Working in Tennessee

 (14 customer reviews)

Merle Haggard is a country music icon who has a career that has spanned almost 50 years in the business. He has been a part of two movements in country music that were considered influential- Outlaw Country and the Bakersfield sound. He has racked up numerous hits over the years- a few of which have become his signature songs, like the classic "Okie From Muskogee" and the confrontational "The Fightin' Side Of Me". Over the last ten years, he has been on a comeback, producing albums that were critically acclaimed (2000's "If I Could Only Fly") and one that was well received but poorly promoted (2005's "Chicago Wind"). He released a bluegrass album in 2007 and made a return in 2010 on Vanguard Records with "I Am What I Am". One year later, he releases his newest effort "Working In Tennessee"- which, like the last recording, was produced by Haggard and Lou Bradley.

The album starts off with the title track "Working In Tennesee", a song about a ditch digger who dreamt of being...Read more

All the country icons have left or are fading from the scene. The Man In Black and Waylon are gone. Ray Price and the Possum are up there in years and we won't see the likes of them ever again. Today's "country" music is in reality watered down Los Angles rock. But the Hag is still around and coming out, on the average, with one new CD a year. This CD figuratively reminds me of the title old Hank Thompson song "The Older The Violin, The Sweeter The Music". While the music isn't all that sweet and shouldn't be, the old Merle Haggard rebellious spirit is still very much alive. Just listen to "What I Hate" and the cover of the Cash/Carter classic "Jackson" or the very relevant "Under The Bridge". The man improves with age Yes there are sentimental sad songs like "Down On The Houseboat" and "Sometimes I Dream" so there is a "sweet" side to this CD but the most important aspect of the CD is that it demonstrates that real country music is alive and well even if today's "now" DJs...Read more

"It ain't gonna get no better than this." For this price everybody should buy this CD even if you think you don't like country music. Everybody can
identify with at least one song on this CD if not all of them. A mix of Merle original songs plus a few standards and a plus, printed words to each song.

Merle writes em' and sings em'and the big plus is always the best back up musicians he can find. Merle himself is a fine picker, even written up in Guitar
Magazine years ago.

Everybody has their own music but "Working Man Blues" and "What I Hate" stand out on this CD and should be heard by everyone but will not get any airplay.