Order Working In Tennessee
CD – Working in Tennessee
Releases on October 4, 2011 – Merle Haggard’s Latest Album!
Iconic country music legend, Country Hall of Famer and most recently a Kennedy Center Honoree, MERLE HAGGARD, is releasing a new album, Working In Tennessee, on October 4th. This marks his second disc for Vanguard Records and is a collection of self-penned Haggard riches, plus a couple of classics made famous by Johnny Cash, as well as a new version of Merle’s stalwart “Working Man Blues” featuring Willie Nelson and his son Ben Haggard.
Working in Tennessee is another in a long line of stellar discs filled with Haggard’s honest and candid observations of the world in which we all live, as well as life on the road and at home with backing by his longtime band The Strangers, plus a number of veteran studio cohorts. Produced by Haggard and Lou Bradley at the Hag’s northern California Tally studio, the album is another worthy addition to his tremendous body of decades of radiant work. It’s a loaded mixture that reflects the consistently self-possessed artistry which long ago earned him the moniker “poet of the common man” and displays his masterly phrasing with alternately smooth tones and rough-hued vocals that deliver all the resonant interpretive impact he’s known for.
Working in Tennessee opens with the title track, an ideal Western swing workout, that underscores Haggard’s oft-confrontational relationship with Music City, to the stark vulnerability of “Sometimes I Dream,” co-written with his daughter Jenessa, to the autobiographical tale of “Down on the Houseboat,” co-written with his wife Theresa. Willie Nelson and his son Ben are featured on the kicking re-make of his anthemic “Working Man Blues” and Theresa joins Hag on a duet of the Johnny Cash-June Carter standard “Jackson.”
The album is a strikingly artistic example of the artist’s unflagging creativity which shows no signs of slowing down. According to Haggard, “I’m swinging back in full throttle right now. Music keeps me alive. It makes me breathe better. It’s funny, but I feel better when I come off a tour than when I start out.” What an amazing accomplishment for a man who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008 and had part of his lung removed. With no signs of the disease returning, Haggard continues to produce songs and perform live at the age of 74 with more energy and enthusiasm than many a younger man or woman.
| WORKING IN TENNESSEE | |
| 1. | Working in Tennessee (Merle Haggard) |
| 2. | Down on the Houseboat (Merle Haggard, Theresa Haggard, Doug Colosio) |
| 3. | Cocaine Blues (TJ Arnall) |
| 4. | What I Hate (Merle Haggard) |
| 5. | Sometimes I Dream (Merle Haggard, Jenessa Haggard) |
| 6. | Under the Bridge (Merle Haggard, Theresa Haggard) |
| 7. | Too Much Boogie Woogie (Merle Haggard) |
| 8. | Truck Driver’s Blues (Merle Haggard, Tim Howard) |
| 9. | Laugh It Off (Merle Haggard, Theresa Haggard, Doug Colosio) |
| 10. | Working Man Blues (Merle Haggard) |
| 11. | Jackson (Billy Edd Wheeler, Gaby Rodgers) |
| Vangard Records – 2011 | |
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Merle,
You have been an Inspiration to me as a Songwriter all of my life.
I’m so thrilled that Our Dear Friend “Josh Newcom” of Indian Rodeo was your
“Special Guest” in Tuscaloosa, Al at your Show with Jamey Johnson.
Josh Newcom is a “Rising Star” and Thanks so much for recognizing him.
He is following in your footsteps and my Husband “Bob Gaffney” and I could’nt be prouder of Josh!
We are so excited that Josh and His Wife Kristie Ann are working on your New Video for the Title Track of “Workin in Tennessee”
He is an Amazing Videographer and has proven himself in Nashville.
We’re looking forward to listening to Your New CD and You are a “Legend” to me..
Haggard, ur stil the best that’s ever come down the pike!
I’m glad U had roots in R newton co. Arkansas
I know a lot of them valines folks back home
Mr. Haggard, I had the pleasure of going to your concert last night 7-29-12 in Portsmouth Va. This was a present to me for my 50th birthday!!! What I gift!! Youself and Kris K. What a treat. I have seen you in 1996 and now in 2012. Words cant describe your Music. Have been a fan since the age of 10. Keep up the great work. THANK YOU!!!
