I’m a Lonesome Fugitive

I’m really growing more into country. Merle Haggard is one of the biggest in the genre and you can tell he has a knack for songwriting! Beautiful short songs with strong stories! 8 out of 10

A very different genre to what I'd typically listen to. But some really nice relaxing tunes! I listened to it while doing some admin, and reading quite dense documents and it complimented those activities nicely. I particularly enjoyed the last song with a choir, had an almost gospel feel and was a great album closer.

Dang, this whole album just makes me think of her.

Classic Country. Hurtin’ music. Great voice, great guitar and great lyrics.

slay

Lol, why country gotta be for the sad boys

I love the Bakersfield Sound. This album is a fantastic listen.

Stark contrast to the heavily processed digital pop of a lot of the recent fare Ive gotten from this list. Real instruments played by powerful talents, minimally processed vocals. It is not strictly my genre but it's top of that game.

Solid rough livin country songs. The band is fun to listen to. Amazing that he heard Johnny Cash as a prisoner at San Quentin - what a story! I would listen to this again.

-didn’t write a BL, retroactively reviewed on 25/08/23, generated on 8/08/23- AL: I liked this. A very good pure country record. Lyrics on point, good guitaring, and Merle Haggard has pretty compelling country vocals which hold their purity but don’t overdo the twang. Would listen to quite a few of these tracks again. FT: “House of Memories”, “Drink up and be Somebody”, “Mixed Up Mess of a Heart” 4/5

3.5, good stuff

Old school outlaw country. One of the genres I love, largely thanks to my dad. A great example

This is a shining example of the Bakersfield Sound with its use of electric instruments and a steady backbeat as an answer to the overproduced Nashville Sound (Haggard was a consistent critic of Nashville). The Honky Tonk and Rock n Roll influences can be heard on songs like 'If You Want to be My Woman' but for the most part, the album is a slower, more contemplative record that features Haggard taking about his time in prison and his younger more reckless days. Haggard's voice is fantastic here and Ralph Mooney's steel guitar is perfect.

Awesome 💙

Genuine article. Real feeling, even if a fair amount of winking accompanies several songs (see "Whatever Happened to Me" and "Drink Up and Be Somebody'" and "Mixed Up Mess of a Heart"). The playing is assured and smooth, almost to a fault. And one finds it odd and a bit funny to see how clean-cut some of the outlaws could look?

Whenever I think of country, Haggard’s voice is one of the first to pop up. Iconic, warm and with an emotional depth to it. He’s really all you want in a country singer. This quintessential American sound brings back memories of cruising down the lonesome highway, heading West towards the sunset, an arm around my girl, evergreen upon evergreen bursting from the stereo. Memories that aren’t mine, to be honest. But memories that live well within the music of Merle Haggard.

really good

Good ol country n western. Sad songs that make you want to drink a few cold ones and hop in a pickup.

Country is certainly not my preferred genre, but some music is just undeniably charming. Merle Haggard has a great voice and writes excellent songs. The backing music features his voice well while keeping your toes tapping 4/5

Merle Haggard is a classic. I’m generally not a fan of modern country music but I’ll listen to him any day. 3.5/5, rounded up to 4/5.

I'm so thankful to get a shorter album that I don't even care that it's country. Life In Prison is way sadder than I thought this album would get honestly. It wasn't until the last couple lines until I realized what he was saying.

Way better than I’d anticipated. Some beautiful tracks.

rather enjoyable listen. i feel like a cowboy now

One of the most influential albums Merle ever made, practically creating the Outlaw Country sub-genre. Not a very popular or lasting genre, but it was original for the time. It sure is fun and I enjoyed the album. 4/5

I just like Merle Haggard. Enjoy the Bakersfield sound, and I slightly prefer this album to Buck Owens's I've Got a Tiger By the Tail, but both are great classic country records. Bonnie Owens's harmony vocals are the secret weapon on this album, adding some extra depth to Someone Told My Story and the title track. Drink Up and Be Somebody and If You Want to Be My Woman are both fun uptempo stomps, and Life in Prison is a just a banger of a classic country track.

Great album - what country used to be.

Classic Merle haggard Excellent outlaw country Definitely a must listen for any country fan

I really like old school country and this a great album.

Wasn’t too familiar with these tunes exactly, but I’m bery familiar with the combination of Merle’s stories and Roy Ernest Nichols‘ guitar playing. There could be 5000 Merle Haggard albums that sound just like this, I’m really not sure, but it hits like this classic form at its peak, and it brings me joy.

So I was quite prepared to say "similar to Johnny Cash" (which I love), give it a 3 star rating and move on, possibly skipping a track or two. But the more I listened the more it wormed its way into my head. Glad to add this to my 4Star+ playlist

Liked it more than I thought I would. You can tell these are from the heart.

7/10 fun country music but nothing special makes me wanna go fishing from the back of a pickup truck or some shit haha

4.5 I’ll always be the first to admit that my distaste for country music is mostly due to my own ignorance about the genre. I have really only ever found one country artist that I truly enjoy (Johnny Cash). Otherwise there are a few singles here and there that I like, mostly from Fallout: New Vegas, but I never bothered to discover more country. That’s where this list comes in handy because in the case of “I’m a Lonely Fugitive” I think it’s fair to say I had a great time listening. The subject matter is quite melancholy and I think I only heard one John Deere reference. Surprisingly, I liked Merle’s voice and the guitar work was really intricate and well done. There were times I felt like this is the emo of country with lyrics like “My life will be a burden every day, if I could die my pain might go away” sounding like they were ripped straight out of Devil and God or The Black Parade. I liked just about everything about this album. Favorites: I’m a Lonesome Fugitive, House of Memories, Life in Prison, Someone Told My Story, Mary’s Mine, Skid Row, Mixed Up Mess of a Heart

Legacy country music here. Sad, sweet, strong, and poignant, sometimes all at the same time. There is something (genuine?) about this one that made me feel connected to the music. Good stuff.

Music to hop a train and roam the Midwest to. Before he was defined by “Okie from Muskogee,” Merle Haggard and his band spun country gold out of this set of melancholy tunes.

Classic Merle

Yes! Love this!

This country man sure has some good yarns about going to prison and such. I'm a sucker for this exact country sound (and very few other country sounds)

The good stuff

just looking at the cover i expect road trip country vibes... and i was right! this is just the willies roadhouse radio station in my grandpas truck driving to town from the cabin. the vibes are immaculate, album added 👍

I love Merle Haggard so much. Here he is at the peak of his powers. Bakersfield at its best.

