CD-Charts Position 1
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Last Of The Breed

by: Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Ray Price

Release Date March 19, 2007
Being a huge fan of Willie, Ray and Merle already I went and bought this the moment it was released. On it's own merits the album is very enjoyable to listen to, particularly the first disk which in my opinion has teh best range of songs. All three artists sound great together and, unsurprisingly the songs sound pretty much like a cross between Willie & Ray's 'Run That By Me One More Time' album, and Willie & Merle's 'Pancho & Lefty' album.

Merle Haggard said that this album is dance country music, so if you like pure country music you'll probably notice the perhaps over-reliance on the harmonica and steel guitar on most of the songs. It's not this type of music that made these musicians into the legends they are today. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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The Very Best of Merle Haggard

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date July 02, 2007
This two CD set is a superb introduction to Merle Haggard and represents an absolute bargain. If you are a fan of the Bakersfield sound then look no further. I was astonished at the consistency and brilliance of the material included here. With excellent backing from his band the Strangers; sometimes including the great James Burton on guitar - Merle keeps it simple and the results include some of country music's greatest moments. There can be few better songwriters in any genre. Haggard delivers an abundance of great records here; with customary sadness, beauty and melancholy. Each track sung as brilliantly as ever. You can almost taste the whiskey and smell the smoke from the crowded bar-room. Five stars out of five.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Hag - the Best of Merle Haggard

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date November 06, 2006
THIS CD IS ONE OF RARE HAG COMPILATIONS THAT COVERS FULL DISCOGRAPHY TO DATE,AND MAY SAY THE BEST SINGLE-DISC OF HIS MUSIC.

SONGS #1-19 "CAPITOL PERIOD" 1966-1975 RATING:5/5
THERE ARE MASTERPIECES "THE LEGEND OF BONNIE...,TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU...,MAMA TRIED,I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE...(VERY SIMILAR TO A CLASSIC "GENTLE ON MY MIND"),HUNGRY EYES,WORKIN MAN BLUES,IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH..."
CAPITOL YEARS ENDS WITH THREE GREAT HONKY-TONKS "HONKY TONK NIGHT TIME...,OLD MAN FROM THE ...AND LIVING WITH THE SHADES...".

SONGS #20-22 COVERS 1980-1983(MCA/EPIC YEARS) RATING:4/5
FIRST TWO ARE VERY GOOD SONGS BUT HIS FAMOUS DUET WITH WILLIE NELSON "PANCHO AND LEFTY" SIMPLY DON'T FIT HERE SINCE IT'S ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Merle Haggard - In Concert

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date September 22, 2008
THIS CD IS ONE OF RARE HAG COMPILATIONS THAT COVERS FULL DISCOGRAPHY TO DATE,AND MAY SAY THE BEST SINGLE-DISC OF HIS MUSIC.

SONGS #1-19 "CAPITOL PERIOD" 1966-1975 RATING:5/5
THERE ARE MASTERPIECES "THE LEGEND OF BONNIE...,TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU...,MAMA TRIED,I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE...(VERY SIMILAR TO A CLASSIC "GENTLE ON MY MIND"),HUNGRY EYES,WORKIN MAN BLUES,IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH..."
CAPITOL YEARS ENDS WITH THREE GREAT HONKY-TONKS "HONKY TONK NIGHT TIME...,OLD MAN FROM THE ...AND LIVING WITH THE SHADES...".

SONGS #20-22 COVERS 1980-1983(MCA/EPIC YEARS) RATING:4/5
FIRST TWO ARE VERY GOOD SONGS BUT HIS FAMOUS DUET WITH WILLIE NELSON "PANCHO AND LEFTY" SIMPLY DON'T FIT HERE SINCE IT'S ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Live from Austin Tx: +DVD

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date November 24, 2008
Live albums are oftgen much of a muchness. Contract-fillers or tour souveniers, they are rarely much more than a stop gap. However, this CD and DVD set, recorded in January, 1987, is an utterly superb collection, with Haggard in fine physical and vocal shape, with a knockout band backing him up. He's still around of course, and very much a force in contemporary Country, but he was truly sumpin' else back then.

CD-Charts Position 6
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20 Greatest Hits

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date June 03, 2002
With 38 number one country hits and many other top ten country hits, it isn't possible to even come close to encompassing his career on a single CD. Quite apart from his hits, there were some that got away. Silver wings (included here) was only released as a B-side but is now regarded as one of Merle's classic songs. Today I started loving you again, another of Merle's B-sides included here, has been covered more frequently than any of Merle's other songs and has also become a classic. The inclusion of B-sides would normally devalue a hits compilation but it is clear that Capitol made big mistakes when deciding not to release these two songs as A-sides at the time.

There are a few other songs here that were only minor hits or weren't hits at ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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From the King to the Barrooms

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date February 04, 2008
This album is brilliant as a tribute to Elvis and as a collection of brilliant Merle Haggard songs in their own right. I know this album first came out a long time ago, and it's a crime that it's only just received a re-release.

The album includes more laid-back and slower-tempo songs than what most Merle Haggard fans would be used to, but that's due to the context of the album's release and the contrast it provides when those rocking Elvis tracks kick in. The whole album features songs that are great to listen to, I can;t think of one I don't like. Misery & Gin is enough of a reason to buy this album!

Seriously though, this in my opinion is Merle Haggard when he was near his best, a slightly deeper voice than his earlier work ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Merle Haggard Collector's Edition

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date September 23, 2008
This album is brilliant as a tribute to Elvis and as a collection of brilliant Merle Haggard songs in their own right. I know this album first came out a long time ago, and it's a crime that it's only just received a re-release.

The album includes more laid-back and slower-tempo songs than what most Merle Haggard fans would be used to, but that's due to the context of the album's release and the contrast it provides when those rocking Elvis tracks kick in. The whole album features songs that are great to listen to, I can;t think of one I don't like. Misery & Gin is enough of a reason to buy this album!

Seriously though, this in my opinion is Merle Haggard when he was near his best, a slightly deeper voice than his earlier work ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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A Christmas Present

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date August 16, 1990
This album is brilliant as a tribute to Elvis and as a collection of brilliant Merle Haggard songs in their own right. I know this album first came out a long time ago, and it's a crime that it's only just received a re-release.

The album includes more laid-back and slower-tempo songs than what most Merle Haggard fans would be used to, but that's due to the context of the album's release and the contrast it provides when those rocking Elvis tracks kick in. The whole album features songs that are great to listen to, I can;t think of one I don't like. Misery & Gin is enough of a reason to buy this album!

Seriously though, this in my opinion is Merle Haggard when he was near his best, a slightly deeper voice than his earlier work ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Collector's Edition

by: Merle Haggard

Release Date October 14, 2008
This album is brilliant as a tribute to Elvis and as a collection of brilliant Merle Haggard songs in their own right. I know this album first came out a long time ago, and it's a crime that it's only just received a re-release.

The album includes more laid-back and slower-tempo songs than what most Merle Haggard fans would be used to, but that's due to the context of the album's release and the contrast it provides when those rocking Elvis tracks kick in. The whole album features songs that are great to listen to, I can;t think of one I don't like. Misery & Gin is enough of a reason to buy this album!

Seriously though, this in my opinion is Merle Haggard when he was near his best, a slightly deeper voice than his earlier work ... Read More: