The Steel Guitar Forum

My sister told me she was distracted while e-mailing me the other night. She heard this smooth voice and country music to match coming from the TV. Then she her husband say, "God, this guy is the best!".

She acknowledged not having to tell me who the singer was. Of course, it was Merle Haggard.


My sister and her husband are folks I'd describe as former hippies. They have 5 kids now and that was a long time ago. I'm just wondering what took her hubby so long. I mean they live right there in Northern California, Merle Haggard country.

Oh, and all of this on the same day that a local country station here decides to play Momma Tried; 'bout did me in.

------------------
HagFan

Having grown up on rock music, Merle Haggard is a name I've always known, but for the most part, I never really listened to him.

I recently purchased a copy of Merle's tribute to Jimmie Rodgers and I've been absolutely blown away by the album. I think I found a nice introduction to both Rodgers and Haggard.

Problem with Haggard albums, it seems like everything I can find on cd from his earlier days tends to be "hits" packages. I want the original albums, not hits packages. Anyone have recommendations?

Chris,

I feel the same way about the original albums. Many of my favorite Hag tunes were never singles or big hits. I'd like to see CD's of about 20 of those original albums.

Having said that, for my money you can't beat the "Live at Billy Bob's Texas" CD. There you have about 17 Hag classics which are far better than the orginals if what you're after is steel guitar. Norm never got to play this way on the earlier albums. I'll bet there are at least 6 cuts that oritinally had little if any steel, but now feature it. The only new release on that CD was Motorcycle Cowboy, which features some kick-ass lead guitar.

I have found some original albums on CD: That's the Way Love Goes, Big City, Going Where the Lonely Go, Serving 190 Proof, Blue Jungle, 501 Blues, Chill Factor.

------------------
HagFan

Got his latest CD the other day... and heard one of the best singers I've ever listened to.

The CD has some weak songs, but I just love to listen to his voice, it's soo great.



------------------
martin abend my homepage chicotarde@web.de
s-10 sierra crown gearless 3 x4 - Regal RD45 - fender hotrod deluxe

I recently bough the Waylon Jennings live CD. He sound just like Haggard to me. The Billy Bobs CD of Haggard is the best one that I have heard of him.

Hey Ron, thanks for the tip.

BTW: who's playing lead gtr on Billy Bob's?

Chris,

I'm glad you asked about the lead guitar. It's Redd Volkert. I should have mentioned that the entire band sounded sharp. Johnny Gimble does some work on fiddle and I think mandolin.

This one really is a must have for HagFans. I still think it's Hag and the Strangers at their best.

On that newer CD -- If Only I Could Fly -- my favorite cut is "Listening to the Wind". I think Norm is playing a lap steel on that one. The fiddle on "Uncle John" will tear your heart out.

------------------
HagFan

* <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:59 PM.]</p></FONT>

During the late 60's thru the 70's I was listening to rock and bluegrass. But in the middle of all my rock albums and 8 track tapes you could always find Merle Haggard music. Over the years I have collected around 65-70 Merle albums and tapes. When video recorders came out I tried to tape everything I could find of Merle on tv. No way I could put a price on my collection of Merle's music ESnow<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by ESnow on 19 July 2001 at 11:38 PM.]</p></FONT>

Is Redd his current player? When was Billy Bob's recorded?

I'm definitley gonna pick this one up.

They other day, as I was driving back to work from my lunch break, I was listening to public radio. They were gonna interview Redd Volkert, but of course, I had to miss it. I heard the announcement right as I was pulling into my parking space. Sorta wished I hadn't heard that ad. Spent the rest of the afternoon knowing I was missing something cool.

Redd is the current guitar player. Live at Billy Bobs recorded in 1999

* <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:59 PM.]</p></FONT>

Gene, I do that too, I also get a "Hughey fix" from the Decca years. Larry<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Larry Miller on 22 July 2001 at 06:10 AM.]</p></FONT>

As far as I know, Redd is the guitar man for the Hag, and has been for a while. I haven't been to Robert's Western Wear downtown in a while, but I've seen Redd in there many times playin with friends and having a good time. Nice guy, and an amazing picker.
I recently watched an archived live webcast of the Hag which was great. Redd plays some tasty licks throughout. I believe it was at the House of Blues website: www.hob.com I enjoyed it.

I just checked on that Hag show, and it is indeed at the HOB site. You need to create a password and a login ID (no biggie) and you can access the archives. Do a search for Merle and you'll find the show. Taped live at Anaheim, CA in March of this year. With a broadband connection, audio and video quality is superb. With a slower connection, the audio is very good, but you won't get the streaming video...it will be choppy. The band sounds great

Capitol/EMI in the UK has released all the early Hag original albums on Capitol with two albums packed onto each cd.A great bargain!

To Clive,
You are joking, right?? I mean, no disrespect to Waylon Jennings, but Hag and Waylon are like night and day. Are you sure the label on the cd was right?