I really like Working in Tennessee. Merle, you just get better with age. Your voice is still my favorite of all time. Your son, Ben, is something else too. He really has a great voice and the boy can play that guitar like a pro! I look forward to seeing what he plans on doing in the music business. May God bless you Merle with many more years of making great music and with good health.
Hey Merle, I saw you several years ago in Cortland New York. I told you then you were the best and you turned to me and said “not me”. You were with the late Johnny Paycheck and you both put on a great show. He signed a personal carhart shirt of mine that day with “Thanks Paycheck” and I have it tucked away in my box of memories. I will never forget the look on my base man’s face when I jokingly told him that you let me get up and play the drums…..He about fainted. I’ve always been a huge fan of yours and play as many of your songs on the guitar as I am capable but truely I am a drummer by trade. Thanks for all the great years of music Merle and many more to come – YOU ARE THE BEST!
Steve
My husband & I got tickets for your concert at Billy Bobs Texas & it was the best gift we ever recieved we really enjoyed your songs I just can’t get into this so called country music that’s out there now days it’s just not the same. Stay in good health we need you to keep us filled with the good old country songs that we love. We love you!
Happy Birthday Hag, see you next week in Nashville.
ron
happy birthday .you great singer song writer.
from owen jn new Zealand
i also sing your songs.
Thank you for the great songs and always sticking to the traditional music we love. The younger generation appreciates you as well (im 27). I saw you a few years ago in Montgomery, AL while i was laid off work, it made that year seem a lot better. I hope to see you perform again, maybe in Birmingham this time…
Ive been playing bass for little david wilkins since 1972, and i would alway’s open his show with a hag song, Anyway There’s three thing’s I love to do, drink two or three beer’s listen to a hag song, and throw dart’s at a picture of my X-wife. Thank’s tim marshall nashville
HOPE TO SEE THE SHOW IN NASHVILLE, STAY WILL HAG THE WORLD LOVE’S YA.
MERLE, I HAD THE HONOR IF SEEING YOU IN LAUGHLIN AND I CAN SAY THE MOST MEMORABLE CONCERT IVE SEEN. YOU ARE THE TRUE WORKIN MANS MAN.
We are so glad you are doing better. Hoping to see you at Renfro Valley again. Until then God bless and take care.
Jan and Dean Rawlins
THE BEST SINGER AND SONGWRITER GOD GAVE US I HOPE THERE IS PLENTY MORE TO COME I U BOX SET BEST GIFT I EVERY GOT LOVE SWINGING DOOR AND THE BOTTLE LET ME DOWN PLUS ALL THE REST U DO TAKE CARE OF UR SELF FROM A FELLOW OKIE WE LOVE YA SUE
Hi Hag! Good to hear from you at you best again. Long time since those key to the city days in Oklahoma when you so graciously sent to me the promo tape.Hope all is well now and may Jesus bless you with good health for many more to come and god bless all that you love. Take care, from all of my boys and I
WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF HAGGARD, YOUR OUT OF MUSIC
THIS SAYS IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bob guitard from new brunswick canada. i’ve been listning to you&yours song since 1962 i’M 66 NOW and I never herd another singer like you in my entire career .thank to you MR.m,haggard & the stranger ps at the time i was playing and could’t find nobody to replace me . the first is the same as the last (PERFECT) thank to all the crew that maided passible , AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
I did the Fireworks when you were in Marysville, Ca in the 1970′s but most of all I’ve loved you music over the years and will for years to come. Al
hi Merle,
I have seen you live. I listen to your CD’s all the time. you are the best! Your are country music’s finest! I love you Merle! Thankyou for all you do for our troops!
Keep up the good work!—Ruthie
I have not had the honor of seeing Merle, but SILVER WINGS is the only song my husband ever danced with me ,thanks for the memories we love you Merle get well soon.
