Customer Reviews

Okie From Muskogee: Live

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the definitive textbook on how country music ..real country music..should be remembered. Unlike today's mindless, fabrictaed country pop fluff and artists who can't sing on pitch when they perform live, Hag and the Strangers show that talent and a few Tele's and Twins can still rise above pitch correctors and lip syncing.

The tone on Roy Nichol's tele and the perfectly flawless singing by Hag and Bonnie Owens still leave me with my mouth open.

Recorded in a school gym somewhere in Oklahoma with bare bones PA and no frills, this live album set the standard for me and alot of my contemporaries.

This is the holy Grail of country...you cant afford to NOT own this recording.

JOhn Beland

Flying Burrito Brothers

Austin TX

www.johnbeland.com

Here it is, the real deal -- Merle Haggard's classic live album from 1969, re-released in digital splendor. This is mighty Merle at his best, loose on-stage and in fine voice. This CD includes the best of his many versions of Okie from Muskogee, as well as a rollicking take on Mama Tried and Working Man Blues. The CD is true to its vinyl predecessor, including cuts originally intended to showcase Hag's band, as well as a cut by a since-forgotten Bakersfield vocalist, Gene Price.

It's too bad Capitol couldn't have been a little more creative with the re-release of this album, which has been out of circulation for a couple of decades. Generally, such repackagings include unreleased cuts, but nothing is added here. On the other hand, the bargain-basement price can't be beaten. There are also no new liner notes (although almost all the original packaging is here) and for some reason Ken Nelson's producer credit has been omitted (although the remaster producer's name is listed). These are minor quibbles that don't detract from the joy of having one of the finest and most influential albums in the history of country music available again.

Merle Hagard has long been to me the quenticential country singer.His style of singing has an almost spiritual value, it clearly shows its gospel roots. Listening to many of these songs as a child, I can still remember many of the words to his truly timeless songs. His music takes me back to better days.This music means more today thhen when it first came out.

I was fortunate enough to have caught Merle and The Strangers in 1970 at Madison Square Garden, just a few months after this brillant concert. Merle is on my short list of legends I was lucky enough to have seen in their prime. The others are Bob Marley and Van Morrison. My recollections of the MSG show are very similar to the Muskogge concert heard here. The Strangers and Merle sound like a fine tuned turbo-charged V8 and the song selection works absolutely perfect. Kudos to Capital for rereleasing this vintage performance. Kick back and enjoy. This is a NO-BRAINER!!!!

This is Merle Haggard at his live best--not the shot performer we occasionally hear now and cringe. He only did one better live album, and I fear it's out of print. It's the one he made in Philadelphia, with 'Harold's Super Service," on it, along with him singing impressions of Buck Owens, Marty Robins, even JOhnny Cash. Until that one is re-issued, if it ever is, this one will have to do--and it's a good piece of work.. "Sing me Back Home," Branded Man," "Mama Tried, Etc., certainly weren't on the Philadelphia album, released around 1970 or so. "in the Arms of Love," is terrific--not sung by Merle but one of his boys who never amounted to anything, sadly. I love "Billy Overcame his Size," because I've always been the one overcoming stuff--blindness, asthma, small size, etc., and trying to make a living of it. this is the one Haggard album I'd buy if I could only buy one.

One of country music's most beloved performers is Merle Haggard. Merle is one of best from the classic years of country music that didn't have a famous relative to pave his way to stardom. Or be one of the pretty boys of today that have to rely on their looks not their voices.

This Cd is a snapshot of country's most popular performer at his best. The song Okie From Muskogee stayed at #1 for 4 impressive weeks and won single of the year. Other notable hits included Mama Tried, Silver Wings and a medley of his others timeless classics. An instrumental from his band The Strangers called Blue Rock. Billy Over Came His Size was written by Merle for this recording as he was heading to Muskogee. And as he quotes in the CD,"I had a little help writting this tune, with Jim Beam". Hobo Bill's Last Ride is a sad tale of a man that was down on his luck and depended on the rails as a means of travel. With no family or friends to surround him. Hobo Bill's dynasty came to a tragic end. Other notable titles include White Line Fever, Workin' Man Blues and If I Had Left it Up To You. Closing out the CD with The Okie From Muskogee. One of the most honest hard working artist of our time. Merle Haggard deserves a Lifetime Award.

I'm a pretty big Merle Haggard fan (I got into him by purchasing the 5 new compilations of 10 of his early albums), and before I bought this highly-rated compilation I wondered how such a popular, apparently great album could be so cheap ($3?!?!). Now, after owning it and listening to it, I have a theory--I think Capitol produced a boatload of a low-quality master, realized their mistake too late, and reduced the price to get rid of their stock. I could be wrong--the problems could be inherent in the original tapes, but either way, this release suffers from some serious sound quality issues. A subtle but maddening crackly, buzzy recurring distortion pervades a lot of the album, in the background and accompanying vocals and instruments alike. It's not constant, but it happens enough to drive me nuts, even on the first listen. To make sure it wasn't just my copy, I checked the electronic version on iTunes, and the same problem's there. Assuming that this electronic-sounding problem wasn't part of Merle and the Strangers' sound at the show, it's actually kind of embarrassing that Capitol would release a professional CD with such poor quality. Sorry Capitol, but a disclaimer trying to excuse "imperfections" by talking about "limitations of the recording techniques and equipment of the day" doesn't really cut it--countless albums, 60's and earlier, have been remastered at a much higher quality. If you're not the kind of person who this would bother, or love Merle so much that you think it's still worth owning (this guy included), then please buy it (it's a great concert), but if you think you might be annoyed by subtle but recurring sound quality issues, you may want to check out some other Merle first.

