Unforgettable Merle Haggard

• Artist: Merle Haggard
• Rating:
• Release Date: December 14, 2004
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Country

Review

As the '90s drew to a close, Merle Haggard left major labels behind, putting out a pair of excellent records on the punk label Epitaph before parting ways with them and releasing a politically charged album on an even smaller indie called Compendium, before quietly returning to his longtime home, Capitol, in 2004 with Unforgettable. This album is part of a long line of veteran singers tackling the American popular songbook -- i.e., pre-rock & roll vocal pop standards such as "As Time Goes By," "Stardust," and "I Can't Get Started." This may be a common move, but coming from the contrarian Haggard, it seems as idiosyncratic and comfortable as his collection of classic country covers, Roots, Vol. 1. Like that album, this is warm, relaxed and laid-back, impeccably performed, and pleasurable to hear. Not that it contains any surprises -- it's filled with low-key, piano-driven arrangements suited for a late-night smoky bar or any other of the many similarly styled standards records -- but what makes Unforgettable work is Haggard's easy, assured delivery. He may not reinvent these songs, but he sings them as if they were his own, making this a small, romantic gem for listeners who love Hag the singer as much as they love Hag the writer. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
As Time Goes By	Herman Hupfield	Merle Haggard	(3:09)
Gypsy	Billy Reid	Merle Haggard	(3:31)
Unforgettable	Irving Gordon	Merle Haggard	(3:04)
Stardust	Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish	Merle Haggard	(4:01)
I Can't Get Started	Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin	Merle Haggard	(3:18)
Still Missing You	Freddy Powers	Merle Haggard	(2:46)
Pennies from Heaven (Lyrics)	Johnny Burke, Arthur Johnston	Merle Haggard	(3:21)
Cry Me a River (Lyrics)	Arthur Hamilton	Merle Haggard	(3:59)
I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)	Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk	Merle Haggard	(3:06)
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You (Lyrics)	Russ Morgan, Larry Stock, James Cavanaugh	Merle Haggard	(2:37)
What Love Can Do	Merle Haggard, Theresa Lane Haggard	Merle Haggard	(3:31)
Goin' Away Party (Lyrics)	Cindy Walker	Merle Haggard	(4:26)

Credits

Johnny Gimble (Fiddle), Merle Haggard (Guitar (Electric)), Bobby Wood (Piano), Biff Adam (Drums), Lou Bradley (Engineer), Lou Bradley (Mixing), Gary Church (Trombone), Eddie Curtis (Bass), Floyd Domino (Piano), Larry Greenhill (Engineer), Joe Manuel (Guitar (Acoustic)), Joe Manuel (Guitar (Electric)), Freddy Powers (Guitar (Acoustic)), Freddy Powers (Drums), Freddy Powers (Producer), Kevin Price (Cello), Joe Reed (Bass), Joe Rogers (Design), John B. Sparks (Mastering), Clint Strong (Guitar (Electric)), Catherine Styron (Piano), Redd Volkaert (Guitar (Acoustic)), Randy Mason (Guitar (Acoustic)), Randy Mason (Drums), Larrie Londin (Drums), Leland Sklar (Bass), Mike Wheeler (Guitar (Electric)), Hollis Flatt (Mastering), Abe Manuel, Jr. (Guitar (Acoustic)), Abe Manuel, Jr. (Fiddle), Abe Manuel, Jr. (Accordion), Pamela Springsteen (Photography), Lynne Bugai (Stylist), Oleg Schramm (Piano), Colette Taber (Groomer), Joanna Carter (Art Direction), Michelle Hall (Art Producer), Tony Savage (Conductor), Tony Savage (String Arrangements), Denise Arguijo (Art Producer), Terry Domingue (Drums), Rose Katai (Violin), Soo Kyong Kim (Viola), Don Markum (Trumpet), Don Markum (Saxophone), Bruce McBeth (Violin), B.B. Morse (Bass)