I've Got A Tiger By The Tail
by Buck Owens And His Buckaroos

This record famously appeared in the 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die list and it’s easy to understand why. This was released near the peak of Owens' Buckaroos band, with instrumentalist Don Rich tearing it up on electric guitar, at a time when ensembles with such gusty and bluesy electric guitar and distinctive drums were seldom heard in commercial country music. The group would be in even better form on the follow-up LPs Before You Go and RollOut the Red Carpet.

Country albums from this era usually featured one or two A-sides, some B-sides and a lot of filler. Owens’ band is best represented by his A-sides but there is some merit to the filler material here.

At the front is the title track, one of Owens’ most successful A sides and a big crossover pop hit as well. It is so endearingly silly yet so enthusiastically performed that it charms the listener. The B side ballad of that single is Cryin’ Time and it appears on side 2, a song that was covered by Ray Charles.

Other decent tracks include a bold cover of Chuck Berry’s Memphis, We’re Gonna Let the Good Times Roll, Let the Sad Times Roll On and The Band Keeps Playin’ On. Instrumentalist Don Rich sings the wincing Wham Bam and bassist Doyle Holly sings the standard cowboy ballad Streets of Laredo.

The performances are tight and the quality of songs is excellent, only topped by the next two LPs previously mentioned.

I would still recommend Owens’ singles over his studio albums. 21 #1 Hits will do, or for a comprehensive look definitely check out Complete Capitol Singles 1957-1966, but if you had to pick one studio LP from Owens I would recommend Roll Out the Red Carpet, which improves all the elements of the band found on the Tiger LP. I also recommend the more-accessible Open Up Your Heart and his teary-eyed self-titled album on Capitol (panted cover, red shirt).

Highly Recommended.

i don't get it. out of tune vocals and twangy piercing guitar with corny insulting lyrics