Under your spell again

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Now I have heard both Buck Owens' and Ray Price's version of this tune. It seems that both versions may have come out of the studio within several years of each other, but which was first?
The reason I ask is that the steel backup contains a neat burst of fast attack notes, in both versions.
I think Jimmy Day worked the Ray Price version, and Ralph Mooney did the Buck Owens version.
Anyone know who did it first? After listening to both versions I think that it would be difficult NOT to play that note burst once you heard it.

Bobby Rountree · From: San Angelo, Texas, USA - R.I.P.

I believe Buck Owens had the hit on it and Ray Price did the cover a few years later...if my radio announcing days memory serves me correctly....I think Buck's version came out about '60 or 61.
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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Owens wrote and recorded it in '59 (it was his first hit record). Price recorded it a couple of months later, also in '59. (It was on the flip side of his hit record "Crazy Arms".)

Tommy Minniear · From: Logansport, Indiana

Ralph Emery tells in one of his books about Ray Price being upset with him for playing Buck's version over his own and complaining to WSM management about it. According to Ralph, Mr. Price felt that considering he was a member of the Opry at the time and that Ralph was an announcer and DJ on WSM, that his version should receive a little "favortism" over a west coast artist. Wink

Personaly, I have always liked both versions equally well for different reasons.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Donny, Crazy Arms was around '56 or '57 and I think the flip side was "You Done Me Wrong" but I could be wrong.........JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Walter Stettner · From: Vienna, Austria

Donny and Jerry, you are both right! Smile

The original single was:

Columbia 4-41477 Same Old Me / Under Your Spell Again - 07-09-59

And then there was a re-issue single release:

Columbia 4-33017 Under Your Spell Again / Crazy Arms - 1961

Kind Regards, Walter
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Ben Rubright · From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA

JH in Virginia...........you are absolutely correct. "You Done Me Wrong" was on the flip side of "Crazy Arms". I bought the 45 back when "Crazy Arms" was a hugh hit for Ray.

In Ralph Emery's autobiography, "Memories" he talks about the two versions of "Under You Spell Again", one by Buck and the cover by Ray and the problem of being a GOO personality himself featuring the Buck version on his "Opry Star Spotlight" show instead of Opry star Ray's version. He said that the he played Buck's version because he thought it was better. Furthermore, he said that he was a big fan of Ralph Mooney and that he liked "Moon's" steel work on the song. Who doesn't??

Charles Curtis · Posted 14 Jun 2007 3:18 pm

Ray, have you heard the Christine Mims version of this song on her CD, "Perfect For A Rainy Day"? Randy Reinhart does some killer steel work on this. In fact I believe he does all the steel work on this CD, one of my favorites. The first time I heard Ralph Mooney play this with Buck, I was hooked. I'll bet Ralph influenced a lot of us.

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

I have posted this opinion several times on different threads, but I think Moon's intro and
solo on "Under Your Spell Again" is the greatest
steel ride ever recorded, in terms of pure raising
the goose bumps. Thanks goodness Ralph Emery featured this version, because it's the one that made me run off the road the first night I heard it on his show.

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

I'm with Clyde. The entro by Moon with the open string and Moon's rolling style is hard to beat. Jody.

Larry King · From: Watts, Oklahoma, USA

My favorite version of this song was done in Tulsa last month by Laney Hicks. Granted , the woman can sing everything well but she revamped this song completely and gave it new life. Chill bump time. That's my opinion and it ought to be yours.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

Yeah, Laney's definitely amazing! I heard "Under Your Spell Again" a few years ago when Jim & Jesse McReynolds sang it and Tommy White was playing steel. It was right after Chet Atkins died.

Brett

Norm Kidwell · From: Marion, Indiana, R.I.P.

How about Barbara Fairchild's version? I have heard it a time or two on xm radio. Norm Kidwell

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

As i recall i was playing in and out of Springfield,Mo.when Buck came out wth Under your spell again.I heard it played on the air many times local and on the car radio.I recall very well the D.Js said very little about Buck.All they raved about was who ever was pushing those pedals on the steel.I don't think Mooney was even well known at the time.
It always seemed to me the steel made Buck.A few years later a bunch of us were in a motel room after a package show.Tom Brumley was there also and Buck said he was going to quit using steel.Don Rich said no your not.
Tom told me some thngs later on which is another story and also private.Tracy

Dennis Schell · From: Shingletown, Shasta county, Kalifornia

Ken Mizell · From: Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA

I too prefer Buck's version. Also, in my opinion, Buck and steel guitar went together like bread and butter. The biggest disappointment I've ever had at a live music concert, was when I finally made it to see Buck Owens and the Buckaroos live and in person at the old Florida State Fair grounds/stadium in Tampa back around 1971. My friend and I found our seats and I look at the stage. Where is the steel sitting? Ain't one! Well, maybe they haven't set it up yet, that must be it. I'm expecting to see Jay Dee Maness, not realizing that he had already left the band. Not so. No steel. What a let down. Buck was getting into that "American Music" phase, between Jay Dee and Jerry Brightman.

Ken
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Tommy Detamore · From: Floresville, Texas

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

I never heard Ray's version until recently when I began listening to XM Radio. It's probably just my bias toward the original, but I like Buck's version a tad better because the harmony vocals are better. To my ear, they don't wash over the lead singer.
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