Merle Haggard’s “Working In Tennessee”
With Working in Tennessee, Merle Haggard adds yet another solid volume to his already legendary arsenal of albums. Mainstream radio’s love affair with Merle may be over, but it doesn’t mean the fountain isn’t still flowing. When that vintage voice comes cracking out of that sideways cowboy smile, it still hits you like a precious memory.
Working in Tennessee is a family affair, with Merle’s wife Theresa lending a songwriting hand on a few songs and singing along on the classic “Jackson”. His daughter Jenessa helps out with songwriting too, and son Ben (or Binion as I prefer) and brother-in-life Willie Nelson unite to put a new coat of paint on Merle’s classic “Working Man Blues.”
Merle’s recent love affair with the Western Swing approach is apparent in the “Working In Tennessee” title track that gives a friendly ribbing to Music City, and in a remake of a song Johnny Cash made famous called “Cocaine Blues”. Merle also takes on the influence of rock into country while paying tribute to his contemporaries and heroes in “Too Much Boogie Woogie”. What’s also apparent is the 74-year-old isn’t slowing down. Throat cancer and tough times roll off his brow like a bead of sweat as he just keeps churning out new original offerings like the excellent “Under The Bridge” or the fun “Truck Driver’s Blues”.
The album can be heard in its entirety below, and if you like what you hear, make sure to throw Ol’ Merle a few bones for the effort.
Purchase Working In Tennessee Directly from Merle Haggard
Purchase Working In Tennessee From Amazon
Merle Haggard – Working In Tennessee by Vanguard Records
Corey
October 5, 2011 @ 1:43 pm
Another great album from ol’ Hag!
Good quick review too, although I will be the first to comment that Merle’s love of Western Swing is no recent thing, but goes back to the 70s with his album “A Tribute To The Best Damn Fiddle Player In The World” and I’m pretty sure he appeared on Bob Wills’ final album “For The Last Time”.
When I saw Merle perform a couple years back, his moments doing his western swing thing seemed to be where he came most alive and have the most fun.
Boy, do I love Merle!
The Triggerman
October 5, 2011 @ 2:30 pm
Yeah, I guess that is what I was getting at Corey. He’s always had Western Swing elements in his music, but it truly seems to be his passion these days. When I first saw the track list I thought, “Ok, why do we need yet another version of ‘Cocaine Blues’?” But his Western Swing approach makes that song.
Owen
October 5, 2011 @ 2:24 pm
This is a real solid album. It’s a crime that none of this could get on the radio without it being a duet with a flavor of the week. My hat’s off to Merle, for still going at it, though.
Ian
October 5, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
Merle singing “bad bitch” in cocaine blues may be the curse swear word I’ve ever heard out of his mouth.
Aran
October 5, 2011 @ 3:27 pm
Merle is an inspiration to lovers of real country music everywhere. I’m so glad he’s still out there doing his thing!
ShadeGrown
October 5, 2011 @ 6:43 pm
Cool review. Gonna have to get this for sure. I just missed seein’ him and Kristofferson. Regretting it, cause I doubt I’ll get that chance again. Also, the two of them were playing for half the price of Willie.
Denise
October 6, 2011 @ 6:29 am
I think it’s called the Two Legends Two Guitars Tour. Playing in LA next at the Greek Theater.
Denise
October 5, 2011 @ 6:46 pm
Classic Country. Nuff said.
JonnyBoy23
October 5, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
I thought the same thing about Cocaine Blues when I saw the track listing, but it’s actually one of my favorite tracks on this album. But I love the whole thing, and it’s so much better than the crap “country” I was listening to four or five months ago.
Rwp
October 5, 2011 @ 7:35 pm
Man,I’m on track 5 and it sounds great so far.Classic Merle! I’ll defintley be getting it.Thanks for posting!
Ernie
October 6, 2011 @ 10:45 am
hell yeah just listened to the stream. the hag rules
Flcracker
October 6, 2011 @ 11:46 am
“And get some Humboldt Marijuana
Guaranteed to make you cough
And laugh it off”
Great album, already listened to it all. Good country music. And now there’s a third great version of Cocaine Blues…
Aran
October 6, 2011 @ 3:37 pm
I thought they didn’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee? Hahaha!
bob52
October 6, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
Anyone happen to catch the George Jones 80th birthday special on GAC… If were going to bash the opry for letting in rascal fags, we can at least give them a kudos for recognizing the legend George Jones birthday. Great show by the way.
Junction 10
October 6, 2011 @ 4:23 pm
Gonna grab it tonight!!!
Wayfastwaymore
October 6, 2011 @ 5:33 pm
Amazing! Haggard is one of a kind
shawn tackett
October 13, 2011 @ 6:14 am
GGGOOOOO BIG MERLE!!! great cd snipets, of the songs!! I am definitely going to be buying this album from amazon!! kind of sad, that wal – mart and target, would
always carry the legends, like johnny cash, merle, conway twitty, now the only place to get the real country music is online, like places like amazon… thank goodness for online ordering!!
Dean Leach
October 16, 2011 @ 12:34 pm
Merle lost it in the late 70’s, he has never recovered. His CD’s are getting worse and worse through the years. His songs are not creative and his voice is weak. He needs to wake up and write and sing again.
Gav Duggan
July 22, 2012 @ 8:57 am
Just to clarify, Truck Driver’s Blues isn’t a new original, it was recorded first on his 1996 album entitled ‘1996’. Also Merle in recent years has recovered from Lung cancer, not throat cancer.