Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Not sure why so many people absolutely hate country. Some of these songs are stupid, but overall pretty fun
None of these songs are "hits", yet everyone of them seems familiar. Lot's a slide guitar, two step beats. Better than other 3 star albums.
Smooth easy listening cowboy country. Simple tunes, pretty melodic, short, merle's voice is very clean. All around pleasant in the style.
Listening to Merle Haggard just give me nostalgia of driving through the country side of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas listening to K-Rose. It's very sombre, gives that classic feeling of country lonlieness and losing your way. Just makes me feel like I'm driving down a country road with nothing around me for miles. I love the way he can drag his voice on and make it bounce. I like this sort of country. 'Drink up and be Somebody' is one of my favorite so far. Love that classic yern of getting drunk and losing your wife, house, dog, truck and guitar. The female vocals also add a lot of depth to it, another country trope I adore. It gets really honky tonk with 'If you want to be my woman'. Same for the rest of the album. Also really love 'Skid Row'.
Pretty good country music.
Sad and not bad cowboy music. I wouldn't change the station but not a thing I'd always wanna jive with. I think I've heard of Merle Haggard and wish mainstream country music today was more like this. Although I guess this is considered outlaw country?
Good!
Not revolutionary but I'm a sucker for this kind of folk. It's music for armchair nostlagia. It inspires recollections of wilder days and deeds done. Read through the tracklist, it's 12 slightly different sad sips of whiskey. 'Drink up and be somebody' takes the crown and wins the woeful olympics. Get feeling, but not too much boys.
Love Merle Haggard, part of the soundtrack of my childhood. This isn't my favorite album, but it's still pure Haggard.
Although I would never choose to play this album for myself, if my grandpa punched this cassette into the stereo of his beat-up pickup truck and we listened on a long drive into town, I wouldn't be upset about it.
Average early country but still better than modern country by a mile
i'm a lonesome fugitive by merle haggard is a whole ass vibe!! with a title like that, it's no surprise this album is country with a capital c. the entire album follows along with a theme haggard created after hearing (and subsequently covering) "i'm a lonesome fugitive." his own prison stint only encouraged the theme, and i love the connection and the dedication. i enjoyed following along with haggard's story, and like a lot of country, i found it easy and relaxing to listen to this album. i'm just saying that the album would've improved with including "mama tried".
Rarely does an album's title so concisely reveal its own intended purpose. He's always on the run and he's very, very lonely. What more did you want, something happy? While it's lovely seeing Merle in *some* capacity here, I can't help but think that you could quite easily swap out this for Mama Tried-- if only because then you get to listen to the title track of *that* album, one of the greatest country songs of all time. A 3.5/5 leaving town, not knowing where it's bound.
Good music to cook burgers to. 3/5
He seems a wee bit lovesick, no?
This feel kind of like proto-Outlaw Country. Stuff like Skid Row is the raucous stuff I love. Some of it is a bit too mellow or sappy. But Merle is still great.
I enjoyed this. Decent country.
Classic country western music, from a classic country western star. This is what comes to mind when I think of country
I'm not a big fan of country music, and there isn't anything spectacular about this album. However, when I think of country music, this is generally what I'm hoping to hear. Pretty good stuff.
It's alright
Nice album to listen to when driving, makes you feel about of the wild west
Spotify listed this album as from 2001 which threw me at first. Pretty sad subject matter here, but I struggled to have sympathy for the character whereas I usually would. Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart was the best track on here for me.
Yee haw. Jiving central I'd say. I did enjoy this a lot more than I initially thought I would. "Okie form Musjogee" is honestly gas, yee haw. Yodelling!! (man I love an auld yodel) This album is definitely a guilty pleasure ahaha
I think a lot of Merle's troubles would be solved if, a) he didn't murder anybody. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time, and b) Stop whinin' and maudlin'. 'Em women in country want the strong and silent cowboy, not a muddlin' Merle.
I enjoyed this for what it was. Rather than really grabbing me it sounded like the background music you would hear in a honky tonk bar.
Outlaw Country! Or starts out that way. Then it shifts to sad-sack country.
