Portrait of Merle Haggard/Keep Movin' On [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Product Description:
2-on-1 from the Beat Goes On label featuring Merle Haggard's 1969 album Portrait Of and 1975 album Keep Movin' On. 2005.

Portrait of Merle Haggard/Keep Movin' On,Merle Haggard & the Strangers,Beat Goes On,Bakersfield Sound,Country,Country/Bluegrass,Honky Tonk,Traditional Country,United States of America

Average customer rating: "A man who's written most of his life in the songs that he sings" Brilliant twofer with strong Dolly connection

Portrait of Merle Haggard/Keep Movin' On Merle Haggard & the Strangers Manufacturer: Beat Goes On ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)/If We Make It Through December Presents His 30th Album/A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today Just Between the Two of Us/The Fightin' Side of Me My Love Affair / The Roots Someday We'll Look Back/I Love Dixie Blues ASIN: B0006IGPPA Release Date: 2005-03-07

Tracks:

1. Workin' Man's Blues
2. What's Wrong With Stayin' Home
3. Silver Wings
4. Who Do I Know in Dallas
5. She Thinks I Still Care
6. Hungry Eyes
7. I Die Ten Thousand Times a Day
8. Every Fool Has a Rainbow
9. I Came So Close to Living Alone
10. Montego Bay
11. Movin' On
12. Life's Like Poetry
13. I've Got a Darlin' (For a Wife)
14. These Mem'ries We're Making Tonight
15. You'll Always Be Special to Me
16. September in Miami
17. Always Wanting You
18. Kentucky Gambler
19. Here in Frisco
20. I've Got a Yearning
21. Man's Gotta Give Up a Lot

Album Description

2-on-1 from the Beat Goes On label featuring Merle Haggard's 1969 album Portrait Of and 1975 album Keep Movin' On. 2005.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Edition of Two Original Albums on a Single CD. These Classic Haggard Albums were Originally Released in 1969 and 1975.

Customer Reviews:

"A man who's written most of his life in the songs that he sings".......2005-12-04

These 2 efforts prove Merle Haggard is one of the greatest singer-song writers that ever wrote and sang a song. "Portrait" produced 4 big hits for Merle. "Working Man Blues" has proven to be a timeless hit for Merle and one of his most recognized songs. The same goes for "Silver Wings". "Hungry Eyes" is my favorite Merle Haggard song. Perhaps it's because I saw him perform the song on stage about 35 years ago with tears streaming down his face. It was so personal, so real, so powerful. It comes out in this recording as well. I was only 10 yrs old, but I've never forgotten it. Some years after that, I found out Merle had written the song from real memories from his childhood. Not of his Mom and Dad but of some family members. He'd spent some time with them in their 'canvis covered cabin'. It was a long time before I heard Merle sing the song again in person. I always felt it was because it was so personal for him. The other hit song that became a Merle Haggard standard is "Every Fool Has a Rainbow". All the other songs are worth a listen as well.
"Movin On" is another testiment to Merle's gift as a singer-song writer. "Always Wanting You" (written for Dolly Parton) is another deeply personal song. Merle went through a period of serious infatuation for Dolly. Of course he really did love her, just like millions of us do. "Movin On" was the theme song for a T.V. series of the same name.
This is a "must have" collection for any Merle Haggard fan and a great sample for those who are becoming Merle Haggard fans.

Brilliant twofer with strong Dolly connection.......2005-03-21

Keep moving on (the second album here) was the album that really made me take Merle's music seriously. More than any other album of his that I'd bought up till then, it showed me that he was much more than a singles artist. Of course, it didn't do any harm that the album has a strong Dolly Parton connection (via several songs) but every song here is a real classic.

The three big hits on Keep moving on are Moving on (an excellent trucking song), Kentucky gambler (written by Dolly) and Always wanting you (written by Merle about Dolly). All three of these songs went to number one on the country charts. Of the other songs, my favorite is the touching ballad, You'll always be special to me. Written by Merle, Dolly covered the song and included it on her album, Bargain store. The Dolly connection on this album is completed by Life's like poetry, which Merle co-wrote with Dolly, Dolly's own version later appeared on her album, All I can do.

Merle complains wryly about women in A man's got to give up a lot, though he must think the sacrifice worthwhile as he sings I've got a darling for a wife and These memories we're making tonight - two other fine songs. Two other excellent songs (September in Miami, Here in Frisco) compete an excellent album. I'm not sure if Keep moving on is still my absolute favorite original album by Merle but it'll always be special to me.

Portrait (the first album here) may not be quite as strong overall as Keep moving on, but it includes several classics including Working man blues, Silver wings and Hungry eyes. There are several other fine songs including What's wrong with staying home, I die ten thousand times a day and Every fool has a rainbow. At the very least, it is a worthy companion to Keep moving on.

If you want to explore Merle's music beyond the hits, you will find much of interest here.

Music Album:

1. Precious Child
2. Remembers the Alamo
3. Roll My Blues Away
4. Roses
5. Satan Is Real
6. She Rides Wild Horses
7. Should Have Seen It Coming
8. Sixteen Tons
9. Small Towns & Big Dreams [Import] [Live]
10. Some Things I Know

Music Album