Apparently the collective noun for a group of Tigers is either a ‘Streak’, a ‘Hide’ or an ‘Ambush’. Who knew? Today we go back in time to discover some ‘Tiger’ oldies.
“I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail” is a song made famous by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. Released in December 1964, the song was one of Owens’ signature songs and showcases of the Bakersfield sound in the genre. Owens — in the liner notes to The Buck Owens Collection: 1959-1990 — recalled that he and songwriter Harland Howard had come 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. The song is Owens’ biggest hit (and only top 40 hit) on the Billboard, where it peaked at No. 25. In 1965, Dave Berry used “I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail” as the B-side of his single “Little Things” and the single reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart.
“I’m A Tiger” is a song by Lulu that was released as a single in 1968 and reached No.9 in the UK. It was also a hit in some parts of Europe as well as becoming No.1 in New Zealand. The somewhat repetitive lyrics were written by Ronnie Scott and Marty Wilde. It later became the opening track and title of a compilation of Lulu’s hit song released in 1989. The song appears as the second number on the video and is mimed (somewhat badly in places).
“Hunting Tigers Out in ‘Indiah'” is the opening track of the album ‘Tadpoles’ by the Bonzo Dog Band released 1969. The album is largely a compilation of their work from the television show Do Not Adjust Your Set, on which they were the house band.The song was originally written by Stanley Damerell and Tolchard Evans in 1930 and was first recorded by Leslie Sarony.
Tiger Feet is a popular song by the English band Mud, released in January 1974. It was written and produced by the songwriting team of Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. “Tiger Feet” was a huge success, it was number No. 1 in the UK and Ireland charts for four consecutive weeks, in Janary/February 1974 and also topped the charts in the Netherlands. It sold over 700,000 copies in the UK alone and over a million copies globally. It was also the best selling single in Britain that year. The band appeared on Top of the Pops wearing tiger slippers. Co-writer and producer Mike Chapman credited bassist Ray Stiles with a particularly memorable bass lick which helped fuel the success of the record.
“Tiger” is a song by the Swedish band ABBA. The song was released on the 1976 album Arrival. “Tiger” is written from the perspective of a threatening entity warning the listener of the dangers of the city: “People who fear me never come near me, I am the tiger”. The exact meaning behind “Tiger” is debated, although most speculators agree “tiger” is used as a metaphor for dangerous aspects of city life. Some hypothesize the tiger represents a stalker or serial killer, while others believe the tiger symbolizes the harmful nature of illicit drugs. The vocals for the song were sung by Agnetha and Anni-Frid.
“Tame My Tiger” is an extra track from the album Dandy in the Underworld This was the twelfth and final studio album by T. Rex. It was released in March 1977 by record label EMI. It reached No. 26 in the UK charts, the band’s highest-charting album since 1974’s Zinc Alloy. The leading single “I Love to Boogie” had been a hit single in the UK the previous year, peaking at number 13 in the singles chart. Dandy in the Underworld was regarded by critics as a comeback for the band. It was praised for the strength of the songwriting and Bolan’s vocal performances. However, it would prove to be the band’s final album, as Marc Bolan died in a car crash in September 1977 at age 29. In 2006, an album of alternate versions and unreleased tracks called Final Cuts was released.
