For the Record: 43 Legendary Hits

Amazon.com
History occurs twice, first as tragedy, later as farce--or so the adage goes. With these new versions of old classics, Merle Haggard is somewhere between defying and fulfilling that fate. Some cuts are like faded carbon copies; others, given Hag's stately quaver, have a mellow poignancy; a few, like the duets with Jewel, Brooks & Dunn, and Alabama, are simply irrelevant. But just when you're ready to dismiss such misguided revisionism, there's a refreshed, superlative version of "Pancho and Lefty" and the perfected heartbreak of "Going Where the Lonely Go." To his credit, Haggard sticks with his long-running road band, and it's hard to imagine anyone else delivering these songs with more authority, more emotional insight. Anyone, that is, save their original interpreters: Merle Haggard and the Strangers of the '60s and '70s, whose definitive work can still be heard on collections like the four-CD Down Every Road and double-disc Lonesome Fugitive. Haggard may never make records that great again, but perhaps he'll find a new, and not redundant, way to harness his timeless gifts. --Roy Kasten

For the Record: 43 Legendary Hits,Merle Haggard,Bna Entertainment,Bakersfield Sound,Country,Country & Western,Honky Tonk,Pop,Songwriter,Traditional Country,Western Swing Revival

Average customer rating: Wonderful Collection Hag, you disappoint me man A Wonderful Ripoff Remakes Re-recordings. Avoid like the plague!

For the Record: 43 Legendary Hits Merle Haggard Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Ultimate Waylon Jennings 40 #1 Hits Going Where the Lonely Go/That's the Way Love Goes The Essential Willie Nelson Chicago Wind ASIN: B00000JY9U Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

1. Mama Tried
2. Sing A Sad Song
3. Swinging Doors
4. I'm A Lonesome Fugitive
5. Branded Man
6. Sing Me Back Home
7. The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde
8. Hungry Eyes
9. Workin' Man Blues
10. Silver Wings
11. Okie From Muskogee
12. The Fightin' Side Of Me
13. Daddy Frank
14. Carolyn
15. It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)
16. Everybody's Had The Blues
17. If We Make It Through December
18. Old Man From The Mountain
19. Things Aren't Funny Anymore
20. Movin' On
21. Always Wanting You
22. It's All In The Movies

Tracks:

1. The Roots Of My Raisin'
2. Cherokee Maiden
3. Ramblin' Fever
4. I'm Always On A Mountain When I Fall
5. It's Been A Great Afternoon
6. Footlights
7. The Way I Am
8. Misery And Gin
9. I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink
10. Rainbow Stew
11. My Favorite Memory - (newly recorded version)
12. Big City
13. Poncho And Lefty
14. Are The Good Times Really Over
15. Going Where The Lonely Go
16. Let's Chase Each Other Around The Room
17. A Place To Fall Apart
18. That's The Way Love Goes
19. Natural High
20. Kern River
21. Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star

Amazon.com

History occurs twice, first as tragedy, later as farce--or so the adage goes. With these new versions of old classics, Merle Haggard is somewhere between defying and fulfilling that fate. Some cuts are like faded carbon copies; others, given Hag's stately quaver, have a mellow poignancy; a few, like the duets with Jewel, Brooks & Dunn, and Alabama, are simply irrelevant. But just when you're ready to dismiss such misguided revisionism, there's a refreshed, superlative version of "Pancho and Lefty" and the perfected heartbreak of "Going Where the Lonely Go." To his credit, Haggard sticks with his long-running road band, and it's hard to imagine anyone else delivering these songs with more authority, more emotional insight. Anyone, that is, save their original interpreters: Merle Haggard and the Strangers of the '60s and '70s, whose definitive work can still be heard on collections like the four-CD Down Every Road and double-disc Lonesome Fugitive. Haggard may never make records that great again, but perhaps he'll find a new, and not redundant, way to harness his timeless gifts. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Collection.......2007-03-13

All of the great hits in one collaboration. His duets with Jewel are priceless and should not be missed.

Hag, you disappoint me man.......2006-08-27

There's something wrong with a process where you (or someone you trust) believe that you can show up in a studio 30 years after the fact and fool your audience into accepting one-take counterfeits as "43 Legendary Hits."

When you recorded these hits, YOU MADE HISTORY--Your fans knew it, bought your records, and rewarded you for it.

This is an insult to your audience.

Have some self-respect. If you want to continue to make a mark, act like a real artist and do what Johnny Cash did: Give us something NEW, something FRESH, something that will knock our socks off, like "Hurt".

If you want to retire, then RETIRE ALREADY. Nobody will hold it against you, and I for one wish you the absolute best. But for gosh sakes, if this is the best scheme you can come up with, then please stay home and keep your trap shut.

A Wonderful Ripoff.......2006-01-28

Like many others, I was fooled by this cd. About all the Haggard I'd heard was Mamma Tried and Oakie from Muskogee, so I was looking forward to exploring his work. When Mamma Tried fired up, I realized this was a remake and in a fit of rage I tossed the cd into the back of my closet. Time passed. I realized that I still hadn't heard this man's work, and that I had this cd. So I played it.

What a revelation. The man is great. He has a wonderful voice, an awesome band, great tunes and amazing lyrics. This is a wonderful cd. I am looking forward to hearing the originals, and if they are better than this, then I will be truely blessed.

Remakes.......2005-08-13

A few years ago, Merle Haggard sat down and remade almost all of his biggest hits in a mamoth recording session. Now all of these songs are spreading around to every cheap record company who repackages them.

Be careful, everything here is remakes.

Re-recordings. Avoid like the plague!.......2005-06-06

I bought this CD set thinking the songs were the original recordings. I was wrong. I still respect Merle, and think he's still making wonderful contributions to real country music, but . . . he just didn't have the original strength & punch of his original recordings. It's like listening to Johnny Cash sing "Hurt," and imagining him singing Folsom Prison Blues in the same voice -- painful.

Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Music Album:

1. Forgive
2. Graceful Ghost [Enhanced]
3. Green Eyed Soul
4. Hank Williams Sr - 24 Greatest Hits [Import]
5. Help Me Make It Through the Night
6. High Lonesome Sound
7. How the Hell Do You Spell Rhythum? [Original recording remastered]
8. I've Got a Right to Cry
9. If You See Him [Enhanced]
10. Inspirational Journey

Music Album