‎– Doug Jerebine Is Jesse Harper
42. Lou Ragland – I Travel Alone
43. Shin Joong Hyun ‎– Shin Joong Hyun & Yup Juns
44. Mahmoud Ahmed - Mahmoud Ahmed Accompanied By The Ibex Band
45. Roy Porter Sound Machine – The Story of Roy Porter Sound Machine 1971-1975
46. Domingo Cura ‎– Tiempo De Percusion: An Anthology, 1971-77
47. Royal Band de Thiès – Kadior Demb
48. Justin Rutledge & The Junction Forty - No Never Alone
49. Afro Kelenkye Band - Jungle Funk
49. Salah Ragab & The Cairo Jazz Band - Unreleased Egyptian Jazz 1968-1974
50. Ironing Board Sam - An Introduction To Ironing Board Sam

Various Artist Compilations

1. Diablos Del Ritmo: The Colombian Melting Pot,1960-1985
2. The Return Of The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
3. Jukebox Mambo: Rumba & Afro-Latin Accented Rhythm & Blues 1949 to 1960
4. It's Saturday Night!: Starday-Dixie Rockabilly 1955-1961
5. Personal Space: Electronic Soul, 1974-1984
6. R&B Hipshakers, Vol. 3: Just a Little Bit of the Jumpin' Bean
7. Holy Spirit: Spiritual Soul & Gospel Funk from Shreveport’s Jewel Records
8. TV Sound & Image: British Television Film & Library Composers 1955-78
9. Work Hard, Play Hard, Pray Hard: Hard Time, Good Time & End Time Music, 1923-1936
10. A Search For CMS African Records by Blue Flamingo
11. ¡Saoco! The Bomba and Plena Explosion in Puerto Rico 1954-1966
12. The Detroit Funk Vaults: Funk and Soul from Dave Hamilton, 1968-1979
13. Killed By Synth, Vol. 1
14. The Rojac Story: The Best Of Rojac & Tayster
15. The Original Sound of Cumbia: The History of Colombian Cumbia & Porro As Told By The Phonograph 1948-79
17. Soul Cal: Funky Disco & Modern Soul Masterpieces 1971-1982
18. Fetén: Rare Jazz Recordings From Spain, 1961-1974
19. Now's The Time: Deep German Jazz Grooves Vol 2: 1957-1969
20. Cooler Than Ice: Arctic Records & The Rise Of Philly Soul
21. Loving On The Flipside: Sweet Funk And Beat-Heavy Ballads 1969-1977
22. Royal Grooves: Funk & Groovy Soul from the King Records Vault
23. Tomorrow's Achievements: Parry Music Library 1976-86
24. Down Under Nuggets: Original Australian Artyfacts 1965-1967
25. Spiritual Jazz Volume II and III: Esoteric, Modal And Deep European Jazz 1960-78
26. Eccentric Soul: Omnibus Vol. 1
27. Regional Garland - Mixed Sugar: The Complete Works, 1970-1987
28. Hall of Fame: Rare and Unissued Gems from the Fame Vaults
29. From The Vaults Of Ric & Ron Records: Rare & Unreleased Recordings 1958-1962
30. Sensacional Soul Vol. 3: Spanish Soul Stompers 1966-1976
31. The Music City Sessions, Vol. 1-3
32. Eccentric Soul: A Red Black & Green Production
33. Zendooni: Funk Psychedelia & Pop From Iranian Pre Revolution Generation
31. Wail Man Wail! The Best of King Curtis 1952-1961
32. Twin Cities Funk & Soul: Lost R&B Grooves From Minneapolis/St. Paul 1964-1979
33. Deep Enough Volume 1: Deep Jazz, Deep Funk & All Kinds Of Deep Grooves
34: Man Chest Hair: 17 Outbursts Of Unreleased Testosterone From The 1970s Mancunian Rock Underground
35: Java-Java: Indonesia Screaming Fuzz, Vol. 2
36. Soul Braza: Brazilian 60's & 70's Soul Psych, Vol. 2
37. Ike Turner Studio Productions: New Orleans And Los Angeles 1963-65
38. Cumbia Beat Vol 2: Experimental Guitar Driven Tropical Sounds From Peru 1966-1983
39. You Turned My Head Around: Lee Hazlewood Industries 1967-1970
40. Sofrito: International Soundclash
41. Lost Soul Gems: From Sounds Of Memphis
42. Surinam: Boogie & Disco Funk From The Surinamese Dance Floors, 76-83
43. Strange Passion: Explorations In Irish Post Punk DIY & Electronic Music 1980-83
44. Ivory Coast Soul 2: Afro Soul In Abidjan From 1976 To 1981
45. Ritmo Caliente
46. Khana Khana: Funk Psychedelia & Pop From Iranian Pre Revolution Generation
47. The Best of Perception & Today Records
48. Diggin' Down Argentina: Nuggets From The Rioplatense Scene 1967-1976, Vol 2
49. Jende Ri Palenge: People Of Palenque
50. Dabke: Sounds Of The Syrian Houran