Man, I really hate Country Music, But this album is just great. You know how fast food chains use bright oranges and yellows in their dining areas to subconsciously push you out of the restaurant when you're done eating? I think the two words 'Merle' and 'Haggard' do something to my subconscious and make me rank this album higher than I normally would. Here is how my brain interprets those two words: MERLE = super old, wrinkly, rural, complacent and full of hard-earned life lessons. HAGGARD = downtrodden and full of despair. I think the description of those two words fit this album. I mean, if his name was '(The)Getup Kids' I would hate this album. Well, anything named 'Get Up Kids' I would hate. I think it's just the simplicity, tempo and sweet pipes of ole Merle that gets to me and makes it work. Lonesome Fugitive makes me feel like I lifted a rock and found something interesting that I'll forget about in an hour.

Sad cowboy jams

I liked this - a ‘proper’ bit of country with all the cheatin’ fightin’ and lovin’ you could ask for.

Clive turned me onto Merle Haggard during one of our many "nothing to do during covid, let's get drunk" sessions. He knew all about this stuff where I only knew of Johnny Cash - Merle Haggard, Hank Williams (multiple), etc etc. He'd gotten into it through his parents so he had knowledge of all this almost-forgotten country from an earlier age. In any case, the lyrics could use some work but the music itself is fantastic. 4/5.

Good support for my theory that the best of any genre is probably pretty good.

I prefer the Nashville style over the the Las Vegas style of country music any day. Merle is all Nashville.

swinging!

An entirely unexpected treat. A few country albums have already popped up on my list and so far, whatever the reputation, I've not gelled with them. This however, lean and spare, is a great listen. Most songs a little over 2 minutes, very few ballads, almost punktry.

I would call it a classic of the genre.

Love me some bittersweet Bakersfield-style country. This is a classic country album, with Haggard in perfect voice. Musically, the Strangers are really tight, with some exceptional guitar work. Fave Songs: Drink Up and Be Somebody, Mixed Up Mess of a Heart, All of Me Belongs to You, Someone Told My Story, My Rough and Rowdy Ways

yes mama!!! I love a 60s cowboy

Yes.

4/5. Classic country trope, but done well by one of the greats 👍

Really enjoyed this, surprisingly so considering I know nothing about traditional country music. Will explore more!

Old timey country in the best of ways. 4.5

MERLE!

Bless you, Merle. This record is... *Scott Hall high pitch inflection* TOO SWEEEEEEEET! Merle's vocals are like marmalade.

Aquele episódio do Bob Esponja q a Sandy fica cantando que quer voltar pro Texas 3,5

gott stuff

Mon péché cute

I quite enjoyed this. Hadn’t heard it before, but was what I expected from a Merle Haggard album, in a good way. Am not averse to a bit of country, but I tend to err on the Johnny Cash / rockabilly side, generally. Some great country titles and lyrics here though, and I particularly enjoyed Drink Up and Be Somebody.

Gloriously simple old country.

Somone who knows their genre and excels in it.

7/10 pretty good country songs with a nice vocal performance. the first song and the last song were easily the best, and unfortunately nothing else lived up

8/10. Some enjoyable old fashioned country music. I liked that that the songs never really dragged on too much, and thought this was a good length overall.

The old country lives

Outlaw country is my jam. Really liked this one

This style of country is always such a vibe, and few vibe with it better than Merle.

Really good timeless stuff.

Die goede old school country hype. love it. geeft me zin om the ranch opnieuw te kijken. Stardew valley hype

Pretty good country. I like the voice.

A lot more fun than I expected! I started listening to some of his other stuff, Love Affair With Trains is such a vibe

I dig this!

Great songs. Four chords and the truth!

I'm not a huge fan of old country but this has some quality tracks.

Original country. Merle haggard was kinda cute when he was young

Hi: All of Me Belongs To You, Skid Row, Mixed Up Mess of a Heart If you're tired of Johnny Cash outlaw country, get into so MERLE, you won't be disappointed. I don't think country gets better than this.

very good country

One for one what you would expect a country album to sound like and themed after, enjoyed it despite the genre

Je m’attendais pas a un album country mais j’aime bien le style. C’est plaisnant de decouvrir un artiste comme cela. A reecouter. 4*

It only felt very good, not essential.

Pretty good

This trots along rather pleasantly and inoffensively. I don’t hate it but it’s not something I would ever choose to listen to

Between Okie from Muskogee and Fighting side of me, parts of this were pretty hard to get through. His voice is lovely though which made up for the cringy parts.

Quite good tunes thx

5/10… country / honky tonk / *1967

Country clásico. Sin más

Solid, but nothing magical.

Very solid roots country album. Would give 3.5 stars if I could

Jaunty little country album with some blues style woes peppered throughout. Classic American style guitar with twanging lyrics about the bad stuff that he has had to go through. The backing band is solid to get the job done, did enjoy the upbeat piano that starts on If You Want To Be My Woman specifically. Good old school country, not my genre but well done

Merle Haggard's I'm Lonesome isn't among his most essential albums, but I enjoyed it more than I expected. What stood out most was its laid-back, melancholy vibe. The album settles into a consistent mood of loneliness and reflection without ever feeling overly dramatic, making it an easy record to get lost in. The songs are rooted in traditional country, with understated arrangements that let Haggard's warm, weathered voice take center stage. While there aren't many tracks that rank among his all-time classics, the album is consistently enjoyable and never feels forced. Its strength lies in the atmosphere it creates rather than in individual standout moments. Overall, I'm Lonesome is a solid, comforting listen. I liked it for its unhurried pace and genuine, lived-in feel. Its honest songwriting and relaxed vibe make it well worth hearing for fans of classic country.

it sounds samey but it's also short and i liked listening to it

This is the music my father played when I was young. I loathed most of it. This isn't as bad as I remember but it could be the nostalgia factor.

Although I'm not convinced this record necessarily belongs on a list like this, it's definitely a style of music I can blissfully lose myself in from time to time. That said, I am much more likely to reach for a Willie Nelson album when this particular need arises - there's something very 'clean' about this record and I much prefer Nelson's more ragged approach. A nice listen though.

