I've Got a Tiger By the Tail
Encyclopedia
"I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" is a song made famous by country music
band Buck Owens
and the Buckaroos
. Released in December 1964, the song became one of Owens' signature song
s and showcases of the Bakersfield sound
in the genre.
had gotten together to write songs, but things were going slowly. Then, Owens saw an Esso
gas station sign with the company's slogan at the time, "Put a tiger in your tank" ... and got an idea.
Released in December 1964 (just weeks after he had recorded it), "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" became Owens' and the Buckaroos
sixth No. 1 hit on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
chart in February 1965. Although its five weeks atop the chart made it far from Owens' biggest hit from a chart standpoint — several of his other No. 1 songs spent anywhere from six to 16 weeks at No. 1 — "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" is often considered Owens' biggest hit.
The song also became Owens' and the Buckaroos
highest-charting Billboard Hot 100
entry, peaking at No. 25.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
and the Buckaroos
The Buckaroos
The Buckaroos were a Grammy-winning band led by Buck Owens in the 1960s and early '70s, who were heavily involved in the development and presentation of the "Bakersfield Sound." Their peak of success was from 1965-1970. In 2005, CMT named the Buckaroos No...
. Released in December 1964, the song became one of Owens' signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
s and showcases of the Bakersfield sound
Bakersfield sound
The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California. The many hit singles were largely produced by Capitol Records country music head, Ken Nelson. Bakersfield country was a reaction against the slickly produced, string...
in the genre.
About the song
Owens — in the liner notes to The Buck Owens Collection: 1959-1990 — recalled that he and songwriter Harlan HowardHarlan Howard
Harlan Perry Howard was a prolific American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard wrote a large number of popular and enduring songs, recorded by a variety of different artists...
had gotten together to write songs, but things were going slowly. Then, Owens saw an Esso
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
gas station sign with the company's slogan at the time, "Put a tiger in your tank" ... and got an idea.
Released in December 1964 (just weeks after he had recorded it), "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" became Owens' and the Buckaroos
The Buckaroos
The Buckaroos were a Grammy-winning band led by Buck Owens in the 1960s and early '70s, who were heavily involved in the development and presentation of the "Bakersfield Sound." Their peak of success was from 1965-1970. In 2005, CMT named the Buckaroos No...
sixth No. 1 hit on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in February 1965. Although its five weeks atop the chart made it far from Owens' biggest hit from a chart standpoint — several of his other No. 1 songs spent anywhere from six to 16 weeks at No. 1 — "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" is often considered Owens' biggest hit.
The song also became Owens' and the Buckaroos
The Buckaroos
The Buckaroos were a Grammy-winning band led by Buck Owens in the 1960s and early '70s, who were heavily involved in the development and presentation of the "Bakersfield Sound." Their peak of success was from 1965-1970. In 2005, CMT named the Buckaroos No...
highest-charting Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
entry, peaking at No. 25.
Chart performance
| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 25 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 12 |