Single, epitaxial buffer layers of insulating LaMnO₃ (LMO) or conductive La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) have been grown by sputter deposition on biaxially textured Ni and Ni–alloy substrates. We report baseline investigations of their compatibility with the Yba₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) coatings and demonstrate biaxially textured YBCO films grown by pulsed-laser deposition on these single-buffered tapes. Superconducting property characterizations revealed better properties for YBCO films on LMO-buffered tapes relative to those grown on LSMO layers. Self-field critical current densities (J_c) exceeding 1 × 10⁶ A/cm² at 77 K have been obtained for the YBCO (200 nm) films on LMO-buffer layers. These results offer prospects for the use of single, LMO-buffered metal tapes in the development of practical YBCO-coated conductors.