| "Streets of Bakersfield" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Dwight Yoakam with Buck Owens | ||||
| from the album Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room | ||||
| B-side | "Please, Please Baby" | |||
| Released | June 17, 1988 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:48 | |||
| Label | Reprise 27964 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Homer Joy | |||
| Producer(s) | Pete Anderson | |||
| Dwight Yoakam singles chronology | ||||
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| Buck Owens singles chronology | ||||
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"Streets of Bakersfield" is a 1973 song written by Homer Joy and popularized by Buck Owens. In 1988, Owens recorded a duet version with country singer Dwight Yoakam, which became one of Yoakam's first No. 1 Hot Country Singles hits.
The song, which was written by songwriter Homer Joy, was first recorded by Buck Owens in 1972 with little success.[1] Dwight Yoakam persuaded Buck Owens to join him on a re-make of his 1972 song. After the duo performed it on a CBS television show, they recorded and released the song, which reached No. 1 in Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles. It was the first time since 1972 that Buck Owens had a No. 1 hit.[2] The duet version has a strong influence of local Mexican culture, including the use of a Mexican-style accordion. Accordionist Flaco Jiménez recorded the bouncy accordion accompaniment to the song, which can resemble a Mexican polka. It belongs to a sub-genre of country music known as Bakersfield sound.[3][4][5][6]
- ^ Duncan, Dayton and Ken Burns (2019). Country Music: An Illustrated History. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Page 457. ISBN 9780525520559.
- ^ Erlewine, Michael (1997). All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music. Miller Freeman. Page 350. ISBN 9780879304751.
- ^ Ching, Barbara (2001). Wrong's what I Do Best: Hard Country Music and Contemporary Culture. Oxford University Press. Page 106. ISBN 9780195169423.
- ^ Vargas, Deborah R. (2012). Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of la Onda. University of Minnesota Press. Page 108. ISBN 9780816673162.
- ^ Lewis, George H. (1993). All that Glitters: Country Music in America. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. Page 96. ISBN 9780879725747.
- ^ Bruce, Dix (2015). You Can Teach Yourself Country Guitar. Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Page 81. ISBN 9781610654869.