Not original tracks--but Excellent later studio versions
Great Merle Haggard songs performed by him and an uncredited band in the eighties, in chronological order, from his career beginning through the mid-eighties. Sound is excellent, arrangements are different enough to be interesting but not so different that they take your mind from the originals. Merle's voice sounds excellent throughout. A reasonably-priced compilation done by an older, wiser Haggard. A good companion to the original tracks. Recommended.

The Hag
I'm not sure how many different studio recordings of "Mama Tried" Merle released, but I've heard at least 3 different versions of it. I think I've finally found the version I like, this one. This is the one that used to be on the box at the National Liquor bar. In this version the line "no one could steer me right...but mamma tried", you have that pause there, this version is far superior to the other studio recordings, yes even the original. This one is sung with the most emotion by far.

Merle sings the hits of yesteryear
A mature Merle Haggard looks back to his early hits in this CD that was mostly recorded in the mid-to-late '90s, nearly three decades after these songs were chart-toppers. His voice has a bit more whiskey and gravel in it, but is still that unique sound, often a sound of pain, that is purely Merle. These are tales of hardship and loneliness, and Merle has at one time or another in his life lived them. The song I always find to be a heartbreaker is "Hungry Eyes", where Merle's writing genius captures a story of need so vividly we can almost see it in our mind's eye. "Working Man Blues" is a great toe-tapper, as is "The Fightin' Side of Me", a song that expresses how many of us feel in the present time.

Most of the tracks have simple but excellent backing, but there is no recording info given as to who is in the band in the minimal liner notes.
There are three tracks that were previously released: Two from the "Big City" CD from 1981 (tracks # 13 and # 14) and one from the "Going Where the Lonely Go" from 1982 (track # 15).
This is a terrific CD, as long as one isn't expecting the original recordings; I appreciate the legendary Haggard at every stage of his long career...and this look back at his early work is wonderful...music that tells stories from a time long gone, but still so relevant today.
The sound for the most part is good and total playing time is 50'58.

Still great after all these years...
I withhold one star from this because these tracks were all recorded in October, 1994, although the original singles were released in the '60's, 70's and 80's. That said, it is still a fine one-disc collection of SOME of Merle's best. His voice was still great in '94, and the man knows how to write a song and put one over. "Lonesome Fugitive" and "Branded Man" and "Sing Me Back Home" and "Fightin' Side of Me" and "Big City" are all great. "Mama Tried" is universal. There is a two-CD collection just released earlier this year (2004) which probably represents the artist more completely, but if you find this one at a good price, it should please all his fans. Merle sings "Working Man Blues" on this disc, and I have tickets to see him perform on July 3rd. Check out his website and you'll see he works a heck of a lot for an old geezer born in 1937 (seven years older than I am!) He is one of country's greatest singers, along with Jones and Cash and Nelson, and still has something to say to music fans young enough to be his grandchildren.

I shoulda consulted with Amazon!!
I picked up this CD in a store and when I got it home, realized that instead of the original versions of his hits, we have re-hashed re-recordings from 1994! What a let down! I was expecting the old classics recorded with the Strangers! Shame on Sony Music for not labeling this collection on it's outer package for what it is. Thank you Amazon for honestly describing the contents on your website!

Anyone want a slightly-used Merle Haggard CD??