Unforgettable

Merle Haggard

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 14, 2004)
• Original Release Date: December 14, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Liberty
• ASIN: B0006G8UM8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #132,900 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This standards-based album is really no surprise: Bing Crosby was nearly as much a hero to Merle Haggard as was Bob Wills and Lefty Frizzell, and for decades Hag has blended classic pop into his onstage repertoire. These nine standards and three contemporary tunes, recorded over a lengthy period, constitute a joint release by Capitol and his own Hag Records. Lounge-style, easygoing arrangements complement his warm, knowing renditions of "As Time Goes By" and Nat "King" Cole's "Unforgettable." He swings nimbly through "Pennies from Heaven" (graced by Clint Strong's peerless country-jazz guitar) and "I'll Get By," and he cloaks "Cry Me a River" in a world-weariness light years from Julie London's sultry original. In this context, Haggard's own "What Love Can Do" seems too contemporary. By contrast, the Western swing ballad "Goin' Away Party," written by Cindy Walker, and "Still Missing You," penned by album producer Freddy Powers, reflect a classic pop feel that fits perfectly. While Rod Stewart came to pop standards late in his career, Haggard already knew this territory forwards and backwards--and it shows. --Rich Kienzle

Product Description

Merle Haggard Photos

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great music, but BEWARE, December 20, 2004

By	Daniel J. Flaherty - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As usual, merle turns in a great performance, but this disc is copy protected, and plays with clicks on both my phillips 963 players, like a long scratch on an lp.The phillips was produced in the last 2 years. On my older jvc, and older toshiba, i hear a buzzing twang in parts of some songs.It does play allright on my 7 year old sony cd changer.I will have to copy it using analog jacks from my sony to my cd recorder.It seems as if the music industry is trying to drive away the last of us paying customers

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Love Merle's music, January 14, 2005

By	A. Olmsted "AMO" (MN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I knew some day Merle would record a big band album and i have been waiting for it.
He can't hardle do anything bad as far as music is concerned. If you are a "dyed in the wool" Merle Haggard fan as I am you will buy this album. The four songs that make it worth the purchase are, "I Can't get started" "Still missing you" "Going away party" and my most favorite of all, "What love can do"
This Man is a GREAT artist!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Voice, the Legend!, December 18, 2004

By	John Gervickas (Cape Coral, Florida United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Merle has probably been more celebrated for his songwriting than his singing over the years, but this CD shows why so many of us love this mans' singing voice. Wow! 67 years old, and he could never have sung these songs better. Merle may be accused of jumping on the pop standards bandwagon, but he's had these songs in the can for awhile, and has recorded many pop songs (in this style) over the years. The choice of material is outstanding (although "Cry me a river" isn't as suited to his voice, and "Unforgettable" is just too associated with The King (Nat, that is). His readings of "The Gypsy", "Stardust" (man! What a song, what a version), "I can't get started", "I'll get by", and "You're nobody 'til somebody loves you" are beautiful. His original, "What love can do" is as nice as anything on here (who else has the talent to write a new song to go with this level of material?). This version of "Goin' away party" is now the definitive one, and what a great song it is (it was on the last Bob Wills album).The musicianship is great (and, as always for Merle, in good taste). I know this won't sell like the (gasp) Rod Stewart abominations of standards, and what a shame that is. As much acclaim as he has had, I still feel that somehow Merle is still underappreciated and underrated. He is absolutely one of the greatest musical artists this world has seen, and there are no more Merle Haggards' coming down the road. Buy this CD, pour some wine, and listen to it with someone you love. Long live the Hag!