MERLE HAGGARD
Like Never Before (Hag)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Nestled among the credits is the following: "Album made possible because of dental surgery by Dr. Michael Herndon." I don't know whether to laugh or cry. But that's par for the course. The Hag is the Hag, and he can wrangle emotions with ease. Country is lucky to have such an icon still capable of producing excellent work. Save for a lone Woody Guthrie number, Haggard shows he can still write 'em, delivering a sombre collection of heartfelt love songs, war inspired tunes and a couple of honky tonks. It is on Guthrie's exquisite "Reno Blues," a moving duet with Willie Nelson, that Haggard shows the young punks what country is all about.

© 2004 - John Sekerka