Return of the Okie from Muskogee: Live Merle Haggard Records Paired for Reissue
Named for the 1969 country chart-topper that’s easily Haggard’s signature song – a tongue-in-cheek lampooning of the liberal values that were taking youth culture by storm at the time – Okie from Muskogee is a perfect distillation of Haggard’s unique voice and sound, a uniquely harmonic, twangy country indicative of the Bakersfield sound fans have come to adore thanks to the likes of Haggard and Buck Owens. It was a significant smash within the genre, winning Haggard three awards from the Academy of Country Music that year: Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Top Male Vocalist.
The success of Haggard’s next big single, a patriotic number called “The Fightin’ Side of Me,” Capitol quickly released another live album with the same name. This set saw Haggard in Philadelphia with a loose, mostly covers-heavy set (including takes on Tommy Collins’ “When Did Right Become Wrong” and Woody Guthrie’s “Philadelphia Lawyer.” A high point of the set finds Haggard, in a medley of popular country tunes by stars including Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash and Buck Owens, performing in passable impersonations of each.
Capitol Nashville’s two-disc set of Okie from Muskogee, released in honor of the album’s 45th anniversary, marks the first time since its original release that The Fightin’ Side of Me will be released anywhere. It hits stores on March 25 and can be pre-ordered after the jump. (A live cut from Fightin’ Side can be streamed at Rolling Stone.)
Okie from Muskogee: 45th Anniversary Special Edition (Capitol Nashville, 2014)
Disc 1: Merle Haggard & The Strangers, Okie from Muskogee (Recorded “Live” in Muskogee, Oklahoma) (originally released as Capitol ST-431, 1969)
- Introduction by Carlton Haney
- Mama Tried
- No Hard Times
- Silver Wings
- Merle Receives Key to Muskogee
- Merle’s Introduction to Medley
- Swinging Doors
- I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
- Sing Me Back Home
- Branded Man
- In the Arms of Love
- Workin’ Man Blues
- Merle’s Introduction to “Hobo Bill”
- Hobo Bill’s Last Ride
- Billy Overcame His Size
- If I Had Left It Up to You
- White Line Fever
- Blue Rock
- Introduction to Okie from Muskogee
- Okie from Muskogee
Disc 2: Merle Haggard & The Strangers with Bonnie Owen, The Fightin’ Side of Me (originally released as Capitol ST-0384, 1970)
- Introduction by Carlton Haney
- I Take a lot of Pride in What I Am
- Corrine, Corrina
- Every Fool Has a Rainbow
- T.B. Blues
- When Did Right Become Wrong
- Philadelphia Lawyer
- Stealin’ Corn
- Harold’s Super Service
- Medley of Impersonations: Devil Woman
- Medley of Impersonations: I’m Movin’ On
- Medley of Impersonations: Folsom Prison Blues
- Medley of Impersonations: Jackson
- Medley of Impersonations: Orange Blossom Special
- Medley of Impersonations: Love’s Gonna Live Here
- Today I Started Loving You Again
- Okie from Muskogee
- The Fightin’ Side of Me
You Might Also Like
1 thought on “Return of the Okie from Muskogee: Live Merle Haggard Records Paired for Reissue”
Leave a Comment
I’m not sure where you get your information, but Merle’s “Fightin’ Side of Me” was legally issued in 2003 on the UK label BGO as a “two-fer” with one of his albums with Bonnie Owens. In fact, amazon.com lists it as still available for those who want to buy the 10-year old release.