Tag Archives: Merle Haggard and The Strangers

Merle Haggard And The Strangers: Mama Tried

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On October 3, 1968, “Capitol” label released “Mama Tried”, the seventh Merle Haggard and the Strangers studio album. It was recorded February – March, 1968, ay “Capitol Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ken Nelson. In 1999, the album title song won the “Grammy Hall of Fame Award”.

Personnel:

  • Merle Haggard – vocals, guitar

The Strangers:

  • Roy Nichols – guitar
  • Norman Hamlet – steel guitar
  • George French – piano
  • Jerry Ward – bass
  • Eddie Burris – drums
  • Lewis Talley – guitar
  • Tommy Collins – guitar
  • Billy Mize – guitar
  • Glen Campbell – guitar
  • James Burton – guitar
  • Bonnie Owens – harmony vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Merle Haggard, except where noted.

  1. Mama Tried
  2. Green, Green Grass of Home – Curly Putman
  3. Little Ole Wine Drinker Me – Dick Jennings, Hank Mills
  4. In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) – Dolly Parton
  5. I Could Have Gone Right – Mel Tillis
  6. I’ll Always Know
  7. The Sunny Side of Me
  8. Teach Me to Forget – Leon Payne
  9. Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
  10. Run ‘Em Off – Troy Martin, Onie Wheeler
  11. You’ll Never Love Me Now
  12. Too Many Bridges to Cross Over – Dallas Frazier

Merle Haggard And The Strangers: Swinging Doors and the Bottle Let Me Down

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On October 3, 1966, “Capitol” label released “Swinging Doors and the Bottle Let Me Down”, the second Merle Haggard and The Strangers studio album. It was recorded August – December 1965, June – August 1966, at “Capitol Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ken Nelson and Fuzzy Owen.

  • Personnel:
  • Merle Haggard – vocals, guitar

The Strangers:

  • Roy Nichols – guitar
  • Ralph Mooney – steel guitar
  • George French – piano
  • Jerry Ward – bass
  • Eddie Burris – drums

with

  • Lewis Talley – guitar
  • James Burton – guitar, dobro
  • Glen Campbell – guitar
  • Phil Baugh – guitar
  • Jack Collier – guitar
  • Glen D. Hardin – piano
  • Bob Morris – bass
  • Bert Dodson – bass
  • Jim Gordon – drums
  • Helen “Peaches” Price – drums
  • Billy Mize – harmony vocals
  • Bonnie Owens – harmony vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Merle Haggard,  except where noted.

  1. Swinging Doors
  2. If I Could Be Him
  3. The Longer You Wait
  4. I’ll Look Over You
  5. I Can’t Stand Me
  6. The Girl Turned Ripe
  7. The Bottle Let Me Down
  8. No More You and Me
  9. Somebody Else You’ve Known
  10. High on a Hilltop – Tommy Collins
  11. This Town’s Not Big Enough – Liz Anderson, Donna Austin
  12. Shade Tree (Fix-It-Man)

Merle Haggard And The Strangers: Someday We’ll Look Back

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On August 9, 1971, “Capitol” label released “Someday We’ll Look Back”, the 15th  Merle Haggard and The Strangers album. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, at “Capitol” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ken Nelson.

Personnel:

  • Merle Haggard– vocals, guitar

The Strangers:

  • Roy Nichols – lead guitar
  • Norman Hamlet – steel guitar, dobro
  • Bobby Wayne – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Dennis Hromek – bass, backing vocals
  • Biff Adam – drums
  • James Burton – guitar, dobro
  • Glen Campbell – guitar, backing vocals
  • Glen D. Hardin – piano
  • Hargus “Pig” Robbins – piano
  • Willard Price – bass
  • Leon Copeland – bass
  • Chuck Berghofer – bass
  • Tommy Ash – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Merle Haggard, except where noted.

  1. Someday We’ll Look Back
  2. Train of Life – Roger Miller
  3. One Sweet Hello
  4. One Row at a Time – Red Lane, Dottie West
  5. Big Time Annie’s Square
  6. I’d Rather Be Gone
  7. California Cottonfields – Dallas Frazier, Earl Montgo
  8. Carolyn – Tommy Collins
  9. Tulare Dust
  10. Huntsville – Merle Haggard, Red Simpson
  11. The Only Trouble with Me