(August 2023) Episode 517 is MERLE HAGGARD. If I have to go country I will choose outlaw country, with which Haggard is identified as a leader of the Bakersfield sound. He was a very prolific songwriter, many of which became classics, resulting in 66 studio albums (this was a long episode), which stayed fairly consistent in quality across the years. His career accompanies an amazing personal story of overcoming a troubled youth, having famously watched Johnny Cash perform at San Quentin prison. His songs “Okie from Muscogee” and “The Fighting Side of Me” gained him a conservative political audience although he denied the intention and resisted the association. Recognizing his gifts, to my untrained ear he comes off as more normie country (and thus less appealing) than other outlaws like Nelson, Jennings and Cash.
Favorite album: Mama Tried
Favorite song: Working Man Blues
Compared to expectations: same
Recommendation: A sampler will do for the casual listener.
Opus Project 