Dwight Yoakam - Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room

Yoakam's third album finds him more daring in his incorporation of Creedence-style rock guitar fills--Pete Anderson, take a bow--and Tex-Mex polka into his Bakersfield stomp. Class resentment and murderous jealousy color this disc much more than its predecessors; "I Sang Dixie" is one of the all-time great I'm-just-a-country-boy-in-this-mean-ol'-city songs. And while Yoakam's version of "Home of the Blues" doesn't muster the drama of Johnny Cash's original, he'll forever deserve props for resurrecting the Buck Owens obscurity "Streets of Bakersfield"--not to mention duet partner Owens's then-dormant career. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

Watch Out

Watch Out is the title of a 2005 Yoakam song and current staple of his live shows. That's what the giants of Country music must have thought after this milestone in Yoakam's remarkable career. He burst onto the scene with two albums that though steeped in tradition put him squarely on the cutting edge. His articulate and accurate critiques of the Nashville establishment didn't help, but it was his innovative sound that set him apart from the field. Somehow he was too Country, but also rocked too hard. It was like being too strong and fast to play football.

So Yoakam famously moved to California where he gained attention and a record deal. This album features his only number one Country hits, "Streets of Bakersfield", a duet with Bakersfield's King, Buck Owens, and the Yoakam original "I Sang Dixie". But to me the strength of this album is the first half. Which, if owned when released in 1988, would be Side 1 most likely for many on cassette or LP. Kicking off with the great "I Got You", featuring lines like "I got a letter from the folks over at Bell, just to let me know my next phone call, I'll have to walk outside and yell", through his Johnny Cash cover "Home of the Blues" which far surpasses the Man in Black's original, and into his paranoid lover's rant of "What I Don't Know", some have said the first side has an overall theme as if the artist is taking the listener through a doomed relationship.

There have been rumors in Hollywood amongst Yoakam enthusiasts I'm sure (he has many - Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Vince Vaughn, Billy Bob Thornton, to name a few) about a film based on this half, particularly the title track, "Buenos Noches from a Lonely Room (She Wore Red Dresses)". When I first heard the song, I actually had to pause the CD when it finished. I just sat there with my mouth open. Not just the lyrics, but the arrangement! Absolutely Yoakam's first bona fide masterpiece.

This had to be the album that made Merle Haggard say, "Dwight Yoakam is the most original thing in Country music". This is probably when Dwight Yoakam officially became Johnny Cash's favorite singer. And a few other people's favorite too, I bet.
September 7, 2008

Dwight never lets you down

Any serious music lover would enjoy this CD. Dwight writes all the songs and music and never fails to deliver music that, while sometimes, is a little "twangy" is also full of wit, sarcasm and humor. September 3, 2008

She Wore Red Dresses..

..with her black shining hair,the title track,Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room,is Dwight Yoakam's best album by far,loaded with ballads and heavy country rockers,every track a winner from,I got you,to,Hold On To God,and in between there's,I Hear You Knockin',Send Me The Pillow,I Sang Dixie and the number one hit,Streets Of Bakersfield,the duet recorded after Yoakam yanked Buck Owens out of retirement in 1988,this album is a high energy recording for Dwight Yoakam and also his very best. August 26, 2008

Have you ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

This was Dwight Yoakam's third major label album. It features seven original songs and four covers of older songs. The album features Dwight's first #1 hit, a cover of Buck Owens' "Streets of Bakersfield", featuring Buck himself, which helped to revive Buck's career. It also features Dwight's second #1 hit, "I Sang Dixie". "I Got You" was a Top Five hit and "Beunas Noches From a Lonely Room" just barely missed being a hit. Overall a very good album, which Dwight's fans will enjoy. October 27, 2006

A Darker Dwight

This is one of Dwight's darker albums, and also one of his best albums. While he still maintains that Bakersfield integrity, you'll hear much more "south-of-the-border" influence here. This album also introduces us to the Buck Owens duet that gave Dwight his first #1 hit, "Streets of Bakersfield". While most of these numbers harken back to the glory days of Buck, Merle, and Wynn Stewart, there's also a few fine Kentucky/Appalachian flavored tunes that, thankfully, would also be included in most (if not all) of his future albums: these include "Floyd County" and a beautiful gospel number "Hold on to God". No other artist has maintained his roots and artistic integrity as Dwight has, and country music owes this man a big THANKS. December 28, 2005

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