In the country oeuvre I have no doubt Merle Haggard rides high. It passed by as a series of dusty tracks, love woes, down and out moments and some humour as most of the best country does, without ever really arresting my attention. Solid "proper" country without anything standout to these ears.

Fun classic country

3.5

3.75

Kinda cool. I like the guy's delivery. I think think this generator thing is getting me into country. This one is very listenable and very satisfying. Not going to melt my mind and unlikely to become my absolute favourite, but actually pleasant in a way that I can't take for granted

Country music is so funny - happy music while lyrics go "oh its better that i die now" or "someone wrote a song about you cheated on me" or "my girlfriend wants to settle down but i love gambling"

Honestly found more to like here than I would have expected. This is at its best when he leans into the outlaw vibe and at its worst when it's more just love songs, but some songs here kinda hit actually. Life in Prison is such a weird mashup of sort of peppy music but suicidal ideation?? The music is variable but some good pedal steel, and I like the sort of rockier/blusier vibe of Skid Row. Not something I'd listen to a lot honestly, but as someone that very much is not a country fan, this is the style I can get more behind.

The country in this list do far, for me personally. has never been bad, but never been very good either.

Liked it more than I thought

I've learnt to like a lot of older country, but this didn't really hit like Johnny Cash or that Ray Charles country album that rules.

Pre Listen: Merle Haggard and The Strangers are complete strangers to me. The album cover doesn't give me the vibes of something I'd likely enjoy, but I'm keeping an open mind. Notable Tracks: Life In Prison - A stand-out song to me as one I enjoyed more than the rest. Not my favorite, but for the overall country sound that most of the album has, this one does it best. If You Want To Be My Woman - My favorite track on the album. It stood out to me from the rest as being closer to classic rock than country. Reminds me of Elvis. Good sound. My Rough And Rowdy Ways - Least favorite track on the album. One of the few that felt like it realllyy dragged. Boring lyrics about being useless. Post Listen: It was pretty much what I expected with little exception. I do prefer this sort of classic-country to modern day pop-country. The lyrical work of this album compared to today's country songs which without fail talk exclusively about either guns, girls, god, beer, or trucks, is great. The lead singer's voice is consistently good, and he strikes great harmonies with the other vocalists. The sliding electric guitar throughout the album is another highlight, I love that nostalgic feeling it carries. Sadly this is another such case where the songs start to really blend. No least favorite track, nothing terribly offensive, just nothing amazing again. The album felt like it was dragging towards the end. I can absolutely see how anyone could enjoy the sleepy melodies, it is quality music, it's just too sleepy for me. Sounds like something I'd hear in Fallout New Vegas. 3/5

6 / 10

Alright. It sounded nice. But like the blues albums, it becomes a bit stale after a while

Decent story telling but god I hate country music.

Entspannend

Okay so this fully gives USA USA USA vibes but I don't...hate it? Like it's comforting? Surely not my fav but yeehaw I guess

Them's some jaunty ditties, boy. Shout out for the cover art: hard as nails!

I really like Gram Parsons and listening to this I can hear he must have been very influenced Merle Haggard. Country isn’t my comfort zone but if it’s done well I can dig it, good stories, plenty of lap steel and some tight harmonies. There are some stand out tracks on here and in general I like it. Totally appreciate that if you don’t like the genre you won’t like this album but this is an example of high quality country music of the 60’s / 70’s. 3.4

Some good tracks and some not so good. Probably influences a lot of the more modern country, some of which I like.

I don't remember a time when Merle Haggard looked or sounded less than old and, well, haggard, so hearing a much younger version of his voice is pretty novel. Ironically I think these songs probably sound more authentic with his later voice even though he'd lived them already at this point.

Hard to rate this one. One I’ll be going back to. Definitely enjoyed it.

some pretty non offensive nice sounding classic country

I appreciate merles crisp clean clear vocals.

On a train #hobolife

I wasn’t as into this album as I expected to be. Still a good listen but just not excited by it.

yay

Ещё один кантри альбом который ты слушаешь пока едешь на заднем сидении за город на старом разваливающимся Форде твоей бабушки, а летний свет бьет тебе в лицо. Я вслушался в текст на House of Memories и понимаю что это грустная песня для грустных мужчин среднего возраста, но я хз почему я обязан это послушать Серьёзно, я хз почему в этом списке так много каких-то кантри-альбомов. Я оценил Will The Circle Be Unbroken выше остальных, хотя бы потому что это был интересный исторический прецедент, ну и некоторые песни действительно знаковые и легендарные, которые знаю даже я, чел которому пихуй на жанр. А зачем здесь I’m a Lonesome Fugitive ? Не знаю. Я устал от кантри, помогите...

3.5. I love classic country and I love Merle. These songs are all great, I just know there are better overall records of his out there.

album is awesome but if there's no townes van zandt albums on this list i may end my life

Some country. Maybe slightly edgier/better than other country, but......

I have heard enough country to last me a life time

Not bad, but it felt like the same song for 30 minutes.

good country album with very american taste of music

In this house, we like two kinds of music... Country and Western, and this album is the real deal. It's pure Bakersfield Sound, with the kind of honesty you just don't get in the shitty pop country these days. The steel guitar is amazing, and Merle's voice? It's like a warm hug from a 1967 Ford truck AM radio. The stories are great, too, with themes of prison, heartbreak, and life on the run. Even without the big hits, every song feels essential. It's a quick 30 minute lesson in Americana that shows why Merle Haggard is a legend. If you want some good, old-fashioned country to listen to and think about life, this is it.

Not bad but a bit bland for me

As USA country as they come

3.5

A totally fine classic country album. Competent and well-produced, but also slight and underwhelming. Lacks the gravitas of its contemporaries. Haggard has a pleasant, warbly voice, but lots of country singers have that same pleasant, warbly voice. (I did enjoy the harmonies across the album.) I’d be happy hearing this in a bar or at a county fair, but I won’t be throwing this on again for my own recreation.

country, aliviantemente não sendo as merdas que enfia elemento eletrônico tipo beat e autotune e fica uma bosta completa esse tipo de country "minimalista cordas voz" acalma, é bem foda e se tirar a noção de que essa música é apropriada por estadunidense trumpista retardado ela melhora 6/10 / 3/5 por n ser meu estilo

A few of the slower songs were not good, but mostly this was good old country. 3.0/5.0: Good

I really have no idea if this is good for country music or not. I enjoyed it, but not enough to seek out more Merle.

