Search - Merle Haggard :: Merle Haggard - 20 Greatest Hits

Not exactly his 20 greatest hits but a fine collection

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 07/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With 38 number one country hits and many other top ten country hits, it isn't possible to even come close to encompassing his career on a single CD. Quite apart from his hits, there were some that got away. Silver wings (included here) was only released as a B-side but is now regarded as one of Merle's classic songs. Today I started loving you again, another of Merle's B-sides included here, has been covered more frequently than any of Merle's other songs and has also become a classic. The inclusion of B-sides would normally devalue a hits compilation but it is clear that Capitol made big mistakes when deciding not to release these two songs as A-sides at the time.



There are a few other songs here that were only minor hits or weren't hits at all but most of the songs here are selected from Merle's number one hits - classics such as Mama tried, Always wanting you, Okie from Muskogee, Branded man, If we make it through December, Fighting side of me, Daddy Frank and Hungry eyes among them.



If you really only want a single CD of Merle's music, this is one of the best you'll find, but if you can afford it I recommend that you pay a bit extra for the double-CD containing all his number ones (40 #1 hits), which I've also reviewed. You won't find Bottle let me down (a top ten country hit but not a number one) nor will you find the two classic B-sides or the other lesser hits and non-hits, but you'll get all the number one hits that didn't make it on to this collection."

Great!

D. Newton | southeast, USA | 11/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"probably the best single-disc collection of Merle Haggard at his peak"

You've gotta love this CD - It's the best of Merle

Angelina Smith | Georgia | 11/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was fascinated to find out that Merle either wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on this CD. I would recommend this CD to anyone who likes the "real country" music. All you have to do is listen to this CD and you will know that Merle has lived what he writes about. You will like this CD!"