The man with a voice no one can copy. The man with a pen no one can borrow. You see that’s how he wrote Me and Crippled Soldiers looking for something to write with because the song came to him so fast. I love all his songs. I thank his family for loaning him to us so much. I thank him for being who he is.
Dear Merle, I have always appreciated for the way you stood up for the troops and our country, when no one else did. You are a unique person with a unique voice I listen to every night. All of us out in Lawton, Oklahoma loves you.
to the greatest singer in the history of mankind i’ve seen you live 5 times and the show gets better each time. praying for you. get well soon and may GOD bless you
Saw The Hag perform at Silver Springs, Fl This past Sunday 1/15/12. Was the first time i’d seen him perform live and was not dissappointed. A great show and time was had by all. Hope you get well soon Merle
My wife and I are looking forward to seeing Merle at the Township Auditorium in Columbia, SC tonight, Sunday 1/15/12.
So sorry Merle was sick and had to cancel last night at the Township Auditorium in Columbia, SC. Hope he is better. Looking forward to seeing him in April!
Again this new CD is great, I wish you come to The Netherlands, so that we can enjoy one of your great shows again, like I did in Rotterdam, 1988.
Merle, for Christmas my daughter and her family presented me with “Working in Tennessee” and 4 tickets to the Rhyman, 12 Apr 12. “You are my favorite memory of all”!!!!!!!!!!!
ron
Headed to see the Hag in Greensboro April 14th!
I love Merle Haggard and his songs! I live in Europe but am a big fan. In my car I play and sing along with all my favorite songs of Merle. What a great man, singer and songwriter. Thank you for your beautiful songs and your wise lessons. May God bless you.
MERLE HAGGARD, MY FAVORITE SINGER, GOD BLESS YOU
Merle,I cant wait too see you in Paducah,Ky. 01/19/12. You are truly the best.I listen to your music every day.I was lucky enough to meet you backstage at the Kentucky Opry.It was truly an honor.Thank you for signing my box set.
Hello Merle..just enjoyed your concert here at the Golden Nugget last night. So happy that I got to see you perform live one more time…last time was an outdoor concert at Caesar’s Palace many, many years ago. You are truly a treasure for country music. I have been a fan of your music since way back in the 60s and I was thrilled to see you perform last night. Loved that new song, “Working In Tennesee”. Thank you for all the wonderful songs you’ve given us over the years…they are absolutely timeless!! I’m sending you best wishes for more good health and happiness in the years to come. Come back to the Nugget again real soon. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I can’t wait to see ya in Springfield Oh in April.
Have been a fan since the 70′s and can’t wait to see you in March in Williamsport PA
Hey Merle, I see your heading back my way in Jan to Pad, Ky. I hope 2 catch your show, its been awhile. Hope all’s well with you, I love ya man & can’t wait to see u. Take care!
Your music is my “favor-ite home stereo sound.” It’s amazing how you’ve released so much material over your career and I have yet to find one song that I just don’t like. Each of the 3 re-releases on Working In Tennessee are as good (though different) as the original versions. I’ve come to the conclusion that you could release any song in the world and I would like it. I guess I’m not a critic, but a Merle Haggard fanatic.
Wish you would come back to Grants Pass soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saw your last show here. Please come back. Have been a fan since your first song. Happy Birthday early 4-6-12; Talked to your wife when you were here. Thanks for signing my CD! I’m the ol’ lady that has a Birthday 2-12-37.
I have Working In Tennessee. I love it. It is so great that your family is working with you. I’m still drinking coffee and listening to Merle for breakfast as i have for years. Thank you for being in my life. I’d like to tell you that your music and myself have gone through eight husbands. I loved them all, But they just couldn’t sing like the Hag!
