Fans of the Bakersfield Sound have plenty to celebrate.  First there’s the just-released Buck Owens collection “Bound for Bakersfield 1953-1956: The Complete Pre-Capitol Collection.” The Rockbeat album collects songs that Owens recorded for the Pep, Chesterfield and La Brea labels before a much more successful run on Capitol.

It’s a mixed bag of honky tonk and early rock ‘n’ roll, but even the 1953 “Down on the Corner of Love” hints at what’s to come. It’s by definition a collector’s album packed with alternate takes, but a casual fan of the era will also enjoy much of “Bound for Bakersfield.”

Buck Owens’ later hit years will be featured at a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame March 24, 2012 in Nashville.

“The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country,” is scheduled for an almost a two-year stay.
“From its earliest chapters on through to today, California has played a significant role in country music history,” said Museum Director Kyle Young in a statement. “Long before the outlaws or alternative country, the Bakersfield Sound evolved specifically to suit a time and a place, made an indelible mark on popular music, and spawned two of the most charismatic stars in the firmament.”