Search - Merle Haggard :: His Epic Hits

Early eighties classics from Merle

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 02/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some say that the early eighties were Merle's best years. I wouldn't go quite that far, but he certainly made some excellent music back then and this set, dominated by ballads, proves it. In particular, there were two classic albums - Big city (represented here by three tracks) and Pancho and Lefty (a collection of duets with Willie Nelson, represented here by two tracks) - that are among the best he ever recorded.Big city is represented by the title track, Are the good times really over and My favorite memory, although this classic album deserves to be heard in its entirety, whether you buy this collection of hits or not. Pancho and Lefty is represented by the title track (on which Merle only joins in near the end - it's almost a Willie solo track) and Reasons to quit.Elsewhere, Merle shows his way with ballads such as You take me for granted, That's the way love goes (a cover of a Conway Twitty song that Merle later re-recorded as a duet with folk-pop singer Jewel, who is a fan of Merle's), Someday when things are good, What am I gonna do and Going where the lonely go.Another country legend, George Jones, joins Merle on C C Waterback, rounding off an excellent set in fine style. Another of their duets, Yesterday's mine, can be found on an other of Merle's compilations, Greatest hits of the eighties, which (apart from that track) covers the second half of his Epic recordings.This is a great collection of hits from Merle, of which only about half the tracks are included in his boxed set, Down the road. There are many compilations of his music out there, but this one is among the best despite only having eleven tracks."

Short Compilation, But Still Perfect

K. Fontenot | The Bayou State | 07/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are many Merle Haggard compilations floating around these days, but "His Epic Hits," which showcases a some of his work from the early 80's, is one of the best despite only having eleven tracks on it. It gives the listener a good taste of Haggard without holding back too much or going overboard. Opening with "Reasons To Quit" and then winding its way through hits like "That's The Way Love Goes," "Big City," and "Going Where The Lonely Go," this album shows the listener that Haggard is just as comfortable singing ballads as he is with honky-tonk. George Jones and Willie Nelson are also here with Jones helping out on "C.C. Waterback" and Nelson pitching in on the great "Pancho and Lefty."



My personal favorite Haggard song (and the original reason I bought this album) is also found here: "Are The Good Times Really Over?"



For those who've never heard of Merle Haggard, this is an excellent introductory album. There are better and more complete collections of his work around, but for a good sampler, I'd suggest you pick up "His Epic Hits.""

(4.5 stars) AN EARLY 1980's COLLECTION OF HAGGARD CLASSICS

ol' nuff n' den sum | the Virginia coast, USA | 10/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of Merle Haggard's Epic Records recordings show a more mature and laid-back Merle, and the songs and arrangements are reflective, sophisticated, and middle-age friendly. That's not to say that The Hag's not his same old tough self. He is, but the prison songs are gone, and for the most part, so are the drinking songs. There is a wild party song duet with George Jones called C.C. Waterback that's a lot of fun.



There are two very good duets with Willie Nelson. The first is Reasons To Quit, where they conclude, "The reasons to quit (drinking) don't outnumber all the reasons why". The other, Pancho And Lefty, the story of two aging outlaws, is a classic.



Are The Good Times Really Over (I Wish A Buck Was Still Silver) finds Merle longing for the good ol' days and hoping for the future.



Are we rollin' downhill like a snowball headed for hell,

With no chance for the flag or the liberty bell?

I wish a Ford and a Chevy would still last ten years like they should,

Is the best of the free life behind us now,

And are the good times really over for good?



Merle is still The Hag, he just hit middle-age. Big City is a workingman's anthem, where the singer desires to be set free from "this dirty old city". Most of the other songs are thoughtful, mature, and well-produced love songs. The over all sound to this collection is clean, mellow, and reflective, but it's still unmistakably Merle Haggard."