"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.
Kickin' Out the Footlights...Again is a studio album by American country music artists George Jones and Merle Haggard, released in 2006.
"Movin' On" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in May 1975 as the third single and partial title track from the album Keep Movin' On. Originally, it was the theme song to the 1974-1976 NBC-TV series of the same name and references the lead characters of the series, Sonny Pruitt and Will Chandler, by name. A full-length version of the song was released as a single in 1975, and it topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that July.
Soldier's Last Letter is a country music song written by Redd Stewart and Ernest Tubb and recorded by Ernest Tubb. It was released in the United States in 1944.
"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.
"The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde'" is a song written by American country music artists Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens and performed by Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in January 1968 as the first single and title track from the album The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde. The song was Haggard and The Strangers' fourth No.1 on the U.S. country singles chart. The single spent two weeks at number one and a total of 14 weeks on the country chart.
"I Always Get Lucky With You" is a song written by Merle Haggard, Freddy Powers, Gary Church, and Tex Whitson. It was first recorded by Haggard on his 1981 album Big City and then covered by American country music artist George Jones in April 1983 as the second single from the album Shine On. The song was Jones' ninth and final number one on the country chart as a solo artist. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent thirteen weeks on the country chart.
"Yesterday's Wine" is the title track of the 1971 album of the same name by Willie Nelson. The track was also written by Willie Nelson. It later became a #1 duet for George Jones and Merle Haggard in 1982.
"Making Believe" is a country music song written by Jimmy Work. Kitty Wells recorded a chart-topping version in 1955. The song is on many lists of all-time greatest country music songs and has been covered by scores of artists over the past fifty years, including Thorleifs, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Don Gibson, Roy Acuff, Lefty Frizzell, Wanda Jackson, Connie Francis, Ray Charles, Anita Carter, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Ernest Tubb, Skeeter Davis, The Haden Triplets, Social Distortion and Volbeat. The song is occasionally called "Makin' Believe".
"I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" is a song written and performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in October 1968 as the only single from his album Pride in What I Am. The song peaked at number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks in January 1969. The song was covered by Dean Martin and released as a single in mid-1969. A tape recorder version of this song was played at the funeral of late Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant.
"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.
"Jesus, Take a Hold" is a song written and performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in June 1970 as the first single from the album Hag. The song peaked at number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. It reached three on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.
"I Can't Be Myself" is a song written and performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in October 1970 as the second single from the album Hag. The song peaked at number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. It reached two on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.
"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.
"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.
"Misery and Gin" is a song written by Snuff Garrett and John Durrill, and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was written specifically for inclusion in the 1980 movie, Bronco Billy, and released as a single in June 1980. It was co-released both on the Bronco Billy soundtrack album and Haggard's studio album, Back to the Barrooms. "Misery and Gin" reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.
"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 No. 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"A Better Love Next Time" is a song written by Johnny Christopher and Bobby Wood, and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in July 1989 as the second single from the album 5:01 Blues. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was Haggard's last Top Ten hit. It was co-produced by Mark Yeary, keyboardist of The Strangers.
"(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.
"From Graceland to the Promised Land" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in October 1977 as the only single from the album My Farewell to Elvis. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
