Merle Haggard: 20 Greatest Hits

 

Genre: Country

Dates: Mid-1960s to Mid-1970

Trying to fairly represent one of the greatest singers and songwriters of the last 40 years—one who is still singing and writing, no less—on a single disc is impossible, but this collection does as good a job as any available: it spans Hag's most productive years, includes his four greatest outside-the-law songs ("Mama Tried," "Branded Man," "Sing Me Back Home," and "Lonesome Fugitive"), features 13 #1 country hits, captures his rowdy side ("Workin' Man Blues," "Honky Tonk Night Time Man," "The Old Man From the Mountain"), and contains only one clinker (one of the #1 hits, naturally). If this hooks you, you'll need to move on to bigger and better things; e-mail us (see the address above) for tips.

Playlist:

1. Mama Tried
2. Workin' Man Blues
3. Silver Wings
4. Always Wanting You
5. Okie From Muskogee
6. Livin' With The Shades Pulled Down
7. Branded Man
8. Carolyn
9. If We Make It Through December
10. Fightin' Side Of Me, The
11. Bottle Let Me Down, The
12. House Of Memories
13. Today I Started Loving You Again
14. Daddy Frank
15. Honky Tonk Night Time Man
16. Sing Me Back Home
17. What Have You Got Planned Tonight, Diana
18. I'm A Lonesome Fugitive
19. Mama's Hungry Eyes
20. Old Man From The Mountain

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