Best Reissues of 2010, Part 2: Single Artist Collections

Top 100 Re-released Albums and Artist Retrospectives

1. The Psychedelic Aliens - Psycho African Beat (Academy)
2. Hank Williams - Complete Mother's Best Recordings... Plus! (Time Life Music)
3. The Triffids - Come Ride With Me... Wide Open Road: Deluxe Edition (Domino)
4. Syl Johnson - Complete Mythology (Numero Group)
5. Buck Owens - Open Up Your Heart (Bear Family)
6. Rolling Stones - Exile On Main St. [Deluxe Edition] (Universal)
7. Patsy Cline – Sweet Dreams: The Complete Decca Studio Masters 1960-1963 (Hip-O Select)
8. Jimi Hendrix - West Coast Seattle Boy (Sony Legacy)
9. James Brown - The Singles Volume 9: 1973-1975 (Hip-O Select)
10. Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Vol. 9: Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 (Columbia)
11. David Bowie - Station To Station [Special Edition] (EMI)
12. Bruce Springsteen - The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story (Columbia)
13. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew [40th Anniversary Edition] (Sony Legacy)
14. Joe Tex - Singles A's & B's Vol. 2: 1967-68 (Shout!)
15. Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power (Columbia Legacy)
16. Neu! - Vinyl Box Set (Grönland)
17. Jimi Hendrix - Valleys Of Neptune (Sony Legacy)
18. Velvet Underground - The Quine Tapes (Sundazed)
19. The Outsiders - Afraid Of The Dark + You Mistreat Me EP (Pseudonym)
20. Gram Parsons - The Early Years Box Set (Sierra)
21. Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run [Deluxe Edition] (MPL)
22. Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O-Tunya – Dark Sunrise (Now Again)
23. The Uniques - Absolutely Rocksteady (Pressure Sounds)
24. Syd Barrett - Introduction To Syd Barrett (EMI)
25. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Mecca and the Soul Brother [Deluxe Edition] (Traffic)
26. Abbey Lincoln - Through The Years (Verve)
27. P.E. Hewitt Jazz Ensemble – Winter Winds, The Complete Works: 1968-70 (Now Again)
28. Dinah Washington - The Fabulous Miss D! The Keynote, Decca and Mercury Singles (Hip-O Select)
29. Kenny Graham and his Satellites - Moondog and Suncat Suites (Trunk)
30. Anibal Velasquez y su Conjunto - Mambo Loco (Analog Africa)
31. Los Saicos - Demolicion!: The Complete Recordings (Munster)
32. Lloyd McNeil Quartet - Asha (Universal Sound)
33. Tony Joe White - That On The Road Look (Rhino Handmade)
34. Bruce Haack - Farad: The Electric Voice (Stones Throw)
35. Dick Khoza - Chapita (Matsuli Music)
36. Steve Young - Rock, Salt & Nails (Big Pink)
37. Jackie Lomax - Is This What You Want? (Apple)
38. Soul Brothers Inc - The Story of the Soul Brothers Inc 1968 to 1974 (Tramp)
39. Phil Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble — Zulu 45s Collection (Jazzman)
40. Marvin Peterson & The Soulmasters - In Concert (Century/Jazzman)
41. Dennis Brown - The Crown Prince of Reggae: Singles [1972-1985] (VP)
42. Bill Fay - Still Some Light (Coptic Cat)
43. Green Pajamas - The Complete Book Of Hours (Green Monkey)
44. Junior Wells & The Aces - Live in Boston 1966 (Delmark)
45. Omar Khorshid - Guitar El Chark [Guitar Of The Orient] (Sublime Frequencies)
46. Melvin Davis - Detroit Soul Ambassador (Vampi Soul)
47. Sun Ra - Strange Worlds In My Mind / The Sub-Dwellers / The Outer Darkness (Norton)
48. Peter Gordon - Love Of Life Orchestra (DFA)
49. Poobah -  Let Me In (Ripple Music)
50. Johnny Heartsman & Circles - Music Of My Heart (Jazzman)
51. Jeff Phelps - Magnetic Eyes (Tomlab)
52. Alice Clark - The Complete Studio Recordings 1968-72 (BGP)
53. Jean Pierre Massiera - Horrific Child (Finders Keepers)
54. Bola Johnson - Man No Die (Vampi Soul)
55. Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth For Christ Choir - Like A Ship... [Without A Sail] (Light In The Attic)
56. Witch - Introduction (Shadoks)
57. Morly Grey - The Only Truth (Sundazed)
58. El Gran Fellove - Mango Mangüé (Vampi Soul)
59. Zakary Thaks - Passage To India (Cicadelic)
60. Tommy McCook and the Aggrovators - Brass Rockers (Jamaican Recordings)
61. Metronome Quintet - Plays Swinging Mahogonny (Sonorama)
62. Al King & Arthur K. Adams - Together: The Complete Kent and Modern Recordings (ACE)
63. Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out The Lights (Rhino Handmade)
64. Jimmy Hughes - Something Extra Special: The Complete Volt Recordings 1968-71 (Kent) 
65. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Orange (Majordomo)
66. Bobby Jackson - Bobby Jackson's Cafe Extraordinaire Story (Ninth Note)
67. Phil Cohran & Legacy - African Skies (Captcha)
68. Angelo Michajlov - Saxana OST (Finders Keepers)
69. Waylon Jennings - The Dark Side Of Fame (Omni)
70. Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet - Live At The Union 1966 (Reel Recordings)
71. Hasil Adkins - White Light / White Meat (Norton)
72. Bharat Karki & Party - International Music (Em)
73. Blaze Foley - Sittin' By The Road (Lost Art)
74. Hedzoleh Soundz - Hedzoleh (Soundway)
75. Lazy Smoke - Corridor Of Faces (Jackpot)
76. Basil Kirchin - Primitive London (Trunk)
77. Spur - Spur Of The Moments (Drag City)
78. Frankie Zhivago - The Age Of Flying High (Superfly)
79. The Up - Rising (Applebush)
80. Roland White - I Wasn't Born To Rock 'n Roll (Tompkins Square)
81. Moby Grape – Historic Live Moby Grape Performances 1966-1969 (Sundazed)
82. Pavement - Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement (Domino)
83. Ozzie - The Parabolic Rock: 1975-1982 (SSR Records)
84. Madeline Bell - Voice Of Soul/Sound Of Soul (Vocalion)
85. Wooden Shjips - Vol. 2 (Sick Thirst)
86. Ted Lucas - The Om Album (Yoga Records)
87. Mirrors - Something That Would Never Do (Violet Times)
88. Jon Wayne's Texas Funeral - Jon Wayne's Texas Funeral (Third Man)
89. Sons Of Truth - Message From The Ghetto (Truth/BGP)
90. Riley - Grandma's Roadhouse (Mo-Folk/Delmore)
91. The Wipers - Out Takes (Jackpot)
92. Minits - Follow Your Heart: The Sound Of Memphis Recordings (Kent)
93. The Young Lions - From The Vaults 1982-84 (Schizophrenic)
94. Claude Lombard - Claude Lombard (MPLS, Ltd)
95. Sweet Talks - The Kusum Beat (Soundway)
96. C'mon - C'monpilation (Blown Speaker)
97. Jim Sullivan - U.F.O. (Light In The Attic)
98. The 5.6.7.8's - The 5.6.7.8's (Third Man)
99. Kris Kristofferson - Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos (Light In The Attic)
100. Jacky Chalard – Je Suis Vivant Mais J'ai Peur de Gilbert Deflez (Finders Keepers)

