Description:
This standards-based album is really no surprise: Bing Crosby was nearly as much a hero to Merle Haggard as was Bob Wills and Lefty Frizzell, and for decades Hag has blended classic pop into his onstage repertoire. These nine standards and three contemporary tunes, recorded over a lengthy period, constitute a joint release by Capitol and his own Hag Records. Lounge-style, easygoing arrangements complement his warm, knowing renditions of "As Time Goes By" and Nat "King" Cole's "Unforgettable." He swings nimbly through "Pennies from Heaven" (graced by Clint Strong's peerless country-jazz gu
This standards-based album is really no surprise: Bing Crosby was nearly as much a hero to Merle Haggard as was Bob Wills and Lefty Frizzell, and for decades Hag has blended classic pop into his onstage repertoire. These nine standards and three contemporary tunes, recorded over a lengthy period, constitute a joint release by Capitol and his own Hag Records. Lounge-style, easygoing arrangements complement his warm, knowing renditions of "As Time Goes By" and Nat "King" Cole's "Unforgettable." He swings nimbly through "Pennies from Heaven" (graced by Clint Strong's peerless country-jazz guitar) and "I'll Get By," and he cloaks "Cry Me a River" in a world-weariness light years from Julie London's sultry original. In this context, Haggard's own "What Love Can Do" seems too contemporary. By contrast, the Western swing ballad "Goin' Away Party," written by Cindy Walker, and "Still Missing You," penned by album producer Freddy Powers, reflect a classic pop feel that fits perfectly. While Rod Stewart came to pop standards late in his career, Haggard already knew this territory forwards and backwards--and it shows. --Rich Kienzle
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Manufacturer: Liberty
Release date: 14 December 2004
Number of discs: 1
EAN: 0724386371621 UPC: 724386371621
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