I've Got a Tiger by the Tail

Amazon.com essential recording
The great Buck Owens virtually dominated the country singles chart in the 1960s, carving his success by being the first truly "alternative" country artist, one who eschewed the dominant "Nashville Sound" of the time in favor of rock-hard honky-tonk. But Owens was also one of the first acts to have a consistently strong impact on the country album charts, rolling up (literally) dozens of long-play smashes (as many as three a year) throughout the decade. Although most of them revolved around his current hit single, his 1960s albums for Capitol are almost all outstanding and much more than mere filler. This 1965 gem remains close to the top of the list. The urgent title track, Owens's signature tune, was inspired by the Esso slogan ("Put a tiger in your tank") and sat atop the chart for five weeks, while the flip-side ballad, "Cryin' Time," was a top 10 hit for Ray Charles. Also here are two bonus live cuts, a Bob Wills instrumental, the cowboy story "Streets of Laredo," and a churning version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis," which sheds light on the country tendencies of rock & roll's pioneer. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description:
This 14-track CD reissue By Sundazed brings together the original Capitol tracks from that album along with two live bonus tracks 'This Ol' Heart' and 'Act Naturally.' 1995.

I've Got a Tiger by the Tail,Buck Owens,Sundazed Music Inc.,Bakersfield Sound,Country,Country & Western,Honky Tonk,Pop,Traditional Country,United States of America

Average customer rating:

You just may wear it out!!!

They played our favorite song.

One of the Best

Classic Bakersfield country

Bakersfield classic

I've Got a Tiger by the Tail
Buck Owens and His Buckaroos
Manufacturer: Sundazed Music Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music
General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
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Buck Owens (Sundazed)

ASIN: B000003GYA
Release Date: 1995-05-17

Tracks:

I've Got A Tiger By The Tail
Trouble And Me
Let The Sad Times Roll On
Wham Bam
If You Fall Out Of Love With Me
Fallin' For You
We're Gonna Let The Good Times Roll
The Band Keeps Playin' On
Streets Of Laredo
Cryin' Time
A Maiden's Prayer
Memphis
This Ol' Heart (Live Version)
Act Naturally (Live Version)

Amazon.com essential recording

The great Buck Owens virtually dominated the country singles chart in the 1960s, carving his success by being the first truly "alternative" country artist, one who eschewed the dominant "Nashville Sound" of the time in favor of rock-hard honky-tonk. But Owens was also one of the first acts to have a consistently strong impact on the country album charts, rolling up (literally) dozens of long-play smashes (as many as three a year) throughout the decade. Although most of them revolved around his current hit single, his 1960s albums for Capitol are almost all outstanding and much more than mere filler. This 1965 gem remains close to the top of the list. The urgent title track, Owens's signature tune, was inspired by the Esso slogan ("Put a tiger in your tank") and sat atop the chart for five weeks, while the flip-side ballad, "Cryin' Time," was a top 10 hit for Ray Charles. Also here are two bonus live cuts, a Bob Wills instrumental, the cowboy story "Streets of Laredo," and a churning version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis," which sheds light on the country tendencies of rock & roll's pioneer. --Marc Greilsamer

Album Description

This 14-track CD reissue By Sundazed brings together the original Capitol tracks from that album along with two live bonus tracks 'This Ol' Heart' and 'Act Naturally.' 1995.

Customer Reviews:

You just may wear it out!!!.......2007-03-10

There should be a course in college dedicated to the study of Buck Owens' (And why not, Madonna has one?) music. If you like great Classic country music(in this case, an introduction to the "Bakersfield sound"), or are at least interested in what REAL country music was (you know, the "Good stuff") you will love this one. It has all the essentials including lots of twang, and great Steele guitar and Fiddle work. Buck Owens was a genius at making great music for everyday people and the proof is right here!!!

