Customer Reviews

16 Biggest Hit (Eco)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked up this CD in a store and when I got it home, realized that instead of the original versions of his hits, we have re-hashed re-recordings from 1994! What a let down! I was expecting the old classics recorded with the Strangers! Shame on Sony Music for not labeling this collection on it's outer package for what it is. Thank you Amazon for honestly describing the contents on your website!

Anyone want a slightly-used Merle Haggard CD??

I've been a Merle Haggard fan all my life and this CD is about as great as he gets. But, if you want the original recordings of these hits, look elsewhere.

I withhold one star from this because these tracks were all recorded in October, 1994, although the original singles were released in the '60's, 70's and 80's. That said, it is still a fine one-disc collection of SOME of Merle's best. His voice was still great in '94, and the man knows how to write a song and put one over. "Lonesome Fugitive" and "Branded Man" and "Sing Me Back Home" and "Fightin' Side of Me" and "Big City" are all great. "Mama Tried" is universal. There is a two-CD collection just released earlier this year (2004) which probably represents the artist more completely, but if you find this one at a good price, it should please all his fans. Merle sings "Working Man Blues" on this disc, and I have tickets to see him perform on July 3rd. Check out his website and you'll see he works a heck of a lot for an old geezer born in 1937 (seven years older than I am!) He is one of country's greatest singers, along with Jones and Cash and Nelson, and still has something to say to music fans young enough to be his grandchildren.

Okay, so you might be wondering why I love this album so much being that my main staple of music is punk and metal. To me the answer isn't so difficult. Merle Haggard is an artist whose music has touched the lives of people everywhere. this man has been not only a monumental inspiration to members of the country/ western genre, but to people of ALL musical diversities. For me, Haggard stands supreme above all other musicians.

This is vintage Merle Haggard at his best with a very wide selection of his singing and writing work covering the period from 1966 thru 1971 and on to 1981. These are all studio recordings with great instrument acoustics with very good voice to instrument balance levels.

A mature Merle Haggard looks back to his early hits in this CD that was mostly recorded in the mid-to-late '90s, nearly three decades after these songs were chart-toppers. His voice has a bit more whiskey and gravel in it, but is still that unique sound, often a sound of pain, that is purely Merle. These are tales of hardship and loneliness, and Merle has at one time or another in his life lived them. The song I always find to be a heartbreaker is "Hungry Eyes", where Merle's writing genius captures a story of need so vividly we can almost see it in our mind's eye. "Working Man Blues" is a great toe-tapper, as is "The Fightin' Side of Me", a song that expresses how many of us feel in the present time.

Most of the tracks have simple but excellent backing, but there is no recording info given as to who is in the band in the minimal liner notes.

There are three tracks that were previously released: Two from the "Big City" CD from 1981 (tracks # 13 and # 14) and one from the "Going Where the Lonely Go" from 1982 (track # 15).

This is a terrific CD, as long as one isn't expecting the original recordings; I appreciate the legendary Haggard at every stage of his long career...and this look back at his early work is wonderful...music that tells stories from a time long gone, but still so relevant today.

The sound for the most part is good and total playing time is 50'58.

The CD is not the problem. The problem is that it doesn't say that these are re-recordings on the front cover. So, people expecting the originals feel like they've gotten ripped off.

However, Merle's voice has gotten better over time. It's deeper and more nuanced. Recording technology has also improved since the 60s. Combine all that into one package, and you've got this collection right here. So, if what you're after is the nostalgia of the original recordings, then this isn't it. But if you prefer his old man voice: the smoky, honey whiskey, country legendary voice, then this is the collection for you.

I'm not sure how many different studio recordings of "Mama Tried" Merle released, but I've heard at least 3 different versions of it. I think I've finally found the version I like, this one. This is the one that used to be on the box at the National Liquor bar. In this version the line "no one could steer me right...but mamma tried", you have that pause there, this version is far superior to the other studio recordings, yes even the original. This one is sung with the most emotion by far.

This is classic, vintage Merle Haggard at his best. I just wish it had the song "I take a lot of pride in what I am". However, the songs it does contain are all great. They are songs about life, hard times, loniness, gettin' into trouble, drinking, broken relationships, patriotism, & more. Most of these songs were written by the "Hag" himself.

The songs:
1.Swinging Doors
2.The bottle let me down
3.I'm a lonesome fugitive
4.Branded Man
5.Sing Me back Home
6..Mama Tried
7.Hungry eyes
8.Workin' Man Blues
9.Okie from Muskogee
10.The Fightin' side of me
11.Daddy Frank (The guitar man was blind)
12.I think I'll just stay here and drink
13.Big City
14.Are the Good Times really over (I wish a buck was still silver)
15.Going where the Lonely Go
16.Silver Wings

This is some great vintage, classic Merle Haggard at his best!!! Thanks!!!!

For anyone who is looking for a good compilation of Merle Haggard hits, this is the perfect CD. I've listened to it over and over and over again, and I don't think I will ever get tired of listening to the Haggard classics on this CD.