Songs I'll Always Sing Explained

Songs I'll Always Sing
Type:Compilation
Artist:Merle Haggard and the Strangers
Cover:Merle-Haggard-Songs-Ill-Always-Sing.jpg
Released:1977
Genre:Country
Label:Capitol
Producer:Ken Nelson, Fuzzy Owen
Prev Title:The Roots of My Raising
Prev Year:1976
Next Title:Ramblin' Fever
Next Year:1977

Songs I'll Always Sing is a two-record compilation album by American country music singer and songwriter Merle Haggard, released in 1977.[1] [2] It reached No. 15 on the US Country Charts.[3] The album collects many of Haggard's best known recordings during his successful run at Capitol Records, including nine of his twenty-four No. 1 hits, dating back to 1966.

Critical reception

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote in his review: "Though many compilations have followed it since it was first released in 1976, Songs I'll Always Sing remains one of the definitive Merle Haggard compilations. Relying not only on hit singles, the 20-track double-album set features a number of album tracks and obscurities - such as 'Love and Honor,' 'Silver Wings,' 'Honky Tonk Night Time Man,' 'Things Aren't Funny Anymore,' and 'I Forget You Every Day' - which give a more rounded and accurate picture of Hag's classic Capitol recordings."

In 2002, Rolling Stone listed Songs I'll Always Sing as the 42nd "coolest" album of all time.[4] Salt Lake City Weekly deemed it "one of the single-best country records available."[5]

Track listing

All songs by Merle Haggard unless otherwise noted.

Side 1

  1. "Okie from Muskogee" (Merle Haggard, Eddie Burris) – 2:53 - 1969 #1
  2. "The Emptiest Arms in the World" – 2:50 - 1973
  3. "Mama Tried" – 2:10 - 1968 #1
  4. "Swinging Doors" – 2:51 - 1966
  5. "Uncle Lem" (Glenn Martin) – 2:54 - 1974

Side 2

  1. "The Fightin' Side of Me" – 2:48 - 1970 #1
  2. "Sing Me Back Home" – 2:45 - 1968 #1
  3. "Silver Wings" – 2:53 - 1968
  4. "Sing a Sad Song" (Wynn Stewart) – 2:30 - 1963
  5. "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" – 2:38 - 1974

Side 3

  1. "Kentucky Gambler" (Dolly Parton) – 2:39 - 1974 #1
  2. "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" (Liz Anderson, Casey Anderson) – 2:55 - 1967 #1
  3. "Things Aren't Funny Anymore" – 2:40 - 1974 #1
  4. "Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)" – 3:10 - 1971 #1
  5. "I Forget You Every Day" – 2:52 - 1973

Side 4

  1. "Workin' Man Blues" – 2:33 - 1969 #1
  2. "Love and Honor" – 2:47 - 1974
  3. "Branded Man" – 3:04 - 1967
  4. "Someday We'll Look Back" – 2:28 - 1971
  5. "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" – 2:47 - 1968

Personnel

The Strangers

Production

Notes and References

  1. News: Crouch . Gene . On Record . El Paso Herald-Post . 22 Apr 1977 . 9.
  2. News: Haggard Tour Rides Success of Current Live Album . Chattanooga Times Free Press . April 30, 2000 . E1.
  3. Web site: Merle Haggard . Billboard . 28 November 2023.
  4. News: Donovan . Patrick . Nothing cooler on earth than white hot Velvets . The Age . 22 Mar 2002 . 7.
  5. News: Missed Masterpieces: Merle Haggard . Salt Lake City Weekly . June 28, 2011 . Music.

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