Merle Haggard
"18 Rare Classics"
© Curb
June 16 - 22, 2024
Year of Release: 1991
Rating:
Kentucky Gambler
Running Kind
Grandma Harp
Turnin' Off A Memory
Making Believe
The Way It Was In '51
A Working Man Can't
Get Nowhere Today
What Have You Got Planned
Tonight Diana
Green Green Grass Of Home
Here In Frisco
Where Does The Good Times Go
Am I Standing In Your Way
Love And Honor
White Line Fever
I'm A Good Loser
Silver Wings
Got A Letter From My Kid Today
When My Last Song Is Sung
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Merle Haggard returns with a compilation, entitled 18 Rare Classics. Defining classic songs by Merle
is extroadinary. Of course, his music has always been defined as True Country, and if you look at the 18 songs, most of
them are not highly recognizable. Of the 18, two songs did reach #1, and they were obviously well remembered: "kentucky
Gambler," and "Grandma Harp." His compilation of #1 hits was reviewed
here.
"Kentucky Gambler" begins the compilation, a #1 hit. "Running Kind" is not a song well-known to my
knowledge, however, it is another classic song for Merle, and with great Country lyrics. "Grandma Harp" IS a
classic, it was #1, and it's great listening to Merle (in spoken voice) about that Grandma Harp. "Turnin' Off A
Memory" is another not well-known song (for me), however, it's a great Country song. Merle's voice shines on
this one, both in spoken voice, and singing. And again, his singing voice is great on "Making Believe." (This song
kind of reminds me, in sound, of "Please Help Me I'm Falling" by Hank Locklin - another great classic country song.)
"The Way It Was In '51" is another not well-known song (heck, I wasn't around in 1951; neither was Rock n Roll
as Merle sings... "It was yet to come"; Hank was though), yet it's another great song by Merle. "A Working Man Can't
Get Nowhere Today" is another defining Merle song, it's Merle, it's Country. And it's another not so well-remembered
song (for me). Great tune, regardless. I may not have remembered the next track, "What Have You Got Planned Tonight
Diana," yet it reminds me of a futre Country star, Keith Whitley, and his song "I No Stranger To The Rain."
If you remember Keith's song, you can easily imagine that Merle's song is just as exceptional.
Who didn't do "Green Green Grass Of Home" ? A well-known song by other artists (Tom Jones, especially). Merle's
is just as good; that Country sound makes it even better for Merle. His singing voice shines (again), with a great
laid-back Country sound, on "Here In Frisco." Classic. "Where Does The Good Times Go" was a Buck Owens
classic (the one I remember), and Merle does his version of this great tune, and, just as Buck's version, it's a classic
for Merle. The laid-back Country gets "Silver Wings," another great tune by Merle.
"Got A Letter From My Kid Today" makes you wonder how many kids Merle had (and marriages.) He was married 5
times. His second wife was Bonnie Owens, who was previously married to Buck Owens. He had 6 children, 4 from his first
marriage, and 2 from his fifth marriage. Two of his sons (Marty and Noel) have followed in their father's footsteps,
being country singers. "When My Last Song Is Sung" has Merle in his final recording moments. And yes, Merle
left us, on his 79th birthday, April 6, 2016. He left behind a legacy of great Country music.
Whether you know or not these 18 songs by Merle, they are all "Classics." Merle was Classic, his music is true Country.
18 Rare Classics defines Merle at his best (just as any of his compilations). Merle was Classic, Merle was Legend.
Thanks for the tunes, Merle.
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