I just picture Hank Hill listening to this when I hear it. That’s not a bad thing

*Cries about country music, gives Limp Bizkit a 5. Fuckin teens man. Also, while I'm reviewing reviews: 'Okie from Muskokie' is not jingoistic. Amazing that you know that word but have zero grasp of subtly or irony. Old mate probably holds that belief whilst concurrently being that reddit guy who blows up when people mistakenly treat 'Born in the USA' as patriotic. Fuck, I'm the reddit guy now. Didn't mean to get this riled about a middling Merle album but this list is boring me and I've had 5 beers, here's the real review: Some good Merles on here. Not sure it's his best but I'm no expert.

I listened to this album twice, so I tip my hat for being the first album that made me do that. I am not hugely a country fan, but my partner is, so after listening to it all the way through I put it on whilst spending time with her, given it sounded enough like artists she often listens to like Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and their ilk, to get a more informed opinion. The album's short enough it can be listened to twice after all. The verdict came back as it being liked, though lacking some of the story-telling the previously named artists achieved. So it certainly could be worse. For my own two shiny nickels, exposure to country through said partner has certainly softened my opinion on it, and I liked it well enough too. Perfectly standard country, with some lyricism and tunes I enjoyed in the moment, but have no real desire to return to regularly.

My Uncle Terry was 5’1”, had one leg 3 inches shorter than the other, had crones disease, and (according to my Dad) would beat the shit out of anyone who made fun of him about any of this (which was often, again according to my Dad). He had big strong hands and shoveled concrete most of his life and beat a painkiller addiction with sheer willpower (and coors lights). Anyway, he loved Merle Haggard and it made me want to love Merle Haggard too. Unfortunately I was a little bored by this album, sorry Uncle Terry.

Good for Roadtrips but i couldnt listen for very long. There are a few way better songs and albums from him in my opinion.

++: I'm a Lonesome Fugitive, All of Me Belongs to You, Whatever Happened to Me, If You Want to Be My Woman, Skid Row, My Rough and Rowdy Ways, Mixed Up Mess of a Heart +: Life in Prison, Drink Up and Be Somebody, Someone Told My Story +-: House of Memories, Mary's Mine 7,6/10

This was a great listen! I’m not a huge listener of country music but the old stuff sounds the best to me. Like gangsta rap music, the outlaw, fugitive, on-the-run thing, doesn’t mean much to me but makes for great fantasy. The thing that really rwaonates though are the love songs including the broken hearted kind. Now that I can relate to! The clincher though is that Merle Haggard has a great voice! The tone of his voice as well as how he enunciates and sings his words sound so damn musical! I have heard his music before and it just came and went but this one finally clicked with me. I hope I have some time left in my life to dive into the rest of his vast discography!

"It gets longer in between each time you call me" If I was going for the cheap laugh I'd make a penis joke about that line, but I think he means the time between phone calls. Plenty of heartbreak, men a-doin' what a man's gotta do and jail time. Even, in If You Want to be my Woman, a bit a sexual coercion that really hasn't aged well. "Mary's mine" brings a bit of happiness, about a man who was living a life without meaning, but who found a reason for carrying on in the love a true hearted girl gave him. But the next song is about a man whose girl left him and now he's om skid row, so maybe Mary wasn't so true after all. Then Jimmy Rogers song about a man who found a good woman but can't give up his rough and rowdy ways. Then a song about a man who had his mixed up mess of a heart torn apart by a little bitty woman. This guy really has some problems with his attitude to the ladies. Seriously, it's probably A grade, old style country, but I admit I find myself listening to it as a sort of camp kitsch. So let's give it a three and move on

pretty relaxing

2,6 Highlights: If You Want to Be My Woman, Mixed Up Mess of a Heart

Howdy partner

How the hell did I end up with a streak of so many Country albums in a row? You're lucky I like old country more than old folk music... 3 Stars because they really all sound the same at this point (and may your truck break down just for the hell of it).

Solid little country songs, but the lyrics aren't as fleshed out as his later albums

Quite a pretty album! Standout is maybe all of me belongs to you, it’s a pretty consistent listen throughout.

Not good, not bad. Weckt ein wenig nostalgische Gefühle.

Perfectly enjoyable classic country music. Nothing too mind blowing here. Really good vocal performances. Favorites were the title track, Drink Up And Be Somebody, Skid Row, and Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart.

Traditional country music.

I like this. Country is too slow

This was nice, not really my style but pleasant listening

Not a big country fan but this is pretty nice and chill. Feels very authentic

Never heard of album or band. Don’t really have an expectations. Lonesome fugitive is a good song. Well written, simple but effective background track. Wis it didn’t end so abruptly. All of me is classic 60s country. Another fun song. House of memories is fine. Nothing special. Good songwriting and guitar on life in prison. Catchy chorus. Cool piano on whatever happens, rest of it is too slow for me. I like drink up and be somebody. Really fun song. Cool guitar on somebody told my story. Good songwriting on this one again. If you want to be my woman is fire. Great solo, great piano. Markys mine is just ok. I like the piano, rest of it just doesn’t hit for whatever reason. Back in track with skid row. Merle is spitting on this one. Rough and rowdy is pretty good, nothing special. Cool solo, too short tho. Love the piano solo on messed up heart. Another fun song. Abrupt ending honestly. Was hoping/expecting it to keep going. Overall, really fun album. Beat my expectations. It’s crazy how much more I enjoy old country compared to the new stuff. Probably won’t listen again, but that was a fun 30 mins. 3.4 stars.

I have mixed feelings about Country music that can be summarised by: Johnny Cash = Good/Dixie Chicks = Bad. This album was definitely leading over to the good side, despite the twang in his lovely voice. I wouldn’t buy it though so 3 stars is suitable.

Pretty solid record. Merle’s voice is great, the guitar work is fun, and the songs are enjoyable. I don’t think it’s something that I NEED to listen to again anytime soon, but I liked this record a good deal. 7/10

Not really my jam or apparently Merle's best work. But competent textbook country.

Not typically a country fan, but I’m intrigued by this man. He has a lovely voice. Honestly this album is so solid. True banger. Can’t find anything bad to say about it despite the fact that it’s not my style.

