The Bottom Line
Pros
- "Sam Hill"
- "I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can"
- "The Bottle Let Me Down"
Cons
- None
Description
- Two classic albums on disc.
- Features 5 previously unreleased and rare tracks.
- Digitally remastered from the original studio tapes.
Guide Review - Merle Haggard - Strangers / Swinging Doors and The Bottle Let Me Down
Capitol Records has taken two of Merle Haggard's best albums and combined them onto one disc with bonus material. The two albums found on this disc are 'Strangers' and 'Swinging Doors and The Bottle Let Me Down.' 'Strangers' was originally released in 1965 and 'Swinging Doors' in 1966.The 'Strangers' section of the disc contains a total of twelve songs plus two bonus tracks. The regular tracks include "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers," "The Worst Is Yet To Come," and Merle's version of "Walking The Floor Over You." "Sam Hill" is a favorite of mine because of the humorous closeness to a certain phrase. "I'd Trade All Of My Tomorrows" and "I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can" are two more favorites. The first bonus track is an alternate take of "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive," while the second is a previous unreleased song "Jimmie The Kid."
On the 'Swinging Doors and The Bottle Let Me Down' Side, the songs are more on the beer drinking and lonely side of country music life. "I'm always here at home 'til closing time" sings Merle in "Swinging Doors." Merle would give anything to be the man his old flame now loves, even for just one day, in "If I Could Be Him." Of course "The Bottle Let Me Down" is also on the album. I also like "Shade Tree (Fix-It Man)" and "The Girl Turned Ripe." There are three bonus tracks: "Skid Row" (alternate take), "When No Flowers Grow" (previously unreleased), and "I Threw Away The Rose" (alternate take).