That said, the show recorded on this album is awesome. Merle plays a number of great hits, like the energetic opener "Mama Tried," and a medley of hit singles about drinking and law trouble. The arrangements are similar to the studio albums, but the live energy, Merle's banter and the crowd's energy set the live versions apart. It's one of the most intimate concerts I've heard on recording--you really feel like you're there in small-town Muskogee as the MC introduces Merle, the mayor hands him the key to the city, and the fans cheer when they recognize the songs. The fans sound pleased as punch to be immortalized by Merle's hit song, and they cheer like their lives depend on it.

Other standouts include covers of Jimmie Rodgers (with yodeling), a Buck Owens tune sung by one of the Strangers, a Strangers instrumental, and rare Merle tracks like "White Line Fever" and "Billy Overcame His Size." Listening to this again, I'm so impressed with how tight the Strangers are--the pedal steel and rhythm section cook with gas, and perfectly accompany Merle. By the end, I want to join in the Muskogee standing ovation and beg Merle for more music. If only Capitol had put out a higher quality remaster, this album would be perfect! Because of the flaws, I sadly wouldn't recommend this to a new Merle fan, and would encourage listeners (myself included) to listen past the defects to the great music beneath.

This album is great.

I would just like to add the previous reviewer Donald mentioned another live album that is just one of my all time favorite live albums. It is called "The Fightin' Side of Me". It is a little tough to find though because it is on a double CD. If you search for "Just Between the Two of Us" you will see "The Fightin'Side of Me" which has "Harold's Super Service", "Medley: Devil Woman, I'm Movin On, Folsom Prison Blues, Jackson, Orange Blossom Special, Love's Gonna Live Here" "T.B.Blues" etc...It is truly an incredible album.

This is arguably one of,if not the best, Country Music albums .It came out way back in 1969 when Merle ,at only 32,and had already "lived a lifetime",and was winning top awards.It was the album of the year and Haggard was already recoginized as one of the best.That's over 40 years ago.Even today this album is still one of the best albums that Country Music has produced.Little wonder it has been re-issued over and over ,and in every format.
I was lucky to obtain an original vinyl album.The cover on the record is the same as shown here,and the photos on it were taken at that performance in Muskogee.
It's hard to add anything to all the great things already said.This was a live recording and includes comments with each song,introductions,and presentations to Merle from the Mayor of Muskogee.This recording shows what Country Music was ,and should be all about.A small band travelling ,the singer singing songs and music written by themselves and about the life experiences they had,not fancy studio recording facilities,just a stage in a hall and a room full of fans.That is what Country Music is;music for the people,by the people and about their life experiences.There is little if any of that today,and Country Music is now poorer from it all.
I don't normally do this;but the liner notes on the back album cover are really good,and I am quoting them as they may not be on some of the later re-issues.

"Late in the fall,to Muskogee,population 38,059,came Merle Haggard,singer of American music.He was in town for "one night only" to sing his songs to a Standing Room Only audience.In a few cheer-filled hours he won the hearts of Muskogee,the key to the city and an award from the governor of the state making him an honary "Okie".
Merle really didn't need an award to make him an "Okie" though.His father was a country fiddler from Checotah,Oklahoma and blew with the dust into Bakersfield,California during the Depression days.There,Merle grew up fast. He was 14 when he left Bakersfield for the rest of the world via battered potato trucks,fast-moving freight trains and an ever up-turned hitch-hiking thumb.Those strange years of tough,rough living are over and gone now,but back in his native Bakersfield,he remembers them,and sings as if there isn't a mistake he missed making.
It took Merle half a man's lifetime to get around to Muskogee and discover his father's people...the people who are proud to be pinned with the name "Okies".Those people came in great crowds to see Merle.Many had to stand for the whole time.They came because they knew he had written a song about their town and how they lived.They came to hear about themselves from a man who had come from themselves and had made their song "Okie From Muskogee" the Number One Best-Seller in American Country Music.
Merle was introduced to his father's people and after he finished his opening number "Mama Tried" he was ready to continue...but the applause was like thunder,and the cheers,whistles and stomps were too much.He held his arms high to quiet them,but the Okies kept on and all he could say was "Thank you".Thank you.I appreciate this".
In time,his Muskogee audience let him sing again and he gave them the best there is..."Sing Me Back Home"; "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive";"Swinging Doors";"Workin' Man Blues";and "No Hard Times",written by his 1930's here,Jimmie Rogers.Finally he gave them what they had come for--"Okie From Muskogee".They loved it so and they loved Merle so for writing it,he had to sing it once more.
Then,before he could get on the road back to Bakersfield,he had to wait through three standing ovations. "
-K.Vincent

It's hard to believe that was all over 40 years ago.It was the beginning years of a true Legend that continues to today.

This is one of the finest live albums in the country music cannon. Capturing Merle Haggard and The Strangers at their peak before a wildly enthusiastic crowd. The 19 tracks here represent Merle not only as a compelling live performer but as a band leader in the tradition of Bob Wills or even Count Basie. The band performs loved Haggard standards such as Mama Tried, Silver Wings and Sing Me Back Home with precision. Perfectly mixed with crowd interaction, the performances are different enough to capture the dynamics of a live performance, but maintaining the basic tempo and familiar licks of the studio recordings. Jimmie Rodgers standards, which remain a part of Haggard live to this day, include No Hard Times and Hobo's Bills Last Ride. To show The Strangers are more than backing musicians, Hag gives them room for the honky Tonkin original instrumental Blue Rock. From the introduction to the final strains of Okie from Muskogee (which the crowd made them play twice) the energy captures one of country music's most accomplished bands at their best.