Pretty generic country album that I didn't mind listening to. Nothing mind blowing or unique, but decent overall sound. Pretty much exactly what you'd expect from this album. Top tracks: I'm A Lonesome Fugitive, House of Memories, Mary's Mine

This was another album a lot like Tragic Songs of Life by the Louvin Brothers, it's a genre you could call "stereotype country." It's the type of country that everyone thinks of when someone says country. But this has something that the Louvin Brothers don't, and honestly I'm not sure what it is. I didn't mind this though, I thought it had pretty good lyricism and the instrumentals didn't bother me too much. Still not amazing but not as bad as I expected. Favorites: I'm a Lonesome Fugitive, Life in Prison, Skid Row

I am aware of Merle Haggard and have 3 songs liked by him on Spotify, but none are from this album. I've never listened to this one before. Thoughts while listening to this 3 times ... - Sort of reminds me of earlier stuff by Jimmy Buffet. Seems like Jimmy must have been somewhat influenced by Merle - also a little bit of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson I guess - anyway - it was pretty fun and I ended up liking 6 of the 12 songs and excited to see them pop up on my automated playlists Liked songs on Spotify: 6/12 Rating: 3/5

I have neither the words not the experience to really know if this is any good. It sounds like a lot of other country from the time to me. I love 'If you want to be my woman' though. Banger.

Classic country from a songwriting icon. Fun album to listen through. Highlights: "If You Want to Be My Woman" and "Skid Row"

Ihan ok. 3/5.

Positively surprising.

hmm, nicht schlecht, aber etwas zu depri für meinen Geschmack.

Authentic country music. Pull up a bar stool and try not to get tears in your whiskey.

I'm a lonesome listener

I don't want to be hard on Merle but I don't think this is his best record.

“We got both kinds of music: Country and Western!” It has no real relation but the Blues Bros reference seemed to keep popping into my head. I am going to get my negatives out of the way first. Apparently the Okie from Muskogee doesn’t smoke marijuana or take his trips on LSD, but murdering his love is acceptable, and deserving of death because if he dies his pain will go away. How about her pain? Oh yes, she’s DEAD!! This is early MAGA hypocrisy at its best. Blame Obama, screwing it at six year old! Maybe if ya’ smoked some weed you wouldn’t be in prison and she’d been a pretty color! Okay, now onto the positives. This album is a classic country/western album showing a lifestyle of simplicity and storytelling, which is an earmark for country music even today. There are some fun tracks on here like If You Want to Be My Woman with its great guitar work and blues-inspired piano. Skid Row is pretty funny too. If I was a Hard Hat in the late 1960s culture wars I would have probably loved this album as it reflected a generation of Silent Americans. My problem has always been the Silence part…

Random thoughts: * This is real country music. And I like it. * It was consistent and good. I didn't listen close enough to pick out any songs but I did spin it more than once because it was a good listen. * Susan even said this kind of country music she could handle and she didn't even make me turn it off. * I may have heard this before but so cool that Merle Haggard attended a Johnny Cash concert while he was incarcerated at San Quentin in 1960. * Also, I saw Merle Haggard open for Bob Dylan. He was actually more entertaining than Dylan. We got one of those nights Dylan was fairly uninterested in the crowd.

Country.

I'm not a country guy, but I can appreciate the classics.

1967. but not bad at all - especially for country music.

Love me some Merle, country should still be like this. Where do we go now? 7/10

This some old school country. It's pretty simple, but really nice, actually. The songs are a bit same-ish, so I can see this getting pretty tired, but also the songs are very short (compared to modern song lengths). The harmonies are excellent and not overdone. And I love me some steel guitar. It's not a nothing album, but I don't really think it's special? Maybe I'm wrong, though. Favorite Song(s): All of Me Belongs to You, Drink Up and Be Somebody

Rednecks that live out in the middle of nowhere (relatively) near where I live in the middle of the midwest US try to tell me that true outlaws listen to classic country like this. When I listen to it I have a hard time understanding the "outlaw" part, but I definitely understand the racism and willful ignorance that boils just below the surface that keeps this music popular in those areas. All that said, Merle Haggard had a great voice, and his classic country sounds influenced a lot of groups outside of country (like the Beatles).

I'm going to try my best to write a shorter review for this one, because I really don't have a ton to say. This is a very average old-school country album and that's about it. There's nothing wrong with that, but it also leads to I'm A Lonesome Fugitive being an album without a ton of substance to it. Nothing is done poorly, but nothing is done exceedingly well either. The vocals, writing, music, and everything else is alright and nothing more. Of course, old-school country is a style of music that I'm somewhat fond of, but not in love with, so that leads to this being an album that I can't really say anything negative about, but there's also not much positive I can say either. It's very average and that's okay. Not every album has to be a masterpiece. 3/5.

Strange this is the Merle Haggard album which is on this list. drinking bottles of cheap beer, and being oh so lonesome. The dream.

Nice

A pretty solid, enjoyable classic country album. As someone who is generally not a big country fan, there were a few moments where it got a little too foot-stomp/knee-slappy for my liking. Even so, it was pleasant to listen to and didn't overstay its welcome. I didn't find it particularly great, but it was good enough to hear at least once. Overall: 2.8/5

I think Mama Tried from the following year is a stronger record; this one falls victim to some of the sameyness that affects a lot of Bakersfield country records, and as much as I like the overall sound, I do find myself wanting a bit more most of the time. The piano boogie of "If You Want to Be My Woman" is a nice change of pace near the end of the record, though, and the title track and Jimmie Rodgers' "My Rough and Rowdy Ways" also stand out nicely. 3.5/5

Not bad. He has a lovely voice, but again not really my cup of tea

This was fun.

Probably the most middle of the road album you could get. Quite baffled how it made itself on this list.

need to listen to more merle haggard and classic country. This is good

4/12, 33%

I'm a Lonesome Fugitive - 4/5 All of Me Belongs to You - 3/5 House of Memories - 3/5 Life in Prison - 2/5 Whatever Happened to Me - 2/5 Drink Up and Be Somebody - 3/5 Someone Told My Story - 2/5 If You Want to Be My Woman - 3/5 Mary's Mine - 2/5 Skid Row - 3/5 My Rough and Rowdy Ways - 3/5 Mixed Up Mess of a Heart - 3/5 Average score: 2.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ehhhhhh, i didn't find this particularly interesting. most tracks barely held my attention, if at all so far, Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins are the most compelling country artist i've heard so far from this list. i know Merle was a popular performer in this genre as well, but perhaps he put out better records later in his career? i'll investigate further someday

Du country sans aspérité.

