Merle Haggard
Unforgettable
(Capitol)
First Appeared in The Music Box, January 2005, Volume 12, #1
Written by John Metzger
There always has been a bit more to Merle Haggard’s style than the
Bakersfield-bred country sounds with which he is most closely associated, and on
his latest endeavor Unforgettable, he offers proof that throughout his
career he has drawn as much inspiration from Nat King Cole as he has from Bob
Wills. In combining nine standards with a trio of contemporary compositions, the
outing highlights Haggard’s skill as a vocalist and an interpreter of others’
works rather than emphasizing his talent as a composer. Not surprisingly, the
results are suitably relaxed and congenial, striking a pose similar to that of
Willie Nelson’s 26-year-old classic Stardust (or Marty Robbins’ 1962
effort Marty After Midnight, for that matter). Spiced with subtle hints
of Nashville, the dozen tracks on Unforgettable — which include such
notably familiar fare as I Can’t Get Started, You’re Nobody ’Til
Somebody Loves You, As Time Goes By, and Pennies from
Heaven — are lovingly embraced by their sparse arrangements, and the gentle
touch of guitar, saxophone, fiddle, and strings creates a warm and cozy
environment for the lustrous songs. Still, it’s Haggard’s soulful croon that
lifts the material far above the type of simple, rote regurgitation that
customarily fills collections of cover tunes such as this, and consequently,
Unforgettable becomes a stirring return-to-form for a legendary honky-tonk
hero. 
½
Of Further Interest...
Johnny Cash - The Original: Best of
Curtis Stigers - Real Emotional
Unforgettable is available
from Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2005 The Music Box