Willie Nelson Covers Harland Howard’s Playful ‘I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail’

Current Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominee and recent Grammy Award winner Willie Nelson shared his take on “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” from the upcoming tribute album, I Don’t Know A Thing About Love: The Songs Of Harlan Howard. The record featuring 10 songs composed by acclaimed songwriter Harlan Howard will be released on March 3.

The 89-year-old Nelson has over 150 albums to his credit, including full album tributes to acclaimed songwriters such as Kris Kristofferson, George Gershwin, Ray Price and Cindy Walker. The latest to join those ranks is Howard, who died in 2002 at age 74.

During his career, Howard wrote hit songs for a variety of country and R&B artists including Ray Charles (“Busted”), Buck Owens (“I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail”), Conway Twitty (“I Don’t Know A Thing About Love”), Bobby Bare (“The Streets Of Baltimore”) and more. Nelson previously shared his version of “Busted,” which along with the rest of the album was recorded with longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon and a “murderers’ row of crack Nashville musicians.”

According to press materials:

Howard wrote “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” with Buck Owens and the song was first released Buck Owens & the Buckaroos in December 1964. Hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart and #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1965, the track became Buck’s highest-charting pop record and his only Top 40 entry.

Stream Willie Nelson’s cover of “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” below: