Search - Merle Haggard :: Peer Sessions

Peer Sessions
Merle Haggard
Peer Sessions
Genres: Country, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

Beginning with Jimmie Rodgers's "Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia" and continuing through the next couple of tunes, Merle Haggard sounds almost too laid-back, too nostalgic, on this collection of chestnuts from the venera...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Merle Haggard
Title: Peer Sessions
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Audium Entertainment
Release Date: 5/21/2002
Genres: Country, Pop
Style: Roadhouse Country
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 684038815227

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Beginning with Jimmie Rodgers's "Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia" and continuing through the next couple of tunes, Merle Haggard sounds almost too laid-back, too nostalgic, on this collection of chestnuts from the venerable Peer-Southern catalog. But by the time he hits W. Lee O'Daniel's "Put Me in Your Pocket," the delicacy of both the stately band and his parched vocals begin conveying the sense of a life lived hard and, perhaps almost coincidentally, well. Ultimately, the late-night sound becomes as comforting for the listener as it clearly is for the star. Only Haggard, after all, could get away with Rodgers's "Whippin' That Old T.B.," or with putting the contrasting Floyd Tillman standards "It Makes No Difference Now" and "I Love You So Much It Hurts" on the same CD in the 21st century. --John Morthland

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CD Reviews

Doesn't Get Any Better Than This...
R. F. Cooney | Cranston, RI United States | 05/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD, released in 2002 but recorded in the mid to late '90's, is simply superb. I grew up with "real" country music, and this is as close as one gets these days...other reviewers have mentioned this but it is worth repeating. The CD has a 'live' feel to it, with the band in top form, and Merle's singing as solid as ever. True, he has recorded some of these songs earlier in his career, but the maturity evident in these recordings is almost beyond belief. This CD is never far from my CD player. It is absolutely 'soothing' music by a true legend. The songs (12 total) written by Jimmie Rogers, and Jimmie Davis, are wonderful choices for Merle's voice...the others by Tillman, Haley, Dodd and Mitchell, and Lee O'Daniel are also great and round out this incredible 'session.' In this CD you get a taste of the many Merle 'styles.' Each song tells its own story as is customary in country music...in fact this CD is like a "mini-history of classic country music." (Roy Horton, from the notes). And the duet with Jimmie Davis -- what can you say except 'Wow!" And let's not forget the incredible playing of Owen Bradley on the piano!



If you are a fan of traditional, classic, country music this CD needs to be in your collection, along with others by Merle, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, etc.



If you're a Haggard fan, this is one you should own, probably do, and if not, what are you waiting for? It doesn't get any better than this..."
Merle unplugged (almost)
montecastello | Dardanelle, Arkansas United States | 10/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an extraordinarily appealing record. It's like having Merle and few instrumentalists sitting around in your living room performing old songs that they clearly love. It seems ungrateful to suggest any reservations, but if I were going to I might wish for a little more variety in the selections, maybe one uptempo number (maybe another Bob Wills number) in the midst of all these sleepy tunes, and a little less polish on Miss the Mississippi (Emmy Lou can present the tune as elegant but still country; here, the two qualities don't quite mesh.)
Still, this is a record I wouldn't be without. I only wish my parents had lived long enough to hear it."
Diamonds in the Mud
montecastello | 01/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Country music has become pop in cowboy hats. Merle shows you in this album where this rhinestone cowboys on CMT need to look for real inspiration. This album is constantly on my CD player and certainly seems the best of it's genre or even overall album released this year. If you like Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, or Johnny Cash, you'll most definitely dig this album. If Merle is trying to imitate anyone it's not Williw Nelson as one review suggests but rather Lefty Frizell or Jimmie Rodgers himself. Stripping his sound down to the real essential to give us something less slick and produced is certainly not a fault in my book!"