Unveiling the Tale of “Streets Of Bakersfield” by Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens
Billboard chart history boasts a fascinating record, one that stretches across 19 years between two #1 country singles by the same performer. That performer, known to many as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, was none other than Elvis Presley.
In less than two years, Elvis achieved an astounding feat, with eight of his songs soaring to the number one spot on Billboard’s country chart. The journey culminated in December 1957 with “Jailhouse Rock.” While “Jailhouse Rock” undoubtedly stands as a rock and roll classic, its presence on the Billboard country chart, let alone hitting the number one spot, left many country music enthusiasts puzzled. The late 1950s seemed to be a time of misdirection and confusion for the country music industry.
Following the peak of “Hard Headed Woman” at #2 on Billboard’s country chart the following year, Elvis’s country chart domination started to wane, despite maintaining a strong presence on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop chart for two more decades. It wasn’t until early 1977 that Presley managed to secure another number one country hit with “Moody Blue.”
Elvis Presley thus holds the official record of a little over 19 years between country number ones. Nevertheless, the remarkable 16-year gap between Buck Owens‘ number one singles from 1972 to 1988 proves even more impressive than Presley’s record.
After “Made In Japan” became Owens’ 20th number one hit in 1972, the stream of chart-toppers dwindled. Buck Owens still maintained a notable presence on Billboard’s country chart, but his records didn’t achieve the same level of success as before. It took a collaboration with Dwight Yoakam on “Streets Of Bakersfield” in 1988 to mark the second-longest gap between two #1 records by the same artist.
Owens had contemplated retiring from performing entirely when he called it quits in 1980. However, Yoakam’s deep admiration for Buck’s music rekindled the legend’s interest. Dwight was rapidly gaining ground in the country music scene, and his musical hero was none other than Buck Owens. In interviews and on stage, Yoakam frequently spoke about Buck, even dedicating his first album to him.
In September of 1987, Dwight made an unannounced visit to Buck’s office in Bakersfield, California and persuaded Owens to share the stage with him. Duets were rare in Buck’s career, both on stage and in the studio. He had recorded a few moderately successful duets with Capitol Records label mate Rose Maddox during his early years, including their 1961 hit, a cover of Carl Smith’s “Loose Talk,” which reached #4. Later, Owens recorded some tracks with his protégé Susan Raye and his son Buddy Alan. After getting to know Dwight Yoakam, Buck felt comfortable enough to briefly come out of retirement and give the music business another shot.
In January 1988, Owens was invited to participate in a Country Music Association 20th-anniversary television special honoring the Bakersfield sound, alongside Merle Haggard. When Haggard had to step down, Owens proposed Yoakam as a replacement, which the producers accepted. The CMA requested a song that paid tribute to the town often referred to as “Nashville West,” and Buck remembered an old track from one of his early ’70s albums, fittingly titled “Streets Of Bakersfield.”
The song’s roots go back to Homer Joy, an aspiring songwriter from Arkansas, who ventured to Bakersfield to pitch songs directly to Owens. It wasn’t easy; it took Joy ten days to get past the secretary. During that time, he composed “Streets Of Bakersfield” while wandering the city’s streets.
Following their performance on the CMA show, Yoakam and Owens reprised “Streets Of Bakersfield” at the Academy of Country Music awards telecast. Numerous prominent radio DJs around the country taped the performance and began playing it on their stations. This prompted Dwight and Buck to record a studio version, which found its place on Yoakam’s “Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room” album. Later released as a single, “Streets of Bakersfield” made its debut on Billboard’s country chart on July 16, 1988, and by October 15th, it had soared to the #1 spot, marking Owens’ 21st chart-topper and Yoakam’s very first.
Artists: Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens
Released June 17, 1988
Genre Country
Length 2:48
Lyrics
I came here looking for something
I couldn’t find anywhere else
Hey, I’m not tryin’ to be nobody
I just wanna change to be myself
I’ve spent a thousand miles of thumbin’
Yes, I’ve worn blisters on my heels
Trying to find me something better
Here on the streets of Bakersfield
Hey, you don’t know me, but you don’t like me
Say you care less how I feel
But how many of you have sit and judged me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?
Spent some time in San Francisco
I spent a night there in the can
They threw this drunk man in my jail cell
I took fifteen dollars from that man
Left him my watch and my old house key
Don’t want folks thinkin’ that I’d steal
Then I thanked him as I was leaving
And I headed out for Bakersfield
Hey, you don’t know me, but you don’t like me
Say you care less how I feel
But how many of you have sit and judged me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?
Hey, you don’t know me, but you don’t like me
Say you care less how I feel
But how many of you have sit and judged me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?
How many of you have sit and judged me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?