Merle Haggard - Hag/Someday We'll Look Back

Like Finding An Old Friend

When I saw that this compilation was out, I couldn't believe my eyes. I had searched for "Someday We'll Look Back" for over 30 years, ever since my father took it to a party and lost it. (It was the only album that he and I both liked). I was unable to find more than a few songs from it here and there. Capitol pulled it from the shelves- I thought for good. All I had were the memories of the heartfelt songs that told the stories of so many folks who traded the midwest for California, and the generations that followed. Not many of us can recall our families much farther back than our grandfathers. War had uprooted us and spread us all over the country, so we don't have a strong storytelling tradition. Merle has preserved those times in his songs. "Hag" is a good collection, but much more traditional and staid than "Someday," relying on themes much more common in country music in those days.
"Someday We'll Look Back" is timeless in the way it explores themes of loneliness, alienation and yet redemption and the hope of happiness down the road. It can almost be considered a concept album similar to Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger's" bleak and dusty, but hopeful world. Roger Miller's "Train of Life" evokes the feeling that so many World War Two veterans felt at the time: "I'm tired of having no future, just livin' on things that I've done, I'm tired of sittin' on the sidetrack, watchin' the main line run." What Springsteen was to cars, Haggard was to trains.
The often covered "California Cottonfields," " One Row at a Time, and "Tulare Dust," are probably the most evocative work that Haggard has done, and could be musical accompniment to "The Grapes of Wrath." Even Haggard's more familiar themes of failed relationships and guilt are explored with such grace and understanding, that they rise above the bleak landscapes that they paint and lift us with them. "One Sweet Hello," "I'd Rather Be Gone,"Carolyn, and "The Only Trouble With Me," stand up well, especially against the shallow, cliched backdroup of "country" music today.
Most importantly to me, listening to "Someday We'll Look Back" has given me new perspective in what it was like to be a man from the 1940's to the 70's, trying to survive, raise a family, without jumping on a train, like so many of his chaaracters have done. Haggard took a long look back with his late 60's and 70's albums, and it's been fun to revisit a master story teller and be taken back with him.

September 28, 2008

Haggard shines as he expands his songwriting territory

Out of all the recently remastered/reissued Merle Haggard twofers, Hag/Someday We'll Look Back is the least characteristically "Bakersfield"-sounding one. It's not really heavy on those wicked steel guitar licks or the go-for-broke background singers that I love so well, but guess what?? It's great anyway! On these two records, Merle really stretches out his songwriting, drawing more from blues, jazz and folk than ever before and crafting the most personal and emotional songs he'd ever done.

The first album, Hag, probably has more of a conservative bent than the second, with the heartfelt "Soldier's Last Letter," the plea "Jesus, Take A Hold," and the tender "Farmer's Daughter." Throughout the album, Hag uses subtle textures (listen to the piano on "Shelly's Winter Love") to convey his subtly powerful songs. "Sidewalks of Chicago is another highlight with its hard living tale. Other highlights are the honky-tonkin' "I'm A Good Loser," the homage-paying yodel in "I Ain't Got Nobody," and the humorous, true-to-life "I've Done it All." Any fan of Merle Haggard knows he really did do it all, working the cotton fields and doing time in jail before becoming one of country music's greatest songwriters.

The second album, Someday We'll Look Back, might be even better than Hag. Like Hag, Someday We'll Look Back reflects subtly on life's hard times (especially with the title track) but it also finds Merle wistfully telling tales from his childhood. "One Row at a Time," "California Cotton Fields" and "Tulare Dust" all reflect a rough but character-building agrarian childhood and a sentimental sympathy for Haggard's hard-working father. "Huntsville" is a great, brooding somewhat autobiographical prison song with some great lines--"the man better keep both eyes on me, or they're gonna lose ol' Hag." The album also has some of Haggard's trademark humorous and upbeat moments, like on the easy-going "The Only Trouble With Me" and on the rock-influenced "Worried, Unhappy, Lonesome and Sorry."

I heartily recommend this economically-priced twofer to people who are already fans of Hag--I think you'll really enjoy the songwriting risks and growth he accomplishes. I also recommend Merle to fans of classic rock and folk--modern country music's sorry state sometimes obscures the genre's rich history--there's a lot to enjoy here, even for rock and roll fans who usually think they're too cool for country. January 10, 2007

The Hag

I was very pleased with the CD and enjoyed hearing some of the old songs again. I bought it because I have a friend that needed the words to "Jesus Take Ahold" as he is thinking of putting it on his next CD. I might have to get another one since he now has it. November 12, 2006

Listen And Let Merle Show You The Way To Bakersfield

I guess one of the things that makes country music so overwhelmingly appealing is the wide range of styles. Today country encompases everything from rockabilly, (Joe Diffie and Dwight Yoakham) to southern boogie, (Toby Keith and Charlie Daniels) to contemporary pop, (Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain). The question is how far astray can an artist go before the fans and critics begin to cry "Sell-Out". Well one artist that will never be accussed of 'selling-out" is Merle Haggard.

Merle has been recording for more than forty years. He along with fellow Californian, Buck Owens helped to forge a new sound in country back in the early 1960's. It became known as the Bakersfield Sound and it defined what main stream country music would sound like right up until today. This two-fer offering comes from Merle's most productive period and contains some of his all-time best songwriting.

Merle Haggard embraces everything that folks have come to expect from an artist who never needed to change or compromise. He never saw any need to adapt his style to satisfy a fickled and trendy record-buying public. His songs are the expression of one who has lived a life born of struggle, hardships and more than a fair share of mistakes. But along the way he used these life experiences to shape a unique style and a distinct sound that can never be duplicated. I don't think Merle Haggard ever put out a bad record and here are two of his very best. Listen...Open up your ears and open your mind and let Merle show you the way to Bakersfield. October 12, 2006

Classic Hag -- Two Great Albums at a Great Price

Hag was Merle's first album of original songs following the meteoric rise he experienced from the success of "Okie." Released in 1971, Hag found Merle straddling the new-found establishment success and anti-hippie sentiment of much of his audience with his naturally tolerant, introspective, egalitarian, and contrarian nature.

Given the rift in America at that time over race relations, poverty, civil rights, and the war in Vietnam, several songs on Hag seem to directly address these issues: the opener, a chilling cover of Ernie Tubbs' "Soldier's Last Letter," updates this classic against the backdrop of Vietnam. Given that we are again involved in a war with dubious meaning foisted upon us by leaders who have been less than candid, this song resonates as if it was written yesterday. "Sidewalks of Chicago" addresses homelessness and poverty, and "The Farmer's Daughter" is about tolerance and respect for others. The poignant "Jesus Take a Hold" asks for Jesus to intervene and help us, given that our leaders have failed us and the country is hopelessly divided.

But the best songs on Hag are the ones where Merle turns inward, and writes of uncertainty, lost love, and whether he can accomplish what his heart really wants. "Shelley's Last Love," a deft and moving love song, finds Merle hitting his stride as a songwriter. "I Can't Be Myself" and "I'm a Good Loser" continue in this vein, as does the heartfelt "I've Done It All." In sum, Hag finds Merle in top form as a singer, songwriter, and performer, it is easily one of his best records.

The follow up, Someday We'll Look Back, is a much looser, more relaxed affair. Filled with fine western swing and easy harmonies, this is Merle's backporch album, enjoyable from start to finish. The band rocks and rolls and Merle is clearly having a good time.

By the time you done listening to this great two-fer, you will, too. October 10, 2006

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