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Rating: The story of Merle Haggard is a tale from another time. Born in Olidale, California, in 1937, Merle Ronald Haggard grew up in Bakersfield. His father died when he was only eight years old. He taught himself to play the guitar by listening to Bob Willis, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams. His rebellious nature led him to criminal activities, and in 1957 he was arrested and imprisoned in San Quentin, where in 1959 he attended Johnny Cash’s legendary concert, which changed his life forever. Released the following year, he dedicated his entire life to music.
He is considered the founder of what is now recognized as one of the subgenres of country, the 'Bakersfield Sound'. His songs generally deviated from the typical themes of that period. Haggard focused on more conventional and patriotic content compared to his contemporaries and politically declared himself a conservative. Over the years, he progressively changed some of his views, although he was never part of what might be considered the counterculture of those years. He passed away on April 6th of last year. It was his birthday. He had just turned 79.
Merle Haggard was undoubtedly an influential author and has always been something of an obsession and the main reference point for Will Oldham aka Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, so much so that this album 'Best Troubador' (Drag City), although released last May, was already in the works before the old 'Hag's' passing.
Accompanied by a series of excellent collaborators like Van Campbell, Nuala Kennedy, Danny Kiley, Drew Miller, Cheyenne Mize, Chris Rodahoffer, Mary Feiock (notably with her great performance in 'Nobody's Darling'), Emmett Kelly, A.J. Roach, Matt Sweeney, in this album Oldham takes sixteen songs from Merle Haggard's immense body of work, which he reinterprets in a style halfway between that of Hag himself and his own more personal style, giving the compositions a new life and a more modern character where, moreover, his interventions, instead of being invasive, are certainly functional.
Will Oldham's stated goal is the same as that practiced by other greats of American folk music in the past, starting with Merle Haggard himself who, in his career, paid tribute to two of his great idols like Bob Willis and Elvis Presley, that is to completely identify with the author (it's no coincidence that the selection of the songs falls on those considered most significant in describing Hag personally) and to re-propose his songs in a version that is one's own, but still maintains the original content on a conceptual and emotional level. The final result is a record of great depth in the genre and with which we effectively realize that after all these years, dear old Oldham himself (despite some mishaps) has become one of the greatest authors of American music of all time. This probably gives 'Best Troubador' an additional meaning in the ideal passing of the torch and in a generational turnover that in this genre has not been lacking.
Tracklist
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