Product Details

• Actors: Merle Haggard
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Shout Factory
• DVD Release Date: November 11, 2008
• Run Time: 65 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001GJ4U9G
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,748 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Merle through the ages, June 9, 2009

By 

Larry R. Hazard (chicago IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legendary Performances: Merle Haggard (DVD)

A "must have" for Merle fans, this dvd shows a tv performance sampler of some of his great hits throughout his songwriting career. I'ts great to see Merle up close with his band, hearing these great songs being done at the time they were hits. If they have some more fabulous clips for a second dvd, sign me up!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best "Classic" Merle Haggard DVD Out There, Compiled By The Country Music Hall of Fame = A1+!!!!!!!, April 5, 2010

By 

Gary Covington "Southern Rocker" (Louisiana, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legendary Performances: Merle Haggard (DVD)

This dvd is a "must have" for any Merle Haggard fan or classic country music fan. This is Merle Haggard at his very best. This is a compilation of legendary performances by the "Hag", throughout the "prime" of his career. I am just not able to think of enough words to describe how good it is. These performances sound just like you heard them on the radio, way back then. Plus, as part of the bonus, you get to see Merle getting inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Performances:
1.Branded Man (Country Holiday Show 1968)
2.The Bottle Let Me Down (Country Holiday Show 1968)
3.Swinging Doors (Country Holiday Show 1968)
4.Mama Tried (Billy Walker's Country Carnival 1968)
5.I Started Loving You Again (Billy Walker's Country Carnival 1968)
6.I Take A Lot of Pride in What I Am (Billy Walker's Country Carnival 1968)
7.The Fightin' Side Of Me (The Porter Wagoner Show 1970)
8.Okie From Muskogee (The Porter Wagoner Show 1970)
9.Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man) (CMA Awards Show 1972
10.Workin' Man Blues (Pop Goes the Country 1974)
11.Movin' On (Pop Goes the Country 1975)
12.The Roots of My Raising (The Porter Wagoner Show 1977)
13.Ramblin' Fever (Pop Goes the Country 1977)
14.That's The Way Love Goes (CMA Awards 1983)
15.San Antonio Rose (Johnny Cash Chrismas Special 1983)

Bonus Material:
Merle Haggard Interview (1981)
Merle Haggard's Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994 by EmmyLou Harris, who is now also an inductee.

Plus, included in the dvd package, you get a little history or story behind every song. This is a "keeper", and I highly recommend it!!!! Thanks!!!!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Merle!, November 21, 2009

By 

Vorthog (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legendary Performances: Merle Haggard (DVD)

Well lordy be, they've really dug deep into the vaults of country music history for this one, bringing together many of Merle Haggard's early TV performances including everything from obscure local Nashville shows (wait'll you get a load of Porter Wagoner's outfits!) to "Pop! Goes the Country" and the CMA awards.

Performances cover the period 1968-1983. It was really interesting for me not only to listen to the evolution of Merle's music (I actually seem to prefer his earliest stuff the best) but also to look at the changing styles in clothing and hair, and to watch Merle slowly growing older. I have to say that Merle was quite a handsome fellow in his younger days, and reminds me of a young Warren Beatty. And that fabulous voice -- it just tugs at my heart strings!

I have always dreamed of someday seeing him singing "Fightin' Side of Me" and "Okie From Muskokie" like this, right at the time when these classic songs were topping the charts as huge hits that were stirring up controversy across the nation. The first became a real redneck anthem of the day for the people supporting the Vietnam War effort. And I have heard rumour that when he penned the staunchly anti-drug song "Okie", Merle himself was in fact actually using drugs. In any case, it really brought back memories for me of all the social turmoil going on back in those days and kind of makes me wish I could hear how he feels about it all now, decades later today....

The DVD extras are good and include a lengthy interview with Merle and his then-wife and fellow performer right on his tour bus in 1981, as well as his Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony from 1994.

Shout Factory and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum have really done a fantastic job on this DVD and all of the footage is beautiful and looks as if it was just filmed today. If they have any more footage like this of Merle, I would love to see them do a Volume 2.

So far they have also made DVDs in this series for Tammy Wynette and Marty Robbins. Next I hope they'll continue with DVDs for Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton (lots of Porter & Dolly please!), Charley Pride, Ray Price, Tom T. Hall, George Jones, and how 'bout a li'l bit o' ol' Doug Kershaw?

To all Merle Haggard fans (especially fans of his early work) I would DEFINITELY recommend this DVD!