Meh. Très répétitif.

I was surprised to learn that some songs I know are covers of Merle Haggard songs (although I shouldn't have been). This is an album of classic sounds.

Late 60s country. Very classic and nostalgic.

Solid

Some authentic country sounds but not really my bag

Another country album, another dull car ride. I’m starting to think my musical taste dis not include country. I respect why Merle means to the genre and the artists who idolized him. Pretty neat that he started his career after seeing Johnny Cash perform at a prison. Some songs were pretty nice but nothing I’d go out of my way for.

Fine, just fine

This is a very country album, I can see why it's here, but it's sooooo not for me :P

Classic country both in terms of the melodies but also the stories told - would never have listened to this without album generator, but glad I did - good to hear something a bit different

Really good. 3.5/5

A lot of 50s/60s country starts to sound the same after awhile, but Merle Haggard manages to separate himself from the rest. "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive," "Skid Row," and "Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart" are the best tracks, but overall it's a good, fun country record. If I could give half stars, this would be a 3.5, and while I'm rounding down, it's still a high 3.

Irgendwie mag ich Country

The first half of this album was definitely better than the second half in my opinion. But I did love the vibe. I really enjoy old country music.

Classic country

מה נגיד. זה היה קאנטרי ועוד קאנטרי של בנים. דווקא את השירים שהציעו לי אחרי האלבום אהבתי יותר. על כן

Not much to say here. Folksy bluegrass tunes. Reminds me of my grandfather which lands it at a 3 on that alone.

I don’t mind classic country—in fact, I sometimes like it. The title track and “If You Want to Be My Woman” were genuinely enjoyable listens. My problem more lies with the lack of variety on this record. It’s short, but it feels even shorter, as each song is built in the same way: same instrumentation, same tone, same beat. Many of the songs dealt with similar, cliche country themes which get me rolling my eyes (perhaps unfairly, given the year this was written). The times the record deviated from these norms stood out to me, but they were few and far between. I certainly don’t regret listening, but I just don’t think this album will stay in my memory for very long.

Average outlaw country sound, not terrible but there is certainly better.

Suppose this is a concept album of sorts. The production is surprisingly clean, not bad at all

Pretty nice, but nothing special aside from the title track. Faves: I'm A Lonesome Fugitive, House of Memories, Skid Row

2.5.

Dans le genre, c'est pas plate. Mais Hendrou aime mieux ça que Marco.

Du country correct mais Phil aime moins ça que Marco.

A collection of perfect tunes for feeling blue.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Big fan of Merle - a proper country musician in touch with what it’s all about and none of that kitsch but this one is less engaging than Swinging Doors and on ‘Life in prison’ he’s ripping off his own licks. Even so, it’s worth a thousand of the pop-in-a-cowboy-hat records they claim is country these days.

Solid classic country. It’s been a week of good old stuff so far, let’s see if that continues!

Enjoyed this more than I expected to

Good old dive bar outlaw country. Not a big Merle fan but this is an exception.

Not really my wheelhouse, but I could hear why this would be significant to the long-haul truckers and farmhands of America.

eu tb sou um lonesome fugitive... FAVS (top 3): all of me belongs to you, house of memories, menções honrosas: im a lonesome fugitive, drink up and be somebody, whatever happened to me, if you want to be my woman, marys mine compraria o vinil: talvez gente mt gostosinho e bem clássico eu gostei nota final: 3.5/5

It’s aight

This has a certain charm. The songs are good in that 1950's-60's way that country puts into simple words the feelings of loneliness. The music is not challenging, but the musicians are very competent, almost to the point that it sounds like they are on auto-pilot. It's just so much more formal-sounding than one would expect from 'outlaw' country (if that's what this is).

Interesting early country

Music you’d expect from a guy named Merle Haggard. Not bad, just very expected. Best song picks are “Life In Prison” & “Drink Up And Be Somebody”. Super soft 3/5

It's alright, real honky tonk though. Original country!

Its missing the rawness and honesty that makes this kind of country great. Too bad.

I thought Merle was born with facial hair.

Glad this project is pushing me to listen to more classic country. This was a solid one from Merle, not sure I'll go back to it but def nothing to complain about. Just a solid classic country album.

Good for the clink, less so for yoga.

It’s no Marty Robbins, but it’s allright 3/5

Quintessential US country and western music. Never heard it before or will again, but enjoyed the step back in time

Solid old country. It all kind of sounds the same to me. However, it’s a warm sound.

I'm not sure I've heard much (or possibly anything) by Merle Haggard, so it's nice to get a full album of a name I know I should have listened to before now. And weird album cover aside, it's a good collection of country tracks. 3⭐️

