Pitchfork has a fine review of Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard.
an excerpt:As an introduction to Haggard’s music– or even to the Bakersfield sound that he helped popularize– Hag may be unparalleled. Born in Bakersfield to transplanted Oklahomans, Haggard was at heart a California artist, reared on 1940s and
50s country and influenced by Bob Wills, Tex Ritter, and Spade Cooley. You can hear their influence– especially Wills’– in songs like “Living with the Shades Pulled Down”, on which Haggard calls out his band members to solo, adopting a falsetto much like his hero’s. It’s an original tune, but it could very easily be a Wills cover.
Hag recently collaborated with another Country legend, George Jones, on the release ”
Kickin’ Out the Footlights…Again.”
The Long Way Around and Other Short Stories
is the first solo release from Nashville veteran session bass and string player Spady Brannon. For the last three decades then man has established his bonafides by touring with Crystal Gayle and Reba McEntire, and recording with Tammy Wynette, Eddie Rabbit and Phil Vassar. He’s penned hits for Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers (“Real Love” “Think About Love”), Trisha Yearwood (“I Did”) and Highway 101 (“Desperate Road”) and Roy Orbison. He even scored a European hit for one time ABBA vocalist Agnetha Faltskog with “Once Burned Twice Shy.”
After winning the best album for “Childish Things” and best song for “We Can’t Make It Hear”
Musical legends have teamed up to play on Jerry Lee Lewis’ latest album. Bruce Springsteen is the latest to sign up to guest on the album, with three Rolling Stones also set to feature. Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Little Richard, Merle Haggard and Jimmy Page complete the line-up of guests.
I was at this show and I can testify it was a great freakin concert!