Live From Austin, TX 1985

by Merle Haggard

Overview

This 1985 performance of Merle Haggard and his swinging Strangers -- with a two-piece horn section that sounds like five -- were in fine form at Austin City Limits. There are 15 tunes on Live from Austin, TX many of them barn burners. It opens with "The Okie from Muskogee's Comin' Home," a fine choice since it's not a novelty song. Haggard sticks to his own material most of the time, and he rambles over it, pulling from classics like "Mama Tried" and "Silver Wings," to newer material from the MCA and Epic periods -- which were creatively fertile times for him. An example is in the lovely "What Am I Gonna Do (With the Rest of My Life)," the fourth tune in the set. But there are more, too, in "Place to Fall Apart" and "I Wish Things Were Simple Again." There are two Tommy Duncan tunes here, where Haggard pays homage to his first real influence, Bob Wills -- "Misery," "Take Me Back to Tulsa," and one by Wills, as well as "Ida Red." Thankfully, a great version of Johnny Durrill's "Misery and Gin" is here from Back to the Barrooms, as is the wonderful closer, Haggard's own "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink," to take the thing out on the right note. It's true most could have lived without his pseudo-orchestral paean to xenophobic political values, "Amber Waves of Grain," but it wouldn't be a complete show without an accurate portrayal of the songwriter and the man. Haggard fans will dig this one just fine. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	12/13/2024
Label:	New West Records
UPC:	0607396902613

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Merle Haggard   Primary Artist,Fiddle,Guitar,Vocals
Biff Adam   Drums
Don Markham   Trumpet,Saxophone
Clint Strong   Guitar
Roy Nichols   Guitar
Norm Hamlet   Dobro,Guitar
Gary Church   Cornet,Trombone
Mark Yeary   Piano
Jim Belken   Fiddle
Donna Faye   Vocals
Dennis Hromek   Bass

Technical Credits

Snuff Garrett   Composer
Debbie Parret   Composer
Pate Russell   Composer
Terry Lickona   Liner Notes
Bob Wills   Composer
Chet Himes   Mixing
Freddy Powers   Composer
Jerry Tubb   Audio Master
Cameron Strang   Producer,Executive Producer
Merle Haggard   Composer
Tom Collins   Composer
Willie Nelson   Composer
Clare Surgeson   Project Coordinator
Steve Gustafson   Associate Producer
Freddie Powers   Composer
John Durrill   Composer
Gary Briggs   Mixing,Producer
Tiny Moore   Composer
Tommy Duncan   Composer
Tommy "Snuff" Garrett   Composer
Gary Laird   Editing
Katherine Delaney   Package Design
Mary Jurey   Project Coordinator