by Stephen Thomas ErlewineHarlan Howard wrote many of Buck Owens' biggest hits and best songs, including "I've Got A Tiger By the Tail," "Above and Beyond," "Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache)," and "Under the Influence of Love," so it's only natural that Buck recorded an entire album of Howard's material. And it's also not surprising that it's a stunner, too. Owens sang Howard better than nearly anybody and Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard is full of wonderful songs and performances. Only "Foolin' Around" is regularly featured on Buck's hit compilations, which means there's a wealth of lesser-known gems --- including "Heartaches By the Number," "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," "Keys in the Mailbox" and "Let's Agree to Disagree" -- that form the core of this record, one of Owens' most enjoyable LPs of the '60s.