If I Could Only Fly

Personnel: Merle Haggard (vocals, guitar); Abe Manuel, Jr. (guitar, fiddle, harmonica, accordion, percussion, background vocals); Redd Volkaert, Joe Manuel, Randy Mason (guitar); Norm Hamlet (steel guitar); Candace Lavolsi (harp); Don Markham (saxophone, background vocals); Floyd Domino, Oleg Schramm (piano); Doug Colosio (keyboards); Eddie Curtis (bass); Terry Domingue (drums, percussion); Biff Adam (drums); Theresa Haggard, Ben Haggard, Jenessa Haggard (background vocals).

Recorded at Merle Haggard's Tally Studio, Bakersfield, California. Includes liner notes by Jonny Whiteside.

It speaks unpleasant volumes about all sorts of things that, in the year 2000, Merle Haggard--a towering figure in country music, second only in influence to the great Hank Williams himself--probably couldn't get arrested in Nashville if he was found buggering a moose in front of the Grand Old Opry.

The good news is that Haggard's first album of the millennium--released, in a delicious irony, on an indie label that made its fortune peddling hard-core punk-rock--is one of his best ever. It's a low key, but not at all autumnal collection of songs that ranges from full bore Western swing a la Bob Wills (the highly amusing "Bareback") to ethereally graceful ballads ("Listening"). Astonishingly, Haggard's never been in better voice--anybody who doesn't get a thrill out of hearing him imbue the word "wind" with four syllables is incapable of joy. His longtime backing band the Strangers play with a magisterial authority that makes just about every younger country act sound puerile by comparison. Not to be missed.

What the critics say...

Rolling Stone (1/4/01, pp.108-10) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Top 50 Albums of 2000".
Rolling Stone (10/26/00, p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...[His] songwriting control is exemplary....Haggard finds a middle road that's unusual for country: self-acceptance, totally free of bluster or self-pity."
CMJ (1/08/01, p.46) - Included in CMJ's "Year's Best Triple A Albums" from 2000.
CMJ (10/16/00, p.7) - "...A modern update of Bob Willis' western swing...deeply infused with Haggard's personal brand of bravado..."
Mojo (Publisher) (12/00, p.106) - "...An earthy set that's excellent throughout....stunning both in its simplicity and its ease of performance..."
NME (Magazine) (1/27/01, p.35) - 7 out of 10 - "...The key throughout is honesty....Uncompromising stuff from a battered stand-up guy..."