I enjoyed this more than I anticipated I would

5/10 Country is always going to be a more difficult genre for me. I have no cultural links to it, so it’s got to do a lot of the heavy lifting to make me connect with it, whereas other genres I can meet a little more half way. But when a country album really hits the heights, I can still find myself fully on board. The first half of the album felt like more of a struggle to me, with a few too many slow tracks, and too much crooning, which is always something I struggle to connect with. I find it an uninspiring and often insincere type of vocal delivery that turns me off a song pretty quickly. There were some nice moments in that first half when the pace got driven up a bit and the band got a bit more involved, particularly the guitarists and piano player. There wasn’t a vast amount of range or development to many of the ideas, but given that only one song ran over 3 minutes, that’s hardly surprising. In the second half, there were times when this record really got moving, and there were some really good moments. It felt fun in a way that the first half rarely managed, and I found myself tapping my feet and bouncing along with it, quite enjoying the swing and swagger of the performances. Merle Haggard has a good edge to his vocal delivery when things are moving, and when the band got more involved again, the level just jumped up. I can’t say I’m likely to spend much time with this again in future, but it was a pleasant enough experience and has me optimistic for any future country albums that might live up to the highs on this record. I'm A Lonesome Fugitive - There’s a nice flow to this and some nice bits of nuance to the instrumental parts. Some nice vocal harmonies too. It’s perhaps a tiny bit plodding, but it’s nice enough. He’s got a nice warm vocal tone too. All Of Me Belongs To You - We get a bit more zip on this one and it has a nice toe-tapping rhythm. There’s some nice guitar work in there too. It doesn’t have much range or variety, but it's less than three minutes long, so does that really matter? House Of Memories - This is more crooning, which is the type of music from this era that I struggle with a lot more. There’s some nice piano and slide guitar in there, but it doesn’t do a lot for me in general. Life In Prison - Straddling the line between the crooning and the more up-beat stuff, this is a bit better than the last one, but it’s still a bit plodding. There’s a good little guitar solo in there that gives this a slightly different edge, but ultimately, it’s a bit dull. Whatever Happened To Me - And the tempo drops again. There’s some nice piano work on here in a couple of places, but it doesn’t do enough to save it from the plodding drudgery and crooning monotony of this song. Drink Up And Be Somebody - Finally, a bit of a lift. There’s a decent pace to this and we’re back to having more of a toe-tapping rhythm. The instrumental work is solid and there are some nice vocal harmonies in there too. Not bad. Someone Told My Story - Again, there’s not a bad lilt to this one. It’s a bit too welded to the downbeat, which gives it that plodding edge, but it feels like Merle’s giving it a bit of range from that, despite nudging his way into crooning territory a little too much for me. If You Want To Be My Woman - This is much, much better. Good pace, a bit of swagger and it actually sounds fun. Quality guitar soloing and the bass and piano provide a really solid swing to the beat. Some nice rhythmic stops in there too. I could have done with more like this on the album, as I really enjoyed this one. Mary's Mine - I could, on the other hand, have done with less of this. Crooning, slow, plodding and dull. There are some decent bits of piano in there and the rhythm section feels like they’re trying to inject a little bit of momentum to it, but it’s just not very interesting. Skid Row - We’re back! I can’t pretend I’m ever going to be an enormous country fan, but I can at least get behind something like this a little more. It’s got drive, pace and a some more of that much needed swagger to it. Ram those thumbs in your belt loops, kick out your feet and jig along. My Rough And Rowdy Ways - While the pace has dropped a little here, there’s enough of a swing to this and it doesn’t resort to the crooning stuff that drags some of the other slow ones down. More good guitar playing, a nice edge to his vocal delivery and a finger clicking lilt to the rhythm. Not bad at all. Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart - Let’s end this on something of a high. The bass player feels like he’s finally woken up and gets to do something a bit more interesting. It’s got a good kick to it and I particularly like the piano work. The vocal delivery is great, as are the harmonisations. This has a solid pace, is really good fun and gets it all done in no time at all. A solid way to end the album.

None of these songs are familiar to me, since I never intentionally listen to country music. At least I know who Merle Haggard is. He has a good clear singing voice, and all the tracks are pleasant country music. Perhaps this was a seminal country music release. I noticed that all the tracks were short, typical for the 1960s.

Merle Haggard is a fun name. I probably would mix him up with Milton Berle if I ever heard of him before. I like when they put the song titles right on the album cover. Two albums in a row that mention a "rolling stone"! I wonder if we'd use that expression more if it weren't for the band. Probably. Well, this was fine. I don't like country music or these songs in particular, but the vocals are nice and clear, the songs are short, and there's no loud or annoying noises. Is that what passes for a 3 these days?! I guess so.

DEF HAS LATIN AMERICAN INFLUENCES

01) I'm a Lonesome Fugitive - 7,0 02) All of Me Belongs to You - 7,0 03) House of Memories - 6,0 04) Life in Prison - 6,0 05) Whatever Happened to Me - 6,5 06) Drink Up and Be Somebody - 7,0 07) Someone Told My Story - 6,0 08) If You Want to Be My Woman - 6,0 09) Mary's Mine - 6,0 10) Skid Row - 6,0 11) My Rough and Rowdy Ways - 5,5 12) Mixed Up Mess of a Heart - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,25 (63/100) Current ranking: 569/768

Good album. 3 *

Some solid oldy outlaw country, this particular remastered mix I listened to was actually pretty crisp-sounding for a '67 album. I'd say in general, the self-pity and loathing aspect of this record is clearer than usual, there's just so much sadness, regret, and hopelessness poured into so many of these songs - you can't help but feel bad for this random poor guy as he drinks his sorrows, and life, away. 'Life In Prison' particularly struck me as remarkably dark, even for this genre, a song about a man who is genuinely at the end of his line. Musically, the more upbeat 'If You Want To Be My Woman' and 'Skid Row', while not too thematically fitting, were a nice change of pace from the very mopey mood of this thing; going in this barroom rockabilly direction. They're not exactly happy songs, though, just catchy, especially the latter, which seems to build on the protagonist's rock bottom-ness as he stands outside, homeless and filled with regret. Pretty cool, nothing new or unique for this genre, and I wouldn't be able to pick it out from a group of other albums in the genre, but it was still a pleasant listen and not too long.

yee haw

This beer was cried-into when I arrived.

Nice listen, love how they get right in and out with 12 songs packed into 31 minutes. I am a cowboy now

Merle writes and sings well, and this album is no exception (though the big hit was not written by him.) It's good country, but it's not *great* music. It's no better than a lot of other "good albums" that came out at the time. The only reason it might stand out is that good country isn't really very common. Most country music is poor, so in its genre, this is above average. But overall, it's simply good, not great.

I'm not normally a big fan of country music, but I tried to give this album a fair chance. I don't think it's interesting enough to warrant more than a 3. I understand that the more stripped-down style is intentional, but I just don't vibe with it. This album isn't bad; it's just ... not that good. Maybe I'll listen to this when I'm in a different headspace and I'll enjoy it then. For now 3/5

This was a fine album, short and sweet, but not something I’ll seek out again

??? Country nice. c

Actually listenable country. I wouldn't put this on every day but this was a fun discovery.

the best thing i can say about this is that it is short

went into this fully expecting to hate it because i am not a fan of country, but left pleasantly suprised! what a great voice haggard has!

It’s giving Johhny Cash at Folsom/San Quentin vibes, but not quite to that level. But still, ‘I’m A Lonesome Fugitive’ is a solid album from Country’s golden era.

Mit der Backstory gut hörbar

Schon ganz cool, nochmal hören? Eher nicht

Für Country ganz gut

Charming lil old school country album.

It was fine, not much else to say. Some decent songs

Fine. Short. Fun voice. Country

The title track reminded me of an ex-boyfriend and the time we dodged a train conductor after realising our tickets weren’t valid on that service. I felt so guilty, I asked him if he thought they could track us down via CCTV and he started singing I Am A Lonesome Fugitive at me. Credit where it’s due, that was pretty funny. Anyway, despite clearly not being cut out for the outlaw life, I enjoyed this.

