Hot Dog!

{{About|album|the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song|Hot Dog! (song)}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Hot Dog!

| type = studio

| artist = Buck Owens

| cover = Hot Dog!.jpg|border=yes

| alt =

| released = November 16, 1988

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio = Maximus

| genre = Country, rockabilly

| length =

| label = Capitol{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=plDUDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA490|title=Goldmine Record Album Price Guide|first=Dave|last=Thompson|date=April 2, 2019|publisher=Penguin}}

| producer = Jim Shaw

| prev_title = Our Old Mansion

| prev_year = 1977

| next_title = Act Naturally

| next_year = 1989

}}

Hot Dog! is an album by the American musician Buck Owens, released in 1988.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=untabCgOVkgC&pg=PA400|title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music|first1=Michael|last1=McCall|first2=John|last2=Rumble|first3=Paul|last3=Kingsbury|date=December 16, 2004|publisher=Oxford University Press}} It was Owens's first studio album since deciding in 1979 to quit the music business.{{cite news |last1=Beck |first1=Marilyn |title=On the Road Again |work=Orange County Register |date=January 24, 1989 |page=F4}} The first single was the title track, which Owens had originally recorded under the name Corky Jones.{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Will |title=Buck Owens Returns to Top of the Country |work=Times Union |date=October 9, 1988 |location=Albany |page=H1}} Owens shot a video for the single.{{cite magazine |last1=Morris |first1=Edward |title='Hot Dog'!: Buck Owens Is Back |magazine=Billboard |date=Oct 8, 1988 |volume=100 |issue=41 |page=36}}

The album peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/buck-owens/|title=Buck Owens|website=Billboard}} Owens supported it with a 1989 North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Hawkeye |title=Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam Struck Up a Red-Hot Match |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 20, 1988 |department=Calendar |page=12}}

Production

Partly recorded in Fresno, the album was produced by Jim Shaw.{{cite news |last1=Robison |first1=Ken |title=Ol' Buck Joins Country's Young Bucks |work=The Fresno Bee |date=September 30, 1988 |page=D1}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5dTPrxvY1m0C&pg=PA286|title=Buck Owens: The Biography|first=Eileen|last=Sisk|date=September 8, 2010|publisher=Chicago Review Press}} "Under Your Spell Again" is performed as a duet with Dwight Yoakam. Hot Dog! contains covers of "Summertime Blues" and "Memphis".{{cite news |last1=Rowe |first1=Norman |title=Buck Owens Returns with Album of Country Classics |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=January 15, 1989 |page=K13}} "A-11" is a cover of the Hank Cochran song; "The Key's in the Mailbox" was written by Harlan Howard.{{cite news |last1=Mackie |first1=John |title=Buck Owens, Hot Dog |work=Vancouver Sun |date=21 Jan 1989 |page=E2}} "Second Fiddle" is a version of Owens's first charting single.{{cite news |last1=Dudley |first1=Wendy |title=Buck Owens: Hot Dog! |work=Calgary Herald |date=12 Jan 1989 |page=E4}}

Critical reception

{{music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hot-dog!-mw0000202550|title=Buck Owens Hot Dog!|website=AllMusic}}

|rev2 = Robert Christgau

|rev2score = B+{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=201&name=Buck+Owens|title=Buck Owens|website=Robert Christgau}}

|rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=6 |page=364}}

|rev4 = Houston Chronicle

|rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last1=Claypool |first1=Bob |title=Records |work=Houston Chronicle |date=January 1, 1989 |department=Zest |page=9}}

|rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=525}}

|rev6 = Windsor Star

|rev6score = A{{cite news |last1=Whitaker |first1=David |title=Hot Dog!: Buck Owens |work=Windsor Star |date=14 Jan 1989 |page=C2}}

}}

Robert Christgau admired the "emotion and commitment" of some of the songs. USA Today praised the "group of rejuvenated rockabilly classics like 'Summertime Blues', 'Put a Quarter in the Jukebox' and 'Keys in the Mailbox'."{{cite news |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Dave |title=Country |work=USA Today |date=December 28, 1988 |page=2D}} The Houston Chronicle wrote that the album "is not without its charms ... Owens is still in fine voice."

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."{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Calvin |title=First Owens album in a decade shows promise |work=The Advocate |date=January 13, 1989 |department=Fun |page=2}} 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."{{cite news |last1=Burliuk |first1=Greg |title=Hot Dog! Buck Owens |work=The Kingston Whig-Standard |date=January 14, 1989 |department=Magazine}} The Los Angeles Times stated that Owens's "off-center phrasing always keeps his structurally simple songs of heartbreak and loss musically fresh."{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Randy |title=Buck Owens Makes Old Ballads Sound New |work=Los Angeles Times |date=13 Dec 1988 |department=Calendar |page=2}}

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