It's All in the Movies explained

It's All in the Movies
Type:Studio album
Artist:Merle Haggard and The Strangers
Cover:Its all in the movies.jpg
Released:February 1976
Genre:Country
Length:34:01
Label:Capitol
Producer:Ken Nelson, Fuzzy Owen
Prev Title:Keep Movin' On
Prev Year:1975
Next Title:My Love Affair with Trains
Next Year:1976

It's All in the Movies is the nineteenth studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1976.[1]

History

The album's title track became Haggard's eighth consecutive #1 country single and features the same pop-oriented sound that producer Ken Nelson had employed on the singer's recent chart topper "Always Wanting You." Two songs, "Stingeree" and "Hag's Dixie Blues, No. 2," had been recorded for a 1973 studio album I Love Dixie Blues, a project Haggard scrapped after deciding to record a live album in New Orleans. Haggard also returns to Bob Wills and western swing on "Living With the Shades Pulled Down" and Wills' own "Cotton Patch Blues." The album closes with the Dolly Parton-penned gospel song "The Seeker."

Reception

It's All in the Movies would become Haggard's third consecutive collection to top the Billboard country albums chart. AllMusic: "While the title track is a gentle, affecting ballad, It's All in the Movies doesn't contain enough similarly engaging material to make the record successful. The album is at its best when Haggard delves into western swing, such as 'Living with the Shades Pulled Down,' or when he delivers straightforward ballads like 'Nothing's Worse Than Losing' and 'I Know An Ending When It Comes,' but too many of the songs on the LP are pleasant, but inconsequential, filler."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Merle Haggard; except where indicated

Personnel

The Strangers

with

and

Notes and References

  1. Allmusic entry for It's All in the Movies.