Pretty good. I’m m not a big country fan but this is classic.

enjoyed it but wouldn't be something i'd listen to

A good album, I liked I'm A Lonesome Fugitive and All Of Me Belongs To You the most.

3 - some good real country music

It was fun to listen to. A lot of songs sound similar. But the lyrics are great

Fun. But not great.

Decent but very repetitive musically and thematically as it is mainly droning, broken heart songs. Also, I swear all country songs that focus on this theme have the same kind of vocals. It had 2 more fun songs which were based on the more outlawish side of things (well one of them anyway) which were good and actually changed it up a bit. Other than that it’s quite 1 dimensional and kind of sounds like the louvin Brothers but without the harmonies. Favourites: title track and Skid Row. Overall, 5/10.

No honky tonk good time on this country album. There’s a heavy lived in sadness to it especially after finding out he’d done time before writing it.

Nice

62/100. A nice country record. Nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s an easy listen. A solid example of classic country charm.

Legendary Outlaw twang. On the right day, behind the wheel of a car with the windows down or a cold rain pounding, this could easily go up a star.

Sounds like Country to me. 2,9

Zero idea of what to expect. Never heard of this artist or album. Pleasantly surprised with melodic slide guitars, country lyric tropes, charming harmonies and a short run time.

Solid old style country. A generally good listen

I've always liked this style of country, even though all of it seems to sound too similar. For that reason I will be handing out another 3/5.

274/1089 - Slightly more interesting than the Willie Nelson album I had a few days ago. I tried giving country more of a chance (before the project I was mostly unfamiliar with it and didn't care for the accents) but Country in general is way too repetitive for me. Some bluegrass is kinda cool like Bela Fleck or the Punch Brothers.

Classic country (—or Americana-adjacent.) Makes me want to fire up Fallout: New Vegas another time. Overall, sounded kind of same-y, but not bad by any stretch.

Classic outlaw country ... and probably its best singer.

Merle sounds very smooth on this, with the twangy waltz behind him; I think I prefer outlaw Meelrle

This album was written about Len Houmous’ famous break out from prison in 1962. He got out, proved his innocence and held Johnny Cash accountable for his actions! An incredible year! 3.2 1/12 I’m A Lonesome Fugitive

Nice country actually, not as good as Marty Robbins

Considering the fierce competition from the year 1967, any albums on this list in the Cash-esque “retro-country” style come off as a little underwhelming. (Yes, that excludes Cash himself, but only because he hams it up spectacularly by interacting with the audience and adding little quips that make him instantly loveable.) Merle Haggard presents us with a slew of very inoffensive country-pop tracks that would be much more impressive if released in the 40s or 50s. The vocal harmonies, the (very, very simple) chord progressions, the twangy electric guitar... everything screams “dated”. For a list of the 1001 most important albums of all time, this has got to be on the lower end in terms of importance. Either that or (more likely) it just doesn’t quite belong on the list. But dang it, I’m A Lonesome Fugitive is still such a fun time. It takes you on a slow, laid-back, lilting journey through various country and proto-rock clichés, and not a single track is more obviously “fillery” than the rest. One highlight is If You Want To Be My Woman, which gives us a sudden uptick of energy amidst several drowsier ones. It’s packed with piano-driven energy, and it follows a blues progression – two elements that, when combined, are almost never a miss. Drink Up And Be Somebody is also strong for its more prominent, complex guitar line in the verses and pre-verses. Of course, the title track is also worth mentioning, this time for just being indescribably positive and beautiful. If some of these tracks were improved upon using cutting-edge techniques/styles of the period, the album would have some serious firepower. 3/5 Key tracks: I’m A Lonesome Fugitive, Drink Up And Be Somebody, If You Want To Be My Woman

Classic country.

Solid stuff! The single/title track was def the strongest here by a good bit, but the songs are nice if a little boring lol.

I’m generally not a country fan, maybe because it sounds so underwhelming compared to other music of its time.. It was enjoyable, but after 30 minutes of 1-5 basslines I was ready for something else.

It’s like a warm bath at the end of a long cattle drive.

heartaches by the number guy?

Inoffensive and unmemorable background music

3/5

Blind album and artist. Slower old country album that I know has its place but isn't for me and ge n real listening.

I'm not much of a fan of country music, so I'm not too excited when one shows up on the generator. I also have found that I don't dislike most of them by the time I'm done listening. This is another time when that has happened. Haggard's delivery is very laid back, given the depressing or even violent nature of many of the songs, which is a bit off putting till it's heard as a whole. It eventually makes sense as a guy telling his stories of woe, but he's come to terms with it, at least in my interpretation. All of this is to say that it got me thinking more about the songs in a way that country music rarely does, so that seems like a win. I'll still never listen to this album again, and none of the songs are being saved to a playlist. But I didn't hate it.

I love a bit of Merle Haggard. His voice is so smooth with just tinge of pain in it. It suits the Bakersfield sound perfectly. However, this album isn’t great, and Merle isn’t Waylon. There is nothing specifically wrong with it. The sound is pretty laid back and sauntering, the players are solid and Merle is great, it just lacks a bit of something. The songs are a bit samey, and while the groove changes, it doesn’t lift the songs much. The album is pleasant but that’s all it is. It lacks bite, and Merle’s voice is so clear there isn’t a lot of snarl there either.

I like this sort of old-school country more than the modern stuff (although truthfully I haven’t listened to much of that either, so it may be an unfair comparison), but there’s nothing here that truly grabs my attention. Like so many others, a fine album which I feel no pressing need to revisit. It did get me tapping my toes, at least.

Better than average country, but country isn't my thing

*Smooth country beat plays* "I am in jail and want to kill myself"

Nice easy listening

The stories are dated, the transactional dating gross, and the steel guitar whiny, but yes, this is masterful quintessential country and why I don't like the genre.

Overall, this was a nice-sounding album and it was enjoyable having it in the background, but it had a little bit of an older sound, so it is a bit outdated nowadays, but overall not too bad. There was even one song where I even bopped my head a bit.

If you asked I would say this is what I thought a country album sounds like. Which isn’t true, but it sounds like it should be. This is one of things I like about country- its variety. That’s all I have.