Merle had a great voice and some great stories to tell. 'Drink Up and Be Somebody' hits hard, but even with only 30 minutes of runtime, I'm a Lonesome Fugitive still feels a bit monotonous.
Good country album
good country album but i think marty robbins might still be better
Pretty nice
nice enough! yee haw
Love cowboys
Perfectly serviceable country. Not in the jangly earache end of the genre - this is well thought out and written, but still not something I would run towards.
ne znam zašto mrze country, men se sviđa stari country
This album features some of Haggard's best tracks, including the title track "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive," "Branded Man," and "Sing Me Back Home." Each song showcases Haggard's signature sound, a blend of honky-tonk and Bakersfield country, and his heartfelt lyrics that often tell stories of heartbreak, loss, and redemption. Haggard brings raw emotion to each track. His voice is filled with pain and longing, but also with hope and resilience, making every song an emotional experience for the listener. The album also features some great musicians, including James Burton on guitar and Glen D. Hardin on piano, adding to the overall quality of the album. If you're looking for a good country album that tackles the human experience, look no further than ”I’m a Lonesome Fugitive”
Legend has it this guy was one of the prisoners in the crowd when Johnny Cash performed at San Quentin. Singing about his crimes and prison in a remorseful manner in every song, he truly deserves the label "outlaw country" more than anyone. Anyone who can make country listenable gets extra points from me. Even though I'm not crazy about it and most of the songs don't contribute much, this guy can make me understand the appeal of country. These songs are depressing, and I love how they have this old-time feel like I'm sitting in a saloon, with the guitar, steel guitar, and piano taking turns in the spotlight. Favorites: Life in Prison, Whatever Happened to Me, If You Want to Be My Woman
Really enjoy his voice and the laid back nature of these tracks. This type of country music is very comforting.
I'm not a huge fan of country, but this album somewhat changed my mind. I can definitely appreciate older country, as well as non-pop versions of current country. This album wasn't too bad, but I did get a bit fatigued towards the end, it all began to sound very similar.
ok. i like merle but this is not his best
Not a big fan of country and honky tonk.. that sound in the background is the most annoying part of this genre for me. Still it's way more palatable for me than modern country. Saved tracks: House Of Memories, Whatever Happened To Me, Mary's Mine
It sounds like every other Merle Haggard album I've listened to. But that's a good thing. The outlaw country artists are the only ones that really resonate with me. They're storytellers, above all else. They don't fall into the same three or four clichés that modern country stars seem to. And even when they do, well, they originated it, so can't be too hard on them. This is a 3.5 star album to me, but I'm going to round down this time, because a few days after a very pleasant listen, not much about it has stuck in my mind.
Some good tunes, some not so good tunes, and interesting playing.
Country
Not the kind of thing I'll listen to again, but the songwriting is amazing.
3 Really thought I was familiar with Merle Haggard, but after listening to this album and his top songs, it’s clear I just know his name. While his voice sounds really familiar, it also sounds like every other country artist of the era, so it’s probably not safe to say I recognize it. I really dug the Western outlaw vibes on the first track, but everything started running together after that. Kinda wish Haggard leaned more into the whole lonesome fugitive thing thematically across the rest of the album instead of all the cheesy love ballads, but I still enjoyed most of them - they were short, sweet, and provided a consistent vibe that I feel would be fun at a country bar. Favorite songs: I’m a Lonesome Fugitive, Drink Up and Be Somebody, Skid Row
3.5
Idk how I feel about Merle haggard really, but I did enjoy this album. 3.5
Textbook outlaw country, soaked in blood, crime, and heartbreak. Not entirely my cup of tea, but a well-executed and interesting album that does not overstay its welcome at 31 minutes.
Country just isn't a genre I have much familiarity or interest in, but this one is alright. It overemphasizes the accent a bit which always grates me (whether that's fair or not). I enjoy the lyrics and guitar playing though.
Too old fashioned style for my personal taste (especially considering that albums such as "Sgt. Peppers" or "The Velvet Underground & Nico" came out in the same year), but not a bad country record at all.