Rizdales record release party @ the Dakota tonight

photo by Jack Martin

When you think of great country male/female duets and images of Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood or Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow come to mind, you're reading the wrong blog.
However, if instead you immediately thought of George & Tammy, Johnny & June, Porter & Dolly, Loretta & Conway or maybe even Merle & Bonnie and you haven't yet seen The Rizdales' talented husband and wife tandem of Tom and Tara Dunphy in action, then it's your lucky day.
London, Ontario's finest roots country combo are hosting a swingin' release party for their hot new recording How The Marriage Ended! tonight (Saturday, August 21) over at the Dakota Tavern with friends Luther Wright, Emily Fennell and Brian Connelly's rockin' instrumental rippers Ancient Chinese Secret ensuring a ruckus will be raised.

Even if the Music City brain trust believes the days of dual-gender duets are done, recent headlines suggest that people of every tax bracket are still prone to relationship problems so there may be interest in hearing sweetly harmonizing spouses musically navigating through their own marital minefields like they once did when hair was higher and suits were custom tailored in the colours of tropical fruits.
Unlike the vast majority of your favourite country stars past and present, the self-contained Rizdales unit compose, perform and record their own songs. So rather than simply remake the genre standards as others have done, they decided to try adding a few new pages to the break-up songbook. I'm pleased to report that  they've come up with some corkers for How The Marriage Ended! like The Last Time You Put Me Down and the cleverly cutting It's Not Me, It's You (not the Lily Allen number) which have the feel of jukebox faves which Capitol's Ken Nelson might've cut in Studio B in between sessions by Buck Owens, Faron Young, Wanda Jackson, Tommy Collins and Ferlin Husky.
That's not to say that the Rizdales tunes sound dated, not at all, more like timeless classics that will be sung and spun for years to come. In fact, the video-ready My New Wife's Kids off the new album could be Brad Paisley's next chart smash while Who Knows You is a Lady Antebellum radio staple waiting to happen if only their Nashville A&R reps had ears.
If you decide to head down to the Dakota to see the Rizdales tonight, be sure to bring along a little extra scratch for a copy of their self-released How The Marriage Ended! disc and you might want to grab a copy of their equally exceptional previous album Radio Country while it's still available.

LINKS
The Rizdales site http://www.rizdales.com/
myspace http://www.myspace.com/rizdales