The Steel Guitar Forum

When I was growing up, my Mom had a Merle Haggard Live record I listened to Over and over. I cannot find it anywhere. If I remember correctly it was MH and the Strangers live. I remember he did a series of impersonations of Hank Snow, Marty Robbins, and possibly Buck Owens. I want to buy this record! I cannot find it on CD. HELP! I think we bought it at a concert around 1973 to 1975. Any help is appreciated.

That was the "fighting side of Me" album.Ernest Tubb record shop will have it Check online. If not I am sure Ron Page will have more info.

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cjc

Joe, did this album have "Steelin' Corn"
on it, with Norman Hamlet riding steel?
I've got an old mushy cassette with "Steelin
Corn" on it, but whoever made it for me, never put the title down. Sounds live though,
but is gettin' hard to listen to. Isn't aging
wonderful for people and tapes?

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Chip
Williams U-12 8X5

Sorry, I can't find it on CD either. I've always said they should put a CD box set together of his 4 earlier live albums: "Okie...", "Fightin' Side...", "I Love Dixie Blues" and "Rainbow Stew". Of those 4 the only one available on CD is the Dixie Blues CD, which I love; I've had that on LP, 8-track and now CD, don't know how I avoided owning a cassette of it.

Be careful if you find a CD because they deceptively reuse those popular title for "collections". I think the Fightin' Side title has been attached to something with George Jones-- not the original Hag/Jones album called "Yesterday's Wine".

If you like The Hag live you can't go wrong with the "Live at Billy Bob's Texas". Each of the Hag classics is better than the original, especially from the steel guitar perspective.

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HagFan

You can buy the vinyl LP here http://www.buckaroorecords.com/ for an $18 bill. Bonnie Owens forgetting the words to Philadelphia Lawyer is free.

I have that album. It must be close to 30 years old, but it is still in good shape. I pulled it out a couple of months ago and played it for my son, who is 11. He wanted to know who Merle was. He got a real kick out of Bonnie messing up on Philadelphia lawyer. I have about 10 of Merle's old vinyls. I have his Down Every Road cd, also. Great Gugamooga, Pat .

I gave all my records away in the move but Yes Fighting side was one of my favorites and Hag hit the impressions as good ,well Marty Robbins was floored by it.I was trying to think of the Bass player Gene, Left hander anyway Buddy Dennis Hromek took his place and The biffer came with him from the Palomino.Red Rhodes and the detours were raided to fill the Hag band.I had no problen getting Doc Peters to like Roy Nichols,Doc Quit a top Touring rock group to come with me and He note for noted Roy Nichols. And the twin stuff he and Jim Smith did well a lot of people followed us.Hag you kept me workin 20 years.

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cjc

Hi Joe, remember me? That is one of the reasons I have laid back. You throw a specific question/request, maybe to the general staff, or maybe to an individual.
And a lot of times what comes back, well,
is not what you were hoping for.
HELLO!!!

Smiley, by the way, still thinks the world of you.
Would a picture {recent} of me help? I remember when you were playing BILLY T's.
Weren't you sporting a beard back then? Or when people often refer to less-threatening
Gabby Hayes...whiskers?

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Chip
Williams U-12 8X5

<SMALL>I pulled it out a couple of months ago and played it for my son, who is 11. He wanted to know who Merle was.</SMALL>

Well, Pat, I guess he's old enough now. True story: When my son was about 2 years old he would point to the stereo and say, "MERLE!" Now, where do you suppose he got the idea that's what the stereo was called?

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HagFan

PS: I wanted to get this one before Ray. The bass player was Gene Price. He sang "In the Arms of Love" on that album.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ron Page on 18 January 2000 at 09:07 AM.]</p></FONT>

Chip, one time in my life I had a little beard but not at Billy T's to much Indian Blood very little facial hair ever grew on my face.Fuzzy Ward who worked for me had a "Gabby" most I ever grow is a stache.I'll E-mail some BillY T pictures to you.I can't believe I did three solid Years there 6 nights a week. Great place Millie and Billy were great to work for.Did you ever sit in with us,or come to a Jamboree? I just remembered I freddy Kole would take my place sometimes,He had a Beard,Bobby Allen also had a Beard he played lead guitar and sang a lot.maybe it's one of them.

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cjc

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 18 January 2000 at 03:12 PM.]</p></FONT>

Joe, I only came to about 3 Sunday afternoon
jams. I sat in on Doug Beaumier's Emmons
once, and the other times, I brought my
S-10 Emmons.
I was just starting out then. Took some lessons from Sammy Gibson and one or two
from Doug.
So I kinda met a whole mess of people at once, and as usual, had trouble matching
names with faces.
Yeah...Billy T's was the place back then.
Oh, just remembered. Took a few lessons from Jimmy Smith back then too, as he was living
in Enfield, CT at that time, and I was living with folks temporarily across the line
in Longmeadow, MA. Jim lived right next door
to that 2nd famous hot dog venue, TERWILLIGERS....remember that one?
Those pictures would be great....I'll take
good care of them, and get them right back.


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Chip
Williams U-12 8X5

Chip I seached about 80% of my tapes to see if "Stealin Corn"was on the Fighting side of me album. I believe it is I just can't find it. Maybe Ron or some other person still has an exact copy. Sorry. There was a couple of Jams including the Steel showcase my last one I put on. I did the First set and was gone until the last. Bobby Allen who left the Nashville road scene to work with me ran the show and he had a Beard. I use to bail out after my opening set and come back to close the evening and pay the guy's.I believe we may have missed each other,I sent you a picture E-Mail and am looking for copies of that jam to send you. I have a nice picture I cherish of Sam Gibson ,Smiley and the late Paul Manning on stage together. I should send that to Sam.

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cjc

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 18 January 2000 at 08:16 PM.]</p></FONT>

Yep! Steelin' Corn is on The Fightin' Side album...

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HagFan

Also, look out for another great Merle 'live' album, which was released here in England in the 70's/early 80's? It was called "The Epic Collection", 'cause it was on the Epic label.
Merle says,"My fingers are cold - can I get a pretty girl up here to hold my fingers when I'm not playing?"

Luxury!

Tony,Are you sure he did not say "pull my finger"ala Smiley

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cjc