They played our favorite song........2006-08-14

"I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" was the only one of Buck Owens' 21 #1 Country hits to crossover and become a pop hit. Almost all of the accompanying album was recorded in December of 1964, with the exception of the fiddle instrumental "A Maiden's Prayer", which was recorded in January of that year. "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" was the only hit from the album, although "Cryin' Time" is a classic song that later became a hit for Ray Charles. The rest of the songs on the album are mostly quite good, especially "Trouble and Me", "We're Gonna Let the Good Times Roll" and Buck's cover version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis". The CD adds two bonus tracks, which are live recordings from the various artists album Country Music Hootenany. "Act Naturally" is, of course, Buck and the Buckaroos playing their classic hit. "This Ol' Heart", on the other hand, features Buck and the Buckaroos backing up the song's writer, Bob Morris. Fans of Buck Owens should really enjoy this CD.

One of the Best.......2005-12-17

This is THE Buck Owens album to own, as it is the apex of his career with the Buckaroos. Don Rich never sounded tighter (and even throws a guest vocal with "Wham Bam"), and Buck is at his very best. There has never been a more distinctive & instantly recognizable sound in country music than Bcuk Owens, and this CD is reflective of that. There are a handful of hits on this one, including the title track, "Cryin' Time", "Memphis", and a live version of "Act Naturally". Besides these chart-toppers, there a few more standout tracks that could have rivalled any of Buck's other releases, including: "Trouble and Me" and "Fallin For You". The inclusion of a Bob Wills cover song "A Maiden's Prayer" completes the album. You cant go wrong with this one, and if you had to have just one Buck Owen's album, well, this is it.

Classic Bakersfield country.......2005-10-08

I bought this album to listen to on my drive to Bakersfield where I would see Buck perform live at the Crystal Palace (which he still does every Friday and Saturday night). I chose this particular album based on its high rating by All Music Guide. I wasn't disappointed.

Bakersfield classic.......2002-03-06

By early '65 Buck Owens and the Buckaroos were hitting their stride as the best country band, and probably the best band period, in the USA. The twangy Bakersfield sound they'd pioneered was becoming increasingly effortless, and the fluency with which they applied it to their own songs, as well as covers, grew more and more assured and thrilling.

Like many of Owens' efforts of this period, this album is built around the title hit single that opens side one. Owens taunts the listener with a solo callout, "I've... got... a" before Don Rich kicks in with his signature harmony, announcing the song's title and catch-phrase. The ease with which the pair stays together throughout their harmony sections, one following the other's rush or lag, is breathtaking. The same session's take of "Cryin' Time," a hit for both Owens and Ray Charles, goes down tempo, but features the same brilliant lead/harmony balance.

The rest of the album includes a superb selection of Owens' originals, co-writes (with ex-wife Bonnie, Don Rich, Harlan Howard, and fellow Bakersfieldian Red Simpson), and several well-selected covers. Doyle Holly's vocal on the Western classic "Streets of Laredo" is quite a bit more moving than the corned-up version found on the Carnegie Hall disc. Tom Brumley's pedal steel and Don Rich's fiddle are especially effective on weepers like "Let the Sad Times Roll," "If You Fall Out of Love With Me" and "The Band Keeps Playin' On."

Owens' public proclamation that he'd only sing country songs apparently ran afoul of the Buckaroos' cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis." Though conceived by its author as rock 'n' roll, the song finds a very country style in Willie Cantu's shuffle drumming and Owens' & Rich's duet singing. Owens' own "We're Gonna Let the Good Times Roll" shares a very similar intro and rhythm, yet no one seems to have scorned it as "rock 'n' roll."

Two bonus tracks include a live performance of the Buckaroos backing Bob Morris (who later wrote "Buckaroo"), and Owens & Rich singing "Act Naturally." These 1963 recordings were made at Bakersfield's Civic Auditorium, and previously available only on a rare Capitol Records anthology.

This is a solid disc full of hits and excellent album tracks that show off the power and glory of the Bakersfield Sound.

4-1/2 stars, if Amazon allowed fractional ratings.

Music Album:

Music Album