Susan Raye's country version of "Wheel of Fortune," a number one hit for Kay Starr in 1952, dispensed with the original's roulette wheel sound effects and reached the country Top 20 in 1972. That song forms the foundation of the album Wheel of Fortune, which contains mostly new material rather than the raft of covers heard on typical country albums of the period (although, to be fair, that practice was on the wane in the '70s). Raye was an artist with Buck Owens Enterprises and recorded several hit duets with Owens, and while none are included on the album, he features heavily on it. The recordings were made at Owens' Bakersfield studio, he wrote (or, in one case, co-wrote) half of the material, and his son, Buddy Alan, contributed the lovely ballad "I've Never Had a Dream Come True Before." In fact, Owens — not Capitol — has retained ownership of Raye's master tapes through the years. Raye's roots in rock & roll seemingly made her a strong candidate to become a crossover country singer but, perhaps due to Owens' influence, she cleaved to an identifiably country sound that is heard most pronouncedly on the banjo accompaniment of "Hide and Watch Me Go."
SUSAN RAYE
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Capitol ST-11106September 5/1972
Produced by Buck Owens
Recorded:1972, Buck Owens Studio, Bakersfield
1.
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
(Bennie Benjamin - George Weiss) « © '52 Abilene Music, ASCAP »The wheel of fortune goes spinning around
Will the arrow point my way will this be my day
Oh wheel of fortune please don't pass me by
Let me know the magic of a kiss and a sigh
While the wheel is spining spinning spinning
I'll not dream of winning fortune or fame
While the wheel is turning turning turning
I'll be yearning yearning for love's precious flame
Oh wheel of fortune I'm hoping somehow
If you ever smile on me please let it be now
While the wheel is spining spinning spinning...
**********
2.
HOLLYWOOD AND VINE
(Bob Morris - Faye Morris) « © '72 Tree Publishing, BMI »We left our home in Arkansas you wanted to make good
So we moved out west to this old town they call Hollywood
And we've been here for thirteen weeks but you ain't made a dime
Standing on the corner of Hollywood and Vine
The sun sets on you on Hollywood and Vine
And you're still waiting there when the sun comes up at five
Guitar strings and tambourines but you ain't got a dime
Waiting to be discovered on Hollywood and Vine
[ steel ] You know that you've got what it takes if it takes a million years
And that's just long it just might be but you don't seem to care
But if your dreams don't work out in the world you hope to find
Just call and I'll be running back to Hollywood and Vine
The sun sets on you on you on Hollywood and Vine...
You're still waiting to be discovered on Hollywood and Vine
**********
3.
DON'T LET TRUE LOVE SLIP AWAY
(Buck Owens) « © '68 Tree Publishing, BMI »Who's gonna love you after I've gone away
Who's gonna kiss the lips that I kissed today
Who's gonna hold you when you're old and gray
Oh don't let true love slip away
For once in a lifetime true love comes along
So handle it gently don't let it go wrong
Treat it with kindness or soon it will fade
If you let true love slip away
[ guitar ] For true love is something that money can't buy
So don't take it lightly true love's a staff of life
You'll travel forever down life's lost highway
If you let true love slip away
So don't let true love slip away
**********
4.
HIGH AS THE MOUNTAINS
(Buck Owens) « © '61 Tree Publishing, BMI »They say that too much water has run under the bridge
That we never can live down the past
That once your love has ended it never can return
That's not so for we both know that our love will last
High as the mountains deep as the sea
Strong as the tallest tallest tree
That's how much I love you that's how much you love me
High as the mountains deep as the sea
[ steel ] Well it might be they're just jealous and don't want to understand
That our love will pass the test with room to spare
But it's just their conscience talking of their broken dreams and plans
For it shows and we both know that our love will last
High as the mountains deep as the sea...
High as the mountains deep as the sea
**********
5.
BAD BAD DREAM
(Buck Owens) « © '62 Tree Publishing, BMI »Somehow I'm not gettin' through the years
For you don't treat me like you used to do
I see a far away look in your eyes
And I'm afraid that we're saying goodbye
I had a bad bad dream last night
I dreamed that someone else was holding you tight
Another's arms were holding you another's lips were kissing you
I had a bad bad dream last night
[ steel ] Oh I don't hardly know you anymore
For you don't act the same as before
Hold me close and whisper I love you
And that my bad bad dream won't come true
I had a bad bad dream last night...
**********
6.
HAPPY YOU HAPPY ME
(Bob Morris) « © '71 Tree Publishing, BMI »**********
7.
HURRY COME RUNNING BACK TO ME
(Buck Owens) « © '68 Tree Publishing, BMI »I've done everything I could to make you happy
Yes I've given everything that I could give
But the best I had to offer couldn't hold you
You just couldn't seem to live the way I live
For the glamor of the gay night life is calling
And it won't be long till you will set me free
But if your happy days should end and if lonely nights begin
Hurry come running back to me
Come running back to mine two open arms
Come running back to mine two waiting lips
If your happy days should end and if lonely nights begin
Hurry come running back to me hurry come running back to me
**********
8.
HIDE AND WATCH ME GO
(Doyle P. Curtsinger) « © '72 Tree Publishing, BMI »**********
9.
I'VE NEVER HAD A DREAM COME TRUE BEFORE
(Buddy Alan) « © '70 Tree Publishing, BMI »Oh I've never had a dream come true before
Please forgive me for staring in your eyes
You're so wonderful it's hard to realize
That true happiness has walked right through my door
Cause I've never had a dream come true before
Never had a dream so real and true
Never thought I'd find someone like you
I can't believe my heartaches won't be heartaches anymore
Cause I've never had a dream come true before
[ steel ] When I met you I thought of days gone by
And of those that I have loved who said goodbye
And I've thought that you would be the same for sure
But I've never had a dream come true before
And I've thought that you would be...
**********
10.
ACROSS THIS TOWN AND GONE
(Buck Owens - Gene Price) « © '69 Tree Publishing, BMI »It's time to leave so let me go we've just been wasting time
Call me in a year or so if you can spare a dime
We couldn't change the bad to good the good Lord knows we tried
And a one way love just ain't no good and I can't live a lie
So I'll just hit the road a crying low
I'll walk so fast you'll never know
I'm cryin' and dyin'
Before one teardrop hits the ground
I'll be halfway across this town and gone
[ steel + fiddle ] Perhaps in time the hurt will heal if I just walk away
I love you so I hate to go but there's no other way
So I'll just hit the road...
Before one teardrop hits the ground
I'll be halfway across this town and gone
**********
