Merle haggard : the fightin' side of me - live
Steve McHenry | Valencia, CA United States | 04/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"what a great album! my dad had this album on 8 track when i was a kid. i've been looking for it for 25 years and finally someone has re-released it! this is hag and the strangers at their best. the highlight of the album for me is merle doing his impersonations of marty robbins, hank snow, johnny cash, and a killer buck owens that you would swear is really him! if you're a haggard fan this is a must have. if i could own only one hag album, this would be it!"
From the vaults
Donald T. Wardlow | goose creek, sc usa | 03/19/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Fightin' Side of Me," was recorded live in Philadelphia in the late '60s or early '70s, when protesting the Vietnam war was all the rage. This is the better of the two live Haggard albums I own, and I love his impressions, along with the novelty song "Harold's Super Service," available no place else. That one inspired a story by Jean Shepherd for "Playboy," about a pump jockey. Any song that can get Jean Shepherd interested is worth hearing--and singing. The truly weird part of this CD is just this--the first part, "Just Between the Two of Us," isn't Merle Haggard. That's a Buck Owens album. There's no mistake whatsoever. So, this is the oddest combo on one CD I ever heard. Luckily I enjoy Buck, so no problem, and I would have paid the full price just for the live Haggard album alone if I had to. a real treat."
"The Hag" In Philadelphia
R. Webb | u.s.a. | 07/30/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Just Between The Two Of Us,1966,Merle Haggard's second album on Capitol, shares the spotlight with Bonnie Owens,as they both showcase a pretty good collection of duets here with a solid country sound covering songs like Buck Owens',"Forever And Ever",Tommy Collins',"Wait A Little Longer","Please Jesus" and countless others. Merle Haggard is in early top form, Bonnie Owens was probably one of the better female singers recorded, makes for an entertaining listen. This live recording ,titled "The Fightin' Side Of Me" recorded,1970,in Philadelphia to a packed house,as Merle Haggard and the Strangers were in top form that night as they started out with a great version of,"Pride In What I Am", then Merle calls out the fiddle player,Chubby Wise,member of Hank Snow's band to help out on a Bob Wills number,titled "Corrine Corrina", the "hag" then introduces a Jimmy Rodgers tune,the "T.B. Blues" and sings it as if it was his own,remarkable, - Haggard always right on key with a Jimmy Rodgers song. The highlight of this show is when Merle does a short medley of impersonations of other notable country artist, doing an exceptional job, showing us the true talent that Haggard really is. The show then ends with one of the best written country ballads of all time,"Today I Started Loving You Again" and the protesting against anti-war anthem,"Fightin' Side Of Me". Sometimes "live" is better,and this England import BGO cd is a good one, another additive for a Merle Haggard collector."
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1