Merle Haggard Discography Simplified-Main Page
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Merle Haggard's 1974 Album If We Make It Through December
Merle Haggard's 1974 Album If We Make It Through December
Capitol Records ©
ST 11276
Image: Merle's Haggard's If We Make It Through December
Merle Haggard Discography Simplified-Rating System
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Click to see criteria used in ratings
"If We Make It Through December" is one of my least favorite Haggard albums. This one feels like it may have been pieced together with older tracks from Capitol's vaults intertwined with a few 'new' recordings. "Come On Into My Arms" was originally recorded for the scrapped studio album "I Love Dixie Blues". The title track was originally released several months earlier on "Merle Haggard's Christmas Present".
The remaining tracks sound as if they were meant for a future tribute album. Merle's rendition of Lefty Frizzell's "I'm An Old Old Man Trying To Live While I Can" would later be released on Capitol Records© 'last bite of the Merle Haggard apple' on an album entitled "The Way It Was In '51". "Better Off When I Was Hungry" sounds as if it were meant for Merle's 1969 "Pride In What I Am".
Furthermore, this is the first time we have backing vocals on a Merle Haggard studio album of someone other than Bonnie Owens. In fact there are several background voices on the recording that were not credited.
Overall "December" is a decent listen but the material appears out of order making an unpleasant listening experience.
The opinions above are solely those of Sound_man73. If you're like me you'll collect the music either way :)
Be sure to check out Merle Haggard's Official Site!
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Merle Haggard 38 Number 1 Hits
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Track Listing:
Songwriter/s are in (parentheses)
- If We Make It Through December (Merle Haggard)
- Love And Honor (Merle Haggard)
- To Each His Own (Jay Livingston/Ray Evans)
- You're The Only Girl In The Game (Hank Cochran/Glenn Martin)
- I'm An Old Old Man Tryin' To Live While I Can (Lefty Frizzell)
- Come On Into My Arms (Marcia Nichols)
- Better Off When I Was Hungry (Dave Kirby)
- I'll Break Out Again Tonight (Arthur Leo Owens/Sanger D. Shafer)
- This Cold War With You (Floyd Tillman)
- Uncle Lem (Glenn Martin)
- There's Just One Way (Merle Haggard/Kenny Seratt)
Personnel:
- Merle Haggard – vocals/guitar
- Roy Nichols – guitar/harmonica
- Tommy Collins – guitar
- Bobby Wayne – guitar
- Dave Kirby – guitar
- Marcy Nichols – guitar
- Ronnie Reno – guitar
- Norman Hamlet – steel guitar/dobro
- Dennis Hromek – bass guitar
- Joe Zinkan – bass guitar
- Johnny Meeks – bass guitar
- Biff Adam – drums
- Johnny Gimble – fiddle
- Bill Woods – fiddle
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano/organ
- Billy Liebert – piano
- Mark Yeary – piano
- Bill Puett – horns
During my research for this site I've collected about 99% of everything Merle ever recorded.
If you need help with the site or finding any of these LP's, CD's or just want to chat in general,
E-Mail Me
or copy and paste:
Sound_Man73@Hotmail.Com
Jason Cross 2012 CD-Life After All
Jason Cross-Life After All-2012
Available on Amazon, iTunes & Rhapsody!
Release Date: 01/06/2012
Image: Jason Cross-Life After All-2012
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