Merle Haggard Going Where The Lonely Go/That's The Way Love Goes CD

The 1980s weren't kind to Merle Haggard--the decade's air of ersatz optimism and its featherweight pop songs were anathema to his gritty, workingman ballads, while country music's newfound prissy puritan streak signaled the demise of the traditional drinking song that remained his forte. Despite his lack of chart success, however, Haggard's remarkable songwriting abilities are very much in evidence all over this budget-priced twofer--in GOING WHERE THE LONELY GO's title track, in "Why Am I Drinking" (the kind of barroom classic Haggard seemed to be able to write in his sleep), and in the painful honesty of "Half a Man." Though the focused production of THAT'S THE WAY LOVE GOES has the edge, Haggard's world-weary vocals and unerring ear for a turn of phrase make both these albums worthy of attention.

Live Recording

2 LPs on 1 CD: GOING WHERE THE LONELY GO (1982)/THAT'S THE WAY LOVE GOES (1983).

Personnel: Merle Haggard (guitar); Dave Kirby, Grady Martin, Ray Nichols, Reggie Young , Gregg Galbraith (guitar); Red Lane (acoustic guitar); Norm Hamlet (steel guitar); Tiny Moore (mandolin, fiddle); Jim Belken (fiddle); Terry McMillan (harmonica); Don Markham (horns); Bobby Wood (keyboards, background vocals); Mike Leech (electric bass); Dennis Hronek (bass guitar); Mark Yeary, Gene Chrisman, Biff Adam, Kenny Malone (drums); Mary Fielder, Roger Cook, Judy Rodman (background vocals).

Audio Remasterer: Steve Hoffman.

Liner Note Author: Colin Escott.

Recording information: Eleven-Eleven Sound Studio, Nashville, TN; Woodland Sound Studio.

Photographer: Randee Saint Nicholas.