Big City

Merle Haggard

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GMZXG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,208 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Merle Haggard's Epic stint was short-lived and aimless; it produced a slew of celebrity duets, but little of merit except this, his 1981 label debut and 47th album overall. The first album Haggard produced himself has no fat. With his love for Western swing peaking around this time, the Strangers are a bigger band than ever and get almost as much play as he does. But even when he brings in still more instruments, as on "Stop the World (And Let Me Off)," they're honed to a sharp, minimalist edge. The writing is also growing more ambitious. The title song is still an alt-country favorite, but the album also hides such gems as the slow-death "You Don't Have Very Far to Go," cowritten with Red Simpson. Can't say the bonus tracks add anything, but neither do they do Haggard any harm. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Country doesn't get any better than this!, January 31, 2003

By	stonehenge7 "stonehenge7" (Simi Valley, CA. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big City (Audio CD)

This CD is not only one of the top Country discs of all time, it is one of the finest albums of any sort of music I have ever heard! This album has so many truly fine Hag songs it easily could be labeled a greatest hits disc.
You've got the title track, one of the best songs I have ever heard. I mean, put this on after a week of fighting traffic and busting your rear end at work, kick back with a brew, and it will absolutely free your soul! You may even break out a map of Montana and start on down the road. Another brilliant song, although not written by Merle, is "Stop the World and Let Me Off". Though this tune deals with a failed relationship, it is so easy to think of it in a general context, and I don't know how many times in this way-to-busy world that I have just wanted to get off the ride and just do anything but work my tail off all day, every day!
Also outstanding are "I think I'm Gonna Live Forever" and all the others. This is a super, super strong disc worth twice the price.
The fact that you almost never hear Hag on the radio these days is complete bull, and makes me sick! Instead, it's whoever's wearing the tightest jeans and the biggest hat that gets all the airplay. This is just the same as it would be to not put George Washington in U.S. History books folks. But heck don't just play Haggard on the radio for old times sake, play him because his music just kicks the you know what out of 99 percent of the junk coming over todays airwaves.
This CD has much of the best of the best of Merle. I can not recommend it enough. It's unbelievable that there are only a couple of reviews for this CD!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hag at the top of his game, December 15, 2003

By	Brian "Jazz Fan" J. B. (Kalamazoo, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big City (Audio CD)

Hag's voice deepened to where his version of "You Don't have very far to go" sounds wholly different than his earlier versions. He uses his voice like Sinatra did to convery nuances other singers don't get to. The sound on this is terrific too. Get this and Serving 190 Proof, the woefully underrated work that is selling at a bargain basement price. Also, get Hag's "If I could only fly" to hear what he can do today. A great songwriter, musician, and singer.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best country album of the early 80's, January 10, 2006

By	Travis B. Hill "seeker of music" (Little Rock AR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Big City (Audio CD)

Arguably Merle's best album of the Epic years, this is a no-filler, must-have for any serious student of country music. The remastered disc sounds superb and is worth the price if you've got the older cd issue. I dispute the reviewer who asserts that Haggards Epic years were wasted with the exception of this classic. The Epic albums do have a different sound than the earlier Capitol years but that's only a natural progression of a man entering his 40's in a time when Nashville was swinging back to the "Urban Cowboy" pop period. Merle never gave in to the "Big City" sound and this album stands in clear contrast to much of what filled the airwaves then...and now. Pick it up and thank me later.