Merle Haggard question

[DeactiveCarib]

I just got a copy of "For The Record: Merle Haggard 43 Legendary Hits" from the library, and ive started to listen to the album and noticed that the versions of all the songs seem to be a little different on this compilation than the versions im used to. Does anyone know if its just me, or were these songs re-recorded?

Thanks for your help.

[meisinger]

Odds are, re-recorded.

[MonumentBeach]

I just got a copy of "For The Record: Merle Haggard 43 Legendary Hits" from the library, and ive started to listen to the album and noticed that the versions of all the songs seem to be a little different on this compilation than the versions im used to. Does anyone know if its just me, or were these songs re-recorded?

Thanks for your help.

I just recently got my first dose of Merle Haggard as he opened up for Bob Dylan last month here in Boston. I had never heard Merle before, and I can't say I'm a huge country fan, but I did like some of his stuff. I think theres a lot to be said for older country music like Merle, Waylon Jennings, etc.

Eric

[DeactiveCarib]

I just got a copy of "For The Record: Merle Haggard 43 Legendary Hits" from the library, and ive started to listen to the album and noticed that the versions of all the songs seem to be a little different on this compilation than the versions im used to. Does anyone know if its just me, or were these songs re-recorded?

Thanks for your help.

I just recently got my first dose of Merle Haggard as he opened up for Bob Dylan last month here in Boston. I had never heard Merle before, and I can't say I'm a huge country fan, but I did like some of his stuff. I think theres a lot to be said for older country music like Merle, Waylon Jennings, etc.

Eric

Merle is the greatest pre-garth country artist in my opinion, im glad you've found him!

[Jahfin]

I just got a copy of "For The Record: Merle Haggard 43 Legendary Hits" from the library, and ive started to listen to the album and noticed that the versions of all the songs seem to be a little different on this compilation than the versions im used to. Does anyone know if its just me, or were these songs re-recorded?

Thanks for your help.

Try looking it up at allmusic.com and/or try reading the reviews at Amazon.com.

[DeactiveCarib]

I just got a copy of "For The Record: Merle Haggard 43 Legendary Hits" from the library, and ive started to listen to the album and noticed that the versions of all the songs seem to be a little different on this compilation than the versions im used to. Does anyone know if its just me, or were these songs re-recorded?

Thanks for your help.

Try looking it up at allmusic.com and/or try reading the reviews at Amazon.com.

i read the liner notes and in tiny font ive discovered that all the tracks were rerecorded in 1999 . . . i cant believe the old man went back and rerecorded 43 tracks! jeez! nothing was wrong with the originals . . ..

[fruityparrothead]

Don't have the answer to your question...just stating that I LOVE MERLE...grew up listening to him!!!!!!!!! (Shelley's Winter Love and "Silver Wings" are personal favs)

[Jahfin]

I can't think of the name of the album right off the top of my head but Johnny Cash did a similar thing quite a few years back. I'm not sure what the reasoning was behind it other than maybe he wanted to revisit those songs and cast them in a new light. Very seldom does that seem to work for most performers, at least judging from the majority of "remakes" I've heard. When the songs are that good to start with, it's kind of hard to improve upon perfection.

[sonofabeach]

David Allan Coe and Charlie Daniels have done the same thing and for the most part, the new recordings blew.
Speaking of Alanis Morrisette is re-recording her album Jagged Little Pill

[ph4ever]

David Allan Coe and Charlie Daniels have done the same thing and for the most part, the new recordings blew.
Speaking of Alanis Morrisette is re-recording her album Jagged Little Pill

no kidding - in The Devil went Down to Georgia he shouldn't have changed the lyrics despite his religion - the song just isn't the same.

[Jahfin]

There was a censored version of "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" long before Charlie found God but yes, in light of that he's still changed the lyrics to some of his best known songs ("Longhaired Country Boy" being one of the others). While I wish he hadn't changed the lyrics either, as the original writer of the material he can do with it as he pleases. Considering him finding Christianity, I find it somewhat understandable that he wouldn't wanna be singing some of those lines anymore. In the meantime, we always have the option of listening to the original versions.

[Tampico]

I think the two biggest reason artist, especially country artist, re-record their older songs is that technology is leaps and bounds better then what they had 25 or 35 years ago and in some cases they have much more freedom now to do the songs the way they originally wanted them done without some Nashville record company telling them what they have to do. In the 60's and 70's country music was done a certain way and you either did it that way or you didn't record.

[Pirate Lookin' at 40]

I just got a copy of "For The Record: Merle Haggard 43 Legendary Hits" from the library, and ive started to listen to the album and noticed that the versions of all the songs seem to be a little different on this compilation than the versions im used to. Does anyone know if its just me, or were these songs re-recorded?

Thanks for your help.

I just recently got my first dose of Merle Haggard as he opened up for Bob Dylan last month here in Boston. I had never heard Merle before, and I can't say I'm a huge country fan, but I did like some of his stuff. I think theres a lot to be said for older country music like Merle, Waylon Jennings, etc.

Eric

Merle is the greatest pre-garth country artist in my opinion, im glad you've found him!

Uh...Merle is the greatest country artist ever. Pre Garth, Post Gart, or during Garth.

[sonofabeach]

Greatest ever would be Bocephus but Merle's cool too

[Jahfin]

I'd have to go with Cash or Waylon, that's a close one.

[Tampico]

George Jones is the greatest country singer of all time with Johnny Cash running a close second. Kris Kristofferson is also one of my all time favorites.

[DeactiveCarib]

There was a censored version of "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" long before Charlie found God but yes, in light of that he's still changed the lyrics to some of his best known songs ("Longhaired Country Boy" being one of the others). While I wish he hadn't changed the lyrics either, as the original writer of the material he can do with it as he pleases. Considering him finding Christianity, I find it somewhat understandable that he wouldn't wanna be singing some of those lines anymore. In the meantime, we always have the option of listening to the original versions.

Travis Tritt does the greatest version of "Longhaired Country Boy", like a million times better than Charlie's, but its not recorded on any CDs, he only does it live. It's so good that u'd think that he wrote it, he does it acoustic by himself but its so powerful.

[lookingat40]

The re-recorded versions are very good...some better than the originals...It's not unusual for an artist to do this...Sinatra did this several times over his career...It's nice to hear a song grow and hear how the reading evolves with maturity.

[Jahfin]

Just my own personal opinion but Travis Tritt's not even worthy of toting Charlie Daniel's fiddle case much less besting him on a cover of his own song.

[a1aara]

There was a censored version of "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" long before Charlie found God but yes, in light of that he's still changed the lyrics to some of his best known songs ("Longhaired Country Boy" being one of the others). While I wish he hadn't changed the lyrics either, as the original writer of the material he can do with it as he pleases. Considering him finding Christianity, I find it somewhat understandable that he wouldn't wanna be singing some of those lines anymore. In the meantime, we always have the option of listening to the original versions.

Travis Tritt does the greatest version of "Longhaired Country Boy", like a million times better than Charlie's, but its not recorded on any CDs, he only does it live. It's so good that u'd think that he wrote it, he does it acoustic by himself but its so powerful.

Would love to hear Tritts take on "Longhaired Country Boy".
Todd Snider also does a great version of "Longhaired Country Boy" live.
I think Charlie has cleaned his version up? Not sure if he even still does that song live?