Merle Haggard

Awesome collection for someone who enjoys Merle, but cant afford every CD he has out.

I have seen Merle in person and recommend EVERYONE to do the same. Wow!!! If only I could go back to the 80's and do it all over again.!!

A collection of classic Merle Haggard. I can listen to it everyday.
Great selection.

I was surprised that All of his songs were so good. Love it. Service was excellent.

I am so glad that I purchased this CD. It is the best CD to have if you are a Merle Haggard Fan. This CD gives the music fan a great taste of all his hits throughout his career. I recommend this CD to any country music fan that loves the "Oldies" of country music and the artist that sings them.

For me to rate this purchase would be unfair. It was purchased as gifts for two very different people. They both say they really enjoy it. That is about all I have to say about it.

I say artist since Merle is indeed an icon not some single/45 maker typically known to this genre of music but a serious artist that is best served up on individual albums showing his development or with the great box set "Down Every Road" that beautifully sums it all up and belongs in any serious CD collection.
The song selection here on HAG is a great mix and flows seamlesly and is enough to turn any rock fan into a country fan.
The sound is extraordinary as is the running time and liner notes and overall a great CD that included his famous duets with the great Johnny Cash(from the CASH CD Solitary Man),and the classic Willie Nelson cut Pancho and Lefty as well as a newer track with Toby Keith spanning a trip down memory lane circa 1962- 2005..Interesting photos of Merle standing over a grave site within as a middle age man with additional shots of him younger and the elder statesmen which he now is, akin to 2006 when this great CD hit.

What can anyone say about Merle Haggard that has not already been said? He has an awesome voice that brings for delightful country songs almost effortlessly. Years and years of quality songs and song writing that cannot be beat! High quality CD and a fair price. The delivery is super fast too!

If you were going to buy a best of to introduce someone to Merle Haggard, this is a good one. Plenty of classics here, But I kind of wish they included more of his MCA and Epic era hits.

I really like old country music. It's much more sincere and real that the current garbage permeating the airwaves. Merle Haggard is a prime example of that old country music. He's one of the greatest songwriters to emerge from country music, and his songs are still valid today. Many people dismiss him as a right wing blowhard because of songs like Okie from Muskogee and The Right Side of Me. I actually like Okie, and its criticisms of hippie lifestyles is kind of funny and true, considering hippies were silly and naive. I used to dislike The Right Side of Me, but it's grown on me over the last year, and it's not as jingoistic as I thought. Even if you don't like these 2 songs because of their (possible) right wing bias, one shouldn't dismiss everything Merle has done over his career because of them. Merle is a true artist and a complicated man. The Grateful Dead have covered his songs (most notably Mama Tried, included here), so even the hippie Dead recognized that Merle is a great songwriter, and his political views (which are probably more complicated than most people think) shouldn't matter when it comes to his art. Personally, I think there's more wisdom in a 3 minute Haggard song (and a Cline and Wiliams one) than in all the political rants of lefties and righties combined. There was a recent article on Amazon's plog about how people in Seattle were rather rude to him when he was performing, showing that liberals can be closed minded as well. The biggest surprise here is the duet Merle does with Toby Keith, She Ain't Hooked on Me Anymore. It's a great song, co-written by Keith himself, and it makes me want to go out and buy some CD's of Toby's. This is a wonderful collection, featuring many of Merle's greatest, including Mama Tried, Okie from Muskogee, Hungry Eyes, and The Bottle Let Me Down. Haggard is still going strong today, and his music will go on forever....

I had hoped for better (a lot better---if I weren't so disappointed, it probably would have been a 3). The material is OK, but it sounds like the performances were phoned in and these guys never actually sang *together* during the recording process.

An outstanding album by three men who are indeed, the "Last of the Breed".Ray Price is particularly impressive, when at 82 he can still hit those deep base notes that he made so popular 35 years ago. Willie's voice is starting to crack a little, but his guitar playing is still excellent. Merle Haggard has lost some of the outlaw approach he had and has mellowed enough to have improved in singing and personality. Back up by the Cherokee Cowboys, Asleep at The Wheel, and excellent support by Micky Raphael on the harmonica and others are simply supurb.

This CD features three country music Hall of Famers singing old country songs (with one of two newer songs). That's about all you need to know. It's all very charming and old school. If you like old time country music, you will certainly enjoy this.

