Hot Dog!

Last updated

Hot Dog!
Hot Dog!.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 16, 1988 [1]
StudioMaximus
Genre Country, rockabilly
Length26:39
Label Capitol [2]
Producer Jim Shaw
Buck Owens chronology
Our Old Mansion
(1977)
Hot Dog!
(1988)
Act Naturally
(1989)

Hot Dog! is an album by the American musician Buck Owens, released in 1988. [3] It was Owens's first studio album since deciding in 1979 to quit the music business. [4] The first single was the title track, which Owens had originally recorded under the name Corky Jones. [5] Owens shot a video for the single. [6]

Contents

The album peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. [7] Owens supported it with a 1989 North American tour. [8]

Production

Partly recorded in Fresno, the album was produced by Jim Shaw. [9] [1] "Under Your Spell Again" is performed as a duet with Dwight Yoakam. [9] Hot Dog! contains covers of "Summertime Blues" and "Memphis". [10] "A-11" is a cover of the Hank Cochran song; "The Key's in the Mailbox" was written by Harlan Howard. [11] [12] "Second Fiddle" is a version of Owens's first charting single. [13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Robert Christgau B+ [15]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Houston Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Windsor Star A [11]

Robert Christgau admired the "emotion and commitment" of some of the songs. [15] USA Today praised the "group of rejuvenated rockabilly classics like 'Summertime Blues', 'Put a Quarter in the Jukebox' and 'Keys in the Mailbox'." [19] The Houston Chronicle wrote that the album "is not without its charms ... Owens is still in fine voice." [17]

The Advocate concluded that Hot Dog! "sounds a bit tentative, but that might be expected after many years of semi-retirement... He can still write good songs, and that voice is unmistakable." [20] The Kingston Whig-Standard noted that Owens "attacks each song with zest but at the same time stays within the parameters of traditional country music." [21] The Los Angeles Times stated that Owens's "off-center phrasing always keeps his structurally simple songs of heartbreak and loss musically fresh." [22]

AllMusic wrote that "this isn't one of Owens' best albums by a long shot, but it is a fun session." [14]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Don't Let Her Know"2:40
2."A-11" Hank Cochran 2:33
3."Summertime Blues"2:20
4."Memphis" Chuck Berry 2:25
5."Hot Dog"
  • Denny Dedmon
  • Bu. Owens
2:20
6."Put a Quarter in the Jukebox"Bu. Owens3:07
7."Under Your Spell Again" (with Dwight Yoakam)
  • Bu. Owens
  • Dusty Rhodes
2:55
8."Second Fiddle"Bu. Owens2:35
9."Sweethearts in Heaven"Bu. Owens3:02
10."The Key's in the Mailbox" Harlan Howard 2:42
Total length:26:39

References

  1. 1 2 Sisk, Eileen (September 8, 2010). Buck Owens: The Biography. Chicago Review Press.
  2. ↑ Thompson, Dave (April 2, 2019). Goldmine Record Album Price Guide. Penguin.
  3. ↑ McCall, Michael; Rumble, John; Kingsbury, Paul (December 16, 2004). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press.
  4. ↑ Beck, Marilyn (January 24, 1989). "On the Road Again". Orange County Register. p. F4.
  5. ↑ Hughes, Will (October 9, 1988). "Buck Owens Returns to Top of the Country". Times Union. Albany. p. H1.
  6. ↑ Morris, Edward (October 8, 1988). "'Hot Dog'!: Buck Owens Is Back". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 41. p. 36.
  7. ↑ "Buck Owens". Billboard.
  8. ↑ Hurst, Hawkeye (November 20, 1988). "Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam Struck Up a Red-Hot Match". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 12.
  9. 1 2 Robison, Ken (September 30, 1988). "Ol' Buck Joins Country's Young Bucks". The Fresno Bee. p. D1.
  10. ↑ Rowe, Norman (January 15, 1989). "Buck Owens Returns with Album of Country Classics". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. K13.
  11. 1 2 Whitaker, David (January 14, 1989). "Hot Dog!: Buck Owens". Windsor Star. p. C2.
  12. ↑ Mackie, John (January 21, 1989). "Buck Owens, Hot Dog". Vancouver Sun. p. E2.
  13. ↑ Dudley, Wendy (January 12, 1989). "Buck Owens: Hot Dog!". Calgary Herald. p. E4.
  14. 1 2 "Buck Owens Hot Dog!". AllMusic.
  15. 1 2 "Buck Owens". Robert Christgau.
  16. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 364.
  17. 1 2 Claypool, Bob (January 1, 1989). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 9.
  18. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 525.
  19. ↑ Zimmerman, Dave (December 28, 1988). "Country". USA Today. p. 2D.
  20. ↑ Gilbert, Calvin (January 13, 1989). "First Owens album in a decade shows promise". Fun. The Advocate. p. 2.
  21. ↑ Burliuk, Greg (January 14, 1989). "Hot Dog! Buck Owens". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard.
  22. ↑ Lewis, Randy (December 13, 1988). "Buck Owens Makes Old Ballads Sound New". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.