Customer Reviews

Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World

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

 

 

Not to worry this is a CD that takes two of Merle Haggard's Capital Record albums from the 1970's and puts them on one CD. In a way its amazing that Record buyers from the 60's and 70's bought albums with 30 minutes of music, but today we can reap the benefits of two albums plus some well worth bonus tracks on one CD. As to the Music its a pure delight. Merle Haggard plays tribute to his musical idol Bob Wills on the 1st half of this CD. Its great and many of the original Texas Playboys play too. This has been out of circulation for awhile. The other half of the CD is pure Haggard at his best.

The first album here is a tribute to Bob Wills, in which Merle called on the services of six members of Bob's band, the Texas Playboys, to give the album an authentic feel. As is typical of tribute albums, this one contains some of Bob's biggest hits but includes plenty of less obvious selections. The familiar songs here include San Antonio Rose (often covered by country singers), Right or wrong (revived by George Strait, it became one of his earliest country hits) and Stay a little longer (a country hit for Willie Nelson in the seventies and later re-recorded by him for Greatest hits and some that will be). Although plenty of Bob's hits are missing, the inclusion of Time changes everything, Take me back to Tulsa and many other great song illustrates the depth of his music beyond the hits.

The second album here, It's all in the music, is a typical ~Merle Haggard album that features eight of his own songs including the classic title track. Among the other seven, I particularly like the upbeat This is the song we sing, but they're all worth a listen. The tune to one of them (Living with the shades pulled down) reminds me of Rocky top, so perhaps it`s not truly a Merle Haggard original. There are at least three covers, these being another Bob Wills song (Cotton patch blues), a Dolly Parton classic (The seeker) and an obscure Hank Cochran song (I know an ending). The liner notes say that there are four covers, but I can't trace another recording of Stingeree (the other song here that Merle didn't write) so I wonder whether it is a cover or a song that was written for him.

While it is possible to argue about which of Merle's albums are the best, I'll just say that he recorded many great albums and I was very pleased to see these two re-issued on CD, having originally had them on vinyl.

Once again 2 of his best albums that we only had previously on vinyl. This cd will get lots of use.

Both of these albums are terrific ! Merle goes back to his roots of his favorites on the 1st lp and for the 2d , the only song missing from this is " Running Kind " , recorded during these sessions in Apr. - Aug. 1975 . Some great stuff here , so don't miss it !

The Tribute to Bob Wills includes some popular very enjoyable songs. The second part has Merle Haggard singing several songs I was not familiar but I still enjoy his distinctive style. Good listen and fun to dance to the Fiddle tribute.

For this album - I originally had the record - Merle combines the Strangers, his band, with the Texas Playboys. It's an amazing combination of talents that makes these songs truly wonderful. You can hear how the Playboys still play together as smoothly as they ever did, the arrangements stay true to the originals (had those too - lotsa records), and you're transported to an earlier, better time in music and in life. Even though I've owned the albums and the CD for a very long time, I still pull this one out as my "comfort" album and listen to it whenever I just want to get away.