It is so wonderful what these three giants of Country Mucic have done. Of course we've heard a lot over the years about Willie and Merle, but it seemed like no one ever heard of Ray Price. He was so long overlooked by a lot of people, and practically shunned by the know-alls in Nashville, because he was one of the first to bring strings into his band. Ultimately he was part of the genre who brought a new kind of country, called Nashville Sound, which saved country music as such. It was all going the way of rock and roll without the likes of Ray price. Don Gibson was another. Both of them my favorites. I can listen to a song by Ray and then one by Don and back and forth and I'm in hog heaven. It's hard for me to decide on a absolute favorite. Those two guys and several others are the main reason we have any kind of country today. The first song I actually fell in love with by Ray was "Night Life". I liked the earlier ones also, but Night Life grabbed me, and I never let go. That stuff you hear on the radio is NOT country music. I don't know what it should be called but I say it's more like "pop rock, screaming and yelling." Whoever can scream and yell and show off the most, wins first place. It isn't music. It's torture to my old ears.
I am so glad to see somebody else has heard of Ray Price other than myself. He was so long overlooked that I finally ended up joining his fan club just to get info about him. And Don, well, he set the course for himself, but the man was brilliant, despite having no education, having dropped out of school at the age of 8 (in the second grade). He just told his mama one day that school was boring, and he wasn't going back. I don't know why, and don't question why she didn't set her foot down and say "Don, get your butt back to school." Not too many years later, he wrote the song that has been recorded more than any other song in history, even more than God Bless America and White Christmas, over 700 times, and sold in the millions. Of course I speak of "I Can't Stop Loving You." Most likely, if he had stayed in school for the next 10 years or so, Ray Charles would still be a mystery to white people, and Don probably would have ended up a poor working fool at one of the many cotton mills around the area he and I are from; talk about sweat mills, they were that. My grandfather worked in one for 30 years or so and he never got rich. Barely able to live on the social security he ended up with. Don didn't work in one very long until he decided there had to be a better way to make a living.
I'm so happy for all three of the Old Breed, but especially so for Ray. He waited so long for some recognition. He spoke it best when he finally was enshrined into the Country Music Hall Of Fame, "It's About Time." And that was his acceptance speech. And so it was. That was 1996, some 40 years or more after he started in the business down in Texas, with Bob Wills and then Hank Williams. Those who call the shots in Nashville, obviously, don't know an awful lot about true country music, judging by the true country artists from years ago that are still not in the CMHOF, compared with some that have been inducted in the last 10 or 20 years. Wish I had the majority of the voting power. Not a one of those newer guys/gals would be enshrined before the older pioneers. Just last year there was Ralph Emery and Mel Tillis, and VINCE GILL. Give me a break. Vince Gill is great, but so were Ralph Emery for promoting country music for so many years, and Mel Tillis for singing and promoting and writing country music what seems like forever. Way long overdue. And there are so many more who have not had their places and contributions recognized by the people who run things there.
It ought'a be something like baseball's Hall of Fame: 5 years after a player has retired, he can be voted on for the HOF. I didn't say the SAME as baseball, but they could come up with some way of rewarding the older ones before rewarding newer ones. Like, to catch up, they could do more than 2 or 3 each year. The year they voted Don Gibson in, there were 11 other ones. Why not do that every year if they need to to get everyone in there from before it was established and to get the newer ones in afterwards. That would be fine by me. I think Vince Gill has very well earned his position there, but so have a lot of the older ones who have gone on to Hillbilly Heaven, as we use to call it.

Tho their voices may not be as supple, their singing is cowboy jazz and heartfelt melodies. Exquisite musicianship ( Buddy Emmons on steel, Charlie McCoy on harp, Johnny Gimble on fiddle and Boots Randolf on sax)and a great song selection. What stands out is the clarity and fullness of the recording and the production. They play this up in heaven but not down here on the radio.

To understand Merle Haggard, you must understand these facts:
1. Saving, perhaps, for one Arthur Fonzerelli, there has never been anyone as cool as Merle Haggard.
2. Merle Haggard meant every word he ever sang, even if he only meant it while he was singing it.
3. Since Merle Haggard, virtually every Honky-Tonk singer has tried to sound like Merle Haggard, and virtually every one of them has failed miserably.
In this collection you get 100 Haggard songs, and every one of 'em packs a mighty wallop.

Item was purchased as a gift. It was received in a very timely manner. Recipient was very pleased and has reported no problems with the CD set.

I've got a lot of Hag around the house, but you don't want to hear about my wife--let's talk music instead.

Seriously though Hag fans, it's hard to go wrong with this set despite it being plenty pricey. It's a very good cross section of his finest years and disc two especially is great stuff.

To me Merle Haggard music should be a seperate genre. It's almost not fair to compare him to other country artists because no matter how you slice it, he is so unbelievably good. That voice, at once clear, effortless and moving. And what a prolific song writer as well, Hag was cranking out classics faster than others could have put a bunch of garbage on vinyl.

His songs just hit home with you and are a great source of Americana. There will never be another one like him and yet you hardly ever hear a Hag tune on the radio these days, which is kind of like taking George Washington off of the dollar bill.

I love Hag's stuff, and my wife too by the way. You'll like this one also. I highly recommend it.

When you think of traditional country music, few names command the respect Merle Haggard does. There are perhaps dozens of Merle compilations, but I find "Down Every Road" is arguably the best showcase of his versatile career.

It's amazing to see how far Haggard's career progressed from the early 60's to now; this collection covers the vast majority of his hits through 1994 or so, with a few minor exceptions ("Movin' On" isn't included, for example). It's all here. All the stories that make country music great: drinkin', trains, love gained, love lost, good-boy-gone wrong, etc. The thing is, Merle's lived most of this. The listener can almost feel the pain in his voice in a lot of this material, and it's completely believable. I guess that's why I like him so much, and one of the reasons he's been so well received over the course of his lengthy career. He's a road warrior, a survivor. I would recommend this collection to any real country music fan, but it's priceless for true Hag fans. Worth every penny.

