Recorded live at Carnegie Hall, New York, New York in 1966.
Along with Merle Haggard, Owens was the king of the Bakersfield sound, mixing hardcore honky-tonk with pop-friendly melodies and vocal harmonies, and an insistent rhythmic approach. Owens was a born showman, so it makes perfect sense that this classic live set is one of the best ways to hear Owens and his Buckaroos. By the time of this 1966 concert, when other country musicians were intimated by the changes the Beatles had wrought, Owens embraced the new world with a smile, even performing a tongue-in-cheek "Twist And Shout" complete with Beatles wig.
Owens was at his peak when he made his Carnegie Hall debut, and the band's onstage antics (jokey asides, patter and parodies abound) are indicative of the Buckaroos' ease with each other onstage. Musically, the ensemble meshes perfectly, with Don Rich's pealing guitar leads and his trademark vocal harmonies mixing with Tom Brumley's tasty steel licks and the rock-solid rhythm section. Unlike most country singers, Owens bears a message of exuberance, and such tunes as "Together Again" and "Love's Gonna Live Here" seem capable of bringing sunlight to the darkest corners of the earth.