just amazing the master just gets better and better
Merle , We can’t wait untill tomorrow night when we get to see you perform here in Ruidoso, NM — Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino. My husband and Ted Binion went to see you perform — shortly before Ted was killed. Let us know if we can do anything for you while you are here. Sue and DK
Hey Merle, Can’t wait to buy your new CD “Working in Tennessee”. Saw you for the first time at a park in Culpepper, VA with Conway way back when. Have loved you all these years…………….have seen many of your concerts on both coasts as I now live in California. I have all your music and listen to you all the time. I am your NO 1 fan Merle, and wish you all the best. Myra
The new CD is wonderful! But I almost wish I had not listened to the new Working Man Blues. Oh, my gosh, I am totally in awe of Ben. Oh, that kid can sing!!! I listened to his part over and over again, and made my kids and my parents listen to it. I felt like a teenager again. There is just something about his voice. Get him out there, please, get him to sing more. He is gifted. And the version of Jackson! oh, just the best ever! You and Theresa should do a tribute album to Johnny and June, or at least an album of duets. I bet you would do an incredible rendition of Honky Tonk Angels. Would love to hear Jenessa sing sometime too. Hey, maybe Theresa and Jenessa could do a version of Working Girl/Woman Blues?
Man I can’t wait for this to arrive, Working Man Blues is still one of my all time favorite Country songs, I sat down for hours in my teens perfecting that guitar lick … and I was a Rocker at that time but with a good appreciation for my Roots and Merle, Cash, Hank Williams Sr. & Jr, Willie and Waylon are what my Dad played around the house while I was growing up
Oo9ng live the Outlaws of Country Music and thank you Mr Haggard!!!!
Merle Haggard along with Marty Robbins have been my favourite artists/songwriters since the early seventies. I was lucky enough to meet Marty in 1982 in Nashville but unfortunately I have never met Merle. I have been to Nashville 5 times since 1980 but either he had been the week before or was not well enough. I love all his songs and actually sing a number of them here in New Zealand. He has a great following here but we dont seem to be lucky enough to get a visit from him. What about a trip before he gives up!!!!!!!
Keep up the great songs you write
What can I say? My first Hag record was bought in ’79… 190 Proof. My coworker and I agreed we couldn’t work listening to rock and settled on the country station, and whenever a song like “The Way I Am” or “Misery and Gin’ would play I always made sure to hear the DJ tell me who that was singing. Then I bought that record..and several more over the next few years, and I was hooked. I still check out the new ones, and this one is right up there with my all time favorites. Not many artists can keep up that kind of quality for so long..actually.. no one else I can think of. I have written over 300 songs myself, and a few were targeted to your style. It would be my greatest pleasure to have 30 minutes of your time to play you some. You are indeed the best!
I absolutely love your new CD, “Working in Tennessee”…never a disappointment with your recordings! I was blown away with the beautiful voice of your son, Ben, on Workin’ Man Blues. What a ‘chip off the ole block’! This was such a surprise, since I thought his specialty was the guitar and didn’t realize, other than being a great instrumentalist, he has so much more to offer!
Thank you again for the beautiful music. May God bless you and your family.
Absolutely love the new C D ” Working In Tennessee”. You just keep getting better and better. So proud of Ben and was good to hear him sing on this album. Also great to see you again in Spokane Wa. I look forward to your next visit to the Great Northwest. Your friend, Dennis
I just bought working in tennessee and i couldnt waite to get it into the cd player.I just wanted to say excellent job as exspected.When i was 12 years old my dad bought a used car and it had the rainbow stew tape in it , now im 35 and still a huge merle haggard fan.my favorite song was too much boogie woogie it speaks the truth im with you 100% id like to here some more of the older stuff on the radio too. They just recently stopped playing the older music on bug country in upstate ny and i wouldnt care if i ever heard them again.I also loved working man blues.As soon as i heard ben i was very impressed:) he reminded me of steve wariner .anyways excellent job merle and i cant waite to see you live in 2012
I’ll fix your flat tire Merle!!!!! Love the new song, “Working in Tennessee”
I have been fan of you since late 70′s .Guess you never come to Finland.
All the best to you Merle.
Masa from Helsinki
You have been my best friend since 1969, through the good times and bad your music has been my constant companian, you are the best God Bless you and yours Hag. Looking forward to the new CD kind regards Les.
I love you Hag! When will you be around to the Raleigh, NC area. I SO enjoyed watching you at the Kennedy Center Honors last year! I love your voice and music!