I cant believe I wasted my money on this box. It does a a lousy job of covering anything other then his Capitol years (doesnt surprise me being a Capitol box set) and I dont believe it even does a good job of that. Its a good thing its out of print and I wouldnt recommend anyone wasting their time trying to find a copy.

I was really looking forward to this CD but after having received it---and listened to it. Well, if you are a "true" Merle Haggard fan---you will notice the differences in the recordings. I should have saved my money. Most of the recordings are "comprimised" and they are dissappointing. Maybe someday the ORIGINALS will be available again.

For Christmas I couldn't think of anything to get my step-dad, one day I got in his truck and he was listening to an old album of Hank Wms Sr so I started researching and decided that an old Merle Haggard CD might be the ticket. Merles early stuff is close to some of the Hank SR music. It worked our great. HE loved it.

What can anyone say about Merle Haggard that has not already been said? He has an awesome voice that brings for delightful country songs almost effortlessly. Years and years of quality songs and song writing that cannot be beat! High quality CD and a fair price. The delivery is super fast too!

Merle has that wonderful early country music warmth when he sings. It is all about his experiences and his feelings. He doesn't rely on all the electronic back ups to high light his voice, it is just him.

Well This Album Has What You Need, When You Like Merle Haggard

I purchased this along with Serving 190 Proof. Both are quintessential Merle Haggard at his best. Released back to back in 79 and 80 with this being the stronger of the two but solid songwriting and exceptional singing on both.

This is his best work ever, If you want beer drinking music and bar room atmspear you will not find a better CD than this

Awesome album! Great songs. The band is very tight. Good tempo and feel. A must for any Haggard collection.

This Album Gives You An Idea How It Is To Be A SUPERSTAR. Nobody Give You Any Sparetime. Allways Wahtcing What Ever You Do. Live While You Can. Enjoy The Life....

Great CD, and Amazon also did a great job. Thank You

very good musicians on this session, but merle haggard is still merle and blugrass instrumentation does not change that.

Merle Haggard is for me the Tony Bennet of country music. With age, his voice has grown mellower and even easier on the ear. He can make a song sound like a classic, even if it isn't particularly memorable. As others have said here, it's not bluegrass by a long shot, but the unplugged arrangements give an intimacy that feels nicely personal. If you like Haggard's deep, resonant voice, you'll enjoy listening to all the songs on this CD. They range from the light-hearted opener "Runaway Mama" to the tearful "Learning to Live With Myself" and the anti-urban lament "Big City." Speaking of which, it makes for great freeway listening on that slow commute home from work.

I'm a great Merle Haggard fan so with this CD bluegrass style is a real plus . Love it

I like the CD very much, but it not bluegrass. It's typical Merle Haggare music, only with bluegrass type iinstraments.

I heard an interview about this CD on the radio and they played one song "Learning to Live With Myself" which I really, really liked and granted, after buying the CD, a few songs were great, but there were also the normal 'ho-hum' songs that gives this CD (for me), the need to burn the songs off of it I liked, and give the CD to the library for them to loan out - Not a keeper.

Before buying this CD, I have heard people saying that George's voice is starting to show signs of weakness due to his age. Absolute nonsense! The songs are all done perfect - and if I really have to choose, I would say that George did Merle's songs better than Merle did his. Not that I want to critisize Haggard's singing - he's still one of the best out there! Excellent listening - one of those CD's one just wants to play over and over again...

Don't get me wrong! I didn't mean don't waste your time listenning to this album because it is not good. I just want to tell all of you to run out and get this piece of gem right now, by all mean neccessary. There's no need to read the reviews....just believe me.

as i heard this album i was taken back . For in recent yrs jones voice has sounded like he has a renewed spark . LIKE A DANCER with a new step. i seen him in concert last yr and oh my he sounded wonderful . and never missed a note . just awesomwe . And merle on the other hand has lost a step . BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID merle missing a step is still better then most artist on tour now on thier best day . WITH only 4 people with many yrs under thier belts still doing what they do so well left touring . JONES .MERLE .WILLIE . AND HANK JR . i WAS thinking MERLE CANT DO GEORGE JONES songs .As no one can sing jones songs . AS WAYLON SANG .(WRONG ) YES I ADMIT i was wrong . merle was great on this outing . george on the other hand was very good . So the one i thought would be the stronger of the two was not . Now im not saying mr jones was lost on this album . But merle was the merle of old . But jones can sing anything so he got away with being different on this album .Like getting in the ring with a great fighter known for his right hook . SO YOU WATCH out for that right hook . and get knocked out with the left . HOPE they tour together this yr.

Sometimes two mixing two great talents togeter dilutes the result. Not in this case. Here, 1+1 is very much more than 2. Quite simply this is brilliant, blissful stuff. Outstanding.

One of my favorite albums ever. I've already bought several more as gifts!

THIS IS A GREAT ALBUM I HAVE THE 33 RPM RECORD AND AM HAPPY TO HAVE THIS ON CD.

The condition of the product is as good as the content of the cd... A must for any fan of Willie or Merle!