18 Rare Classics

Merle Haggard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 25, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: CURB
• ASIN: B000000D1L
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,231 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Kentucky Gambler

2. The Running Kind

3. Grandma Harp

4. Turnin' Off a Memory

5. Making Believe

6. The Way It Was in '51

7. A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today

8. What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana

9. Green, Green Grass of Home

10. Here in Frisco

11. Where Does the Good Times Go

12. Am I Standing in Your Way

13. Love and Honor

14. White Line Fever

15. I'm a Good Loser

16. Silver Wings

17. Got a Letter from My Kid Today

18. When My Last Song Is Sung

Editorial Reviews

18 Rare Classics by Merle Haggard

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting songs not all available elsewhere, April 21, 2004

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 18 Rare Classics (Audio CD)

Curb released this collection partly to supplement other collections of Merle's hits then available on CD (Capitol Collectors series, More of the best, Best of the early years - all of which I've reviewed though two are long out of print). At the time this was released, three of his Capitol number one country hits (Kentucky gambler, Grandma Harp, Carolyn) were (to my knowledge) unavailable on CD. Two of them are included here, together with many great songs - a mix of B-sides and album tracks.

Dolly Parton wrote Kentucky gambler, which Merle took to the top of the country charts in 1974. Dolly's own version appeared on her album, Bargain store. Grandma Harp is based on a true story about a grand old lady. Running kind (about restlessness) is one of two other country hits on this collection - it made number twelve in 1977. The remaining country hit, A working man can't get nowhere today, made the top twenty in 1977.

Other songs that may be familiar to those with only a limited knowledge of Merle's music include two covers of country classics (Green green grass of home, Making believe) and Silver wings, one of his most popular B-sides. In the nineties, Merle re-recorded Silver wings as a duet with Jewel.

Of the others, I particularly like What have you got planned Diana (originally released as the B-side to Cherokee maiden), Here in Frisco and Where does the good times go - but there are a lot of great songs here, many still not available elsewhere on CD.

This collection may not appeal to casual fans just looking for hits but has much to offer committed fans of Merle's music.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JENNY'S OPINIONS--THEY ARE FREE, November 5, 2006

By 

Jenny Murray "MUSIC LOVER" (Weiser, Id United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 18 Rare Classics (Audio CD)

HAGGARD AT HIS BEST. ITS SO EASY TO LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT MELRE CAN DO WITH HIS VOICE. WONDERFUL MUSIC. A MUST HAVE AND A KEEPER

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best from Merle Haggard., October 7, 1999

By 

FREDDIE RAPER ([e-mail]) (Howe, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 18 Rare Classics (Audio CD)

The album is typical from Merle. It has some great songs in it and some great classics. I am very pleased with this album. If you are a Haggard fan, then by all means, buy this album. You want be un- happy with it.