"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.
Back to the Barrooms is the 31st studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in October 1980. He is backed by Norm Hamlet and Don Markham of The Strangers.
"Big City" is a song recorded by American country music singer Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. Co-written by Haggard and Dean Holloway, the song was released in January 1982 as the second single and title track from his album Big City. In April, the song was his 27th number-one single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
"I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in October 1980 as the second single from the album Back to the Barrooms. The song was Haggard's twenty-sixth number one country hit. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of twelve weeks on the country chart. It features a memorable saxophone solo by Don Markham of The Strangers. The song was covered by Warrant on their 2017 album Louder Harder Faster.
"Bar Room Buddies" is a song written by Milton Brown, Cliff Crofford, Steve Dorff and Snuff Garrett, and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and actor Clint Eastwood. It was released in April 1980 and is featured on the soundtrack for the film Bronco Billy starring Eastwood. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the Billboard country charts.
"Untanglin' My Mind" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Clint Black. Black wrote the song with Merle Haggard. It was released in September 1994 as the lead single from the album One Emotion. The song peaked at number 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and reached number 3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. Haggard also recorded the song on his 1996 album 1996.
"The Way I Am" is a song written by Sonny Throckmorton, and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in March 1980 as the first single and title track from his album The Way I Am. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
"Swinging Doors" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in February 1966 as the first single and title track from the album Swinging Doors. The song peaked at number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles.
"Someday We'll Look Back" is a song written and performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in July 1971 as the first single and title track from the album Someday We'll Look Back. The song peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and peaked at number nineteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. It reached number two on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.
"If We're Not Back in Love by Monday" is a song written by Sonny Throckmorton and Glenn Martin, and first recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in March 1977 as the first single from the album Ramblin' Fever. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"Red Bandana" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in March 1979 as the first single from the album Serving 190 Proof. The song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"Leonard" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in February 1981 as the third single from the album Back to the Barrooms. The song reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"What Am I Gonna Do " is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in July 1983 as the first single from the album That's the Way Love Gooos. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. In 2019, Montgomery Gentry released the song off the album Outskirts.
"A Friend in California" is a song written by Freddy Powers, and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in May 1986 as the second single and title track from the album A Friend in California. The song reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"Chill Factor" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in March 1988 as the second single and title track from the album Chill Factor. The song reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" is a song written by Liz Anderson. Best remembered as American country music artist Merle Haggard's first national Top 10 record, it was also a Top 10 song concurrently for Roy Drusky. The song is also known as All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers, (From Now On) All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers, and simply Strangers. Haggard went on to name his band The Strangers after the record's success. The song was subsequently recorded by scores of additional country stars as an album track including George Jones, Ernest Tubb, Porter Wagoner, Ferlin Husky, as well as Liz Anderson herself and Anderson's daughter Lynn Anderson.
"Kern River" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in July 1985 as the only single and title track from his album Kern River. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
"5:01 Blues" is a song written by Michael Garvin and Jeff Tweel, and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in April 1989 as the first single and title track from the album 5:01 Blues. The song reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s the Levi Strauss company advertised their button-fly 501 jeans heavily on MTV and during prime time on the major TV broadcast networks, so there is a strong possibility that this song and the album title are a play on the Levi's advertising campaign. It was co-produced by Mark Yeary, keyboardist of The Strangers.
"If You Want to Be My Woman" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in December 1989 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.
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.
