| 1996 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 23, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 32:05 | |||
| Label | Curb | |||
| Producer | Lou Bradley, Abe Manuel, Jr., Merle Haggard | |||
| Merle Haggard chronology | ||||
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| Singles from 1996 | ||||
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1996 is the forty-ninth studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 1996. It was his last studio album on the Curb Records label, and was considered something of a return to form for Haggard despite poor sales. [1]
Despite good reviews, 1996 was the first studio album in Haggard's career not to chart. Curb's indifference to the release is commonly cited as a major factor in the LP's commercial failure, with country music critic, journalist and historian Michael McCall summarizing the situation in his AllMusic review of the album: "His record company didn't send promotional copies to reviewers until the album had been out for nearly a month, and no advertising or promotion has been devoted to the music. The album artwork and cover reflect this lack of care: the title, 1996, is boxed on the cover like a tomb, exactly like Hag's last set, 1994 ." [1] In his 2013 Haggard biography The Running Kind David Cantwell adds, "To be a singer and a writer with next to zero chance of being heard was maddening enough. That 1996 boasted several strong new originals only compounded the frustration." [2] On "Beer Can Hill," a song that celebrates his Bakersfield roots, Haggard is joined by Dwight Yoakam and fellow country legend Buck Owens. 1996 also features contributions from John Anderson, Iris Dement, and Johnny Paycheck.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Michael McCall of AllMusic writes, "Recorded in Bakersfield, Haggard's album takes a jaunty yet melancholy look at a middle-aged man's concerns... The album's standout is a cover of Iris Dement's great 'No Time to Cry,' which Haggard fills with aged, tired wisdom." [1]
Production notes:
Donald "Dusty" Wakeman is an American rock/country music producer and engineer based in Burbank, California. Wakeman is also credited as a bass player on many recordings. Dusty has worked with Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Buck Owens, Michelle Shocked, Tom Russell, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Anne McCue, Tony Furtado, Feel, Reacharound, Dieselhed among others. He served as musical director for Gram Parsons: Return to Sin City and for the Sin City All Stars. He is also the owner of Mad Dog Studios, which is now a home studio, and president of Mojave Audio.
Branded Man is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released on Capitol Records in 1967.
I Wish I Was Santa Claus is the fifty-sixth studio album by American country music singer and songwriter Merle Haggard. It was released on October 26, 2004 on the Smith Music Group label.
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. is country music artist Dwight Yoakam's first album. It was also the first of three consecutive No. 1 Billboard Country albums for him. This was Yoakam's first time working with record producer-guitarist Pete Anderson, who would become a long-term collaborator.
Hillbilly Deluxe is the second album by American country music singer-songwriter, Dwight Yoakam. Released in 1987, it was Yoakam's second consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Four tracks were released as singles with each becoming Top 10 hits on the Hot Country Singles chart in 1987 and 1988.
Dwight Sings Buck is country music artist Dwight Yoakam's 17th studio album, and a tribute album to Buck Owens. The album was released on October 23, 2007, by New West Records.
Let Me Tell You About a Song is the fourteenth studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1972. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Country album chart and #166 on the Pop album chart. The lead-off singles were "Grandma Harp" and "Daddy Frank " — both reached No. 1.
That's Why I Sing This Way is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Daryle Singletary. It was released on April 23, 2002 via Koch Records. Except for its title track, the album is composed of cover songs. Two singles were released from it: the title track and a cover of Conway Twitty's 1980 Number One single "I'd Love to Lay You Down", which respectively reached #47 and #43 on the U.S. Billboard country singles charts. The version of "I Never Go Around Mirrors" on this album was first recorded by Keith Whitley, Whitley had Shafer write the second verse heard here. The album includes guest appearances from George Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Rhonda Vincent, John Wesley Ryles, Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck.
Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album is the seventeenth studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1974. Contrary to the album's title, this was his 17th studio album; however, the number 30 included his six collaborative albums, three live albums, one 'live' gospel album, one Christmas album, and two greatest hits compilations up to that point.
If I Could Only Fly is the fiftieth studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 2000. The album reached number 26 on the Billboard Country albums chart. The title song is a cover of a 1979 song written and recorded by Texas songwriter Blaze Foley. Haggard had previously recorded the song as a duet with American country singer Willie Nelson on their 1987 album, Seashores of Old Mexico, peaking at number 58 on the 1987 Billboard Hot Country Songs singles chart.
1994 is the forty-eighth studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 1994.
Roots, Volume 1 is the fifty-third studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 2001. It reached Number 47 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
Working in Tennessee is the sixty-third and final solo studio album by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released on October 4, 2011 by Vanguard Records. This is also the second Merle Haggard album released by Vanguard.
21st Century Hits: Best of 2000–2012 is the fourth greatest hits compilation album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It was released by New West Records on October 1, 2013. It includes songs from the albums Tomorrow's Sounds Today, Population Me, Blame the Vain, Dwight Sings Buck and 3 Pears, as well as a previously unreleased duet with Michelle Branch and a cover of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" from his previous greatest hits collection, the 1999 Last Chance for a Thousand Years, that also appeared on the soundtrack to the 2006 film The Break-Up.
Strangers is the debut studio album by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released on September 27, 1965, by Capitol Records.
Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium is a live album by American country music artist Merle Haggard with backing by The Strangers. It was recorded in October 1980 and released in July 1981 on MCA Records.
Blue Jungle is the forty-seventh studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard, with backing by his band, The Strangers, released in 1990. The album peaked at number 47 on the Billboard country albums chart. It was co-produced by Mark Yeary, the honky tonk piano player of Merle Haggard's band, 13 years in a row awarded the ACM Band of the Year, The Strangers.
The Peer Sessions is the fifty-fourth studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard released on the Audium label in 2002.
Cabin in the Hills is the fifty-first studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard released on May 1, 2001.
Two Old Friends is the fifty-second studio album by Merle Haggard and Albert E. Brumley, Jr, son of gospel legend and songwriter Albert E. Brumley. It was released in 1999.
