Merle Ronald Haggard was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler.
"If We Make It Through December" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Merle Haggard and the Strangers. It was released in October 1973 as the lead single from the album Merle Haggard's Christmas Present, and was the title track on a non-Christmas album four months later. In the years since its release, "If We Make It Through December" — which, in addition to its Christmas motif, also uses themes of unemployment and loneliness — has become one of the trademark songs of Haggard's career.
Okie from Muskogee is the first live album by Merle Haggard and the Strangers released in October 1969 on Capitol Records.
"Sing a Sad Song" is a song written by Wynn Stewart. It was recorded notably by Merle Haggard in 1963, whose version became his first major hit. It was later recorded by Stewart himself. In 1976, Stewart's own version became a major hit as well.
"Okie from Muskogee" is a song recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers, which Haggard co-wrote with drummer Roy Edward Burris. "Okie" is a slang name for someone from Oklahoma, and Muskogee is the 11th largest city in the state. The song was released in September 1969 as first single and title track from the album Okie from Muskogee, and was one of the most famous songs of Haggard's career.
"The Fightin' Side of Me" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in January 1970 as the first single and title track from the album The Fightin' Side of Me. The song became one of the most famous of his career.
"Hungry Eyes" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in February 1969 as the first single from the album A Portrait of Merle Haggard. The song was one of the most famous of his career.
"Workin' Man Blues" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in May 1969 as the second single from the album A Portrait of Merle Haggard. The song was released during his early peak and became one of several signature songs during his career.
The discography for American country music singer Merle Haggard includes 66 studio albums, five instrumental albums featuring his backing band the Strangers, as well as several live and compilation albums. Haggard recorded for a variety of major and independent record labels through the years, with significant years spent with Capitol Records, MCA Records, Epic Records and Curb Records, as well as his own label Hag Records.
"Six Days on the Road" is an American song written by Earl Green and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio songwriter Carl Montgomery, made famous by country music singer Dave Dudley. The song was initially recorded by Paul Davis and released in 1961 on the Bulletin label. In 1963, the song became a major hit when released by Dudley, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and cracking the Top 40 (#32) on the Hot 100, leading to it being hailed as the definitive celebration of the American truck driver.
The discography of American country music artist Janie Fricke contains 24 studio albums, one live album, ten compilation albums, 44 singles, seven music videos, and 14 other appearances. Fricke was signed to Nashville's Columbia Records as a solo artist in 1977. Later that year, her debut single, "What're You Doing Tonight", reached the top-forty on the country songs chart. The following year her debut studio album, Singer of Songs, was issued. Between 1978 and 1980, Fricke issued three studio albums which resulted in two major hits: "Please Help Me, I'm Fallin" (1978) and "I'll Love Away Your Troubles for Awhile" (1979).
Diamond Rio is an American country music band founded in 1982. Their discography consists of 10 studio albums, 36 singles, six compilation albums, one live album, and 20 music videos. Founded in 1984, Diamond Rio released their self-titled debut album in 1991. "Meet in the Middle", the lead-off single, reached number one on the Billboard country singles chart, making the band the first country group in history to have their debut single reach that position.
The discography of American country singer-songwriter Liz Anderson consists of 12 studio albums and 23 singles. Her early songwriting produced hits for Merle Haggard that brought a recording contract from RCA Victor Records in 1964. Her first charting single was 1966's "Go Now Pay Later," which reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The same year, Anderson collaborated with Bobby Bare and Norma Jean on the duet "The Game of Triangles." The song reached the top five of the Billboard country chart. In 1967, she had her biggest solo hit with "Mama Spank," which also reached the country top five. Anderson was also releasing studio albums for RCA. This included her third release, Liz Anderson Sings (1967), which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Anderson's fourth studio effort, Cookin' Up Hits, reached number 18 on the same chart.
Noel Lee Haggard is an American country music artist.
If We Make It Through December is the sixteenth studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1974. It reached number 4 on the Billboard country album charts. The title track was previously released on Haggard's Christmas release of 1973, A Christmas Present. The single spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in December 1973 and January 1974, and cracked the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. "If We Make It Through December" was the No. 2 song of the year on Billboard's Hot Country Singles 1974 year-end chart.
Ramblin' Fever is a studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard, released in 1977. It was his first on the MCA label after recording for Capitol Records since 1965. It was also his first album without crediting the Strangers. It reached Number 5 on the Country album chart. Ramblin' Fever was reissued on CD in 2002.
Goin' Home for Christmas is the 36th studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers, released in 1982. A Christmas album, it reached Number 41 on the Billboard Country album chart. It was re-issued on Epic in 1984 with a completely different sleeve. Subsequent re-issues have reverted to variations of the original sleeve, but with a bonus track, "White Christmas" added. This extra track was recorded in 1986 and released in 1988 on the various artist collection "Nashville's Greatest Christmas Hits". It was co-produced by Roy Nichols, lead guitarist of The Strangers.
"Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa" is a song written by Red Lane. It was first recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard on his 1986 album, Out Among the Stars. Haggard's son, Noel Haggard, covered the song on his 1997 debut album, One Lifetime, and released it as his second single. It peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in August 1997. Noel Haggard's version was released through Atlantic Records and was produced by Barry Beckett.
"If You Want to Be My Woman" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers on Haggard's 1967 album I'm a Lonesome Fugitive. Haggard re-recorded the song in 1989 and released it in December as the third single from his album 5:01 Blues. The song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and reached number 15 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
Billboard magazine only charted Christmas singles and albums along with the other popular non-holiday records until the 1958 holiday season when they published their first section that surveys only Christmas music.
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