Oh Boy Classic Records have been busy re-releasing some great material from the "Classic" artists. I had the chance to listen to one of their recent releases, Oh Boy Classics presents Merle Haggard, and I was taken back in time. These are all previously released favorites from Merle. Many sounded slightly different, he sang them just differently enough that if you were used to singing along with them you would be thrown off balance. However, maybe it isn't so bad to just sit back and listen instead of trying to sing along.

"Workin' Man Blues" is a neat song. It is an old favorite of mine, has that "tap your toes" beat to it. He throws in a little hammer striking stone sound in there for the effect.

"Mama Tried" is an excellent song. It tells the story about a young man who took the wrong path in life. He tells the sad tale from jail, but through it all makes sure that everyone knows that his mama was NOT to blame. She tried to steer him down the straight and narrow.

I guess I'll give up now and just say that each and every song on this album is an old favorite from my childhood. "Silver Wings" also has the ability to bring up great memories. I have always really liked this song. It is one of Merle's slower tunes, but not too slow. His love is leaving - the silver wings of her plane slowly fading out of sight.

"Cherokee Maiden" has the western swing feel to it. Complete with the "commentary" from the band throughout the song. Great instrumentals - love the fiddles.

I think that "Okie From Muskogee" is a song that 99% of the people think of when they think of Merle Haggard. It is somewhat of an anthem for him. It is a story of American Pride.

"If We Make It Through December" is a love song, Merle Haggard Style. Instead of being a love song from a man to his woman, it is from a man to his family. He is going through some hard times and wants Christmas time to be good for his family.

"Today, I Started Lovin' You Again" is a ballad. He has tried to get over a love, but got over her just long enough for the heartache to set in. So he started loving her again. It has some very neat lyrics to sit and listen to.

"Ramblin' Fever" is another Merle song that makes your toes tap along to the rhythm of the music. He just can't stay in one place for long. This song details his adventures and reasoning.

"I Think I'll Stay Here And Drink" is a "drinking" song. He knows he should be going home, but doesn't want the grief. He goes through the reasoning in his mind and it is all perfectly logical - but he decides to just stay where he is and drink.

"The Fightin' Side Of Me" is another anthem for Merle. Stirs even the dustiest of patriotic bones. Basically he tells it the way it is. If you are a true American, be prepared to fight for what you believe in. If you don't believe enough to fight for your beliefs, you have no right to complain - feel free to move. This is yet another Merle song I have loved forever it seems.

"Hungry Eyes" is a story from a boy to his mother. He has a great respect for the hard life she led. There was no money and she had no luxuries of life, but gave them all the love they could ever ask for.

Overall, this is a great album. If you are a Merle Haggard fan and have a collection of his material already, this is great because it consolidates many great songs in one spot. If you haven't built up a Merle collection but would like to start, this is a great start. I can only think of two or three songs that I would add to it for the "perfect" Merle collection.

Song List:

1. Workin' Man Blues
2. Mama Tried
3. Silver Wings
4. Cherokee Maiden
5. Okie from Muskogee
6. I Threw Away the Rose
7. If We Make It Through December
8. Today I Started Lovin' You Again
9. Ramblin' Fever
10. Swingin' Doors
11. I Think I'll Stay Here and Drink
12. The Fightin' Side of Me
13. The Roots of My Raising
14. It's All in the Movies
15. It's Not Love
16. I'm a Lonesome Fugitive
17. Old Man from the Mountain
18. Branded Man
19. Hungry Eyes

Sound clips courtesy of Amazon.
All graphics © Shelly Fabian, with the exception of the album cover, used with permission of Oh Boy Records

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