Its better than some of his colleagues in the C+W scene, but its still terribly basic
Thanks to this list I have come to realize, that my understanding of the country genre has been very limited. I associated it with upbeat, banjo-filled music that country is represented by in my country. These American classics - someone in other comment have dubbed them "og emo" - caught me a bit by surprise. I quite like it, but it does miss a bit of an edge for me. Wasn't very fond of vocals on this one either.
Whoehoe, onvervalste country. Geen Johnny Cash-niveau, maar het doet het ongetwijfeld goed als je met je vrachtwagen over Route 66 dendert. Vraag is wat er precies klassiek is aan dit album, maar ik ben dan ook geen kenner.
Het is een weekje van 3en. Ook dit luistert best prima weg. Ik vind wel de wat snellere nummers leuker. Dan is het prima muziek voor on the road
Solid country album. I don't listen to a ton of country but I enjoyed the sound and easily made it through the whole record. That said, nothing really stood out that strongly to me either. I'd incorporate it into the rotation on those occasional times when I go on a country spree.
A straight up and down country album - if that is what you are after
I like some of this old country, but small doses. This one is good but blends together.
🤠
Well this is a contrast..... A bit of C&W. I'm no expert but i'd say this is smooth and well produced. Quite assured and reading the Wiki Merle was no stranger to hardship or jail. I prefer the slower tracks- I like the older, slower Country best.
One of the best voices in country
3.5 good for country, just not my typical listen
For as much of a non-fan as I am of country music, Merle Haggard's freewheeling delivery had a lovely infectious bite to it. His melodies are earworms and his lyrics can also be quite smart.
That tick-tack bass.
i hate country. that being said i liked this. kinda groovy not overly long and has a ncie voice. wouldn’t hate to hear this in the background of a bar or somethign
good
Goddam Merle! You really know how to duggie! This is the most cohesive album since Sgt. Peppers, which came 83 days AFTER Merle magnum opus here (coincidence??? nah). Merle was really able to capture the pain of being fugitive through the use of some damn good honky-tonk music! Good stuff Merle! but not entirely my ting
I don't like country but this wasn't bad.
Twangy country from back in the day. Feels like sitting around a camp fire after hearing some cattle. Not really my thing, but pleasant enough to which to listen.
Yeah typical classic country. Those lonesome vocals; that steel guitar; its all a bit dour though feels authentic (he did go to jail) and consistent. (though it gets a bit more upbeat towards the end) Not for me. 3
Very good country album from Merle Haggard. Very early in his career. Big fan of Merle.
Country. Un poco aburrido.
this was country
Country clássico que fluiu bem.
My co-judge says prefers this "old time country" to New country. I like the slide guitar (though a more adept guitar player might not) and overall twang. This is the sort of thing I'd love to be playing at a greasy spoon on a Sunday morning while I read the paper, drink black coffee and eat hashbrowns and Canadian bacon.
Glad to be getting some country albums this week instead of the same ol same but nothing crazy to write home about
Another country bumpkin album, two in a row, dad gum! Merle is a bit of a legend though, I remember going back and listening to his music when he passed not too long ago. He's got one of those great longing, wistful voices that fit perfectly in the sad country style. Lots of emo type tracks on here, but some lively ones too. I definitely prefer this over the Louvin Brothers, Merle's got the sauce. Favorite tracks: I'm a Lonesome Fugitive, My Rough and Rowdy Ways, Drink Up and Be Somebody, Mary's Mine. Album art: Fantastic shot of Merle looking like a fugitive on the lam, gripping the train car for dear life. He looks like a genuine badass, even if it's just acting. I really like this one. 3.5/5
Eh, I suspect I'd like this a whole lot if I were bourbon drunk in some seedy beer-sign-lit bar in America, but I'm not, so it didn't really grab me. Fave track - "Mary's Mine" maybe - I enjoyed him doing slide guitar with his voice...
Genre: Bakersfield Sound 3/5 Merle Haggard, one of the forerunners of what has now become known as Bakersfield Sound (country music featuring heavier emphasis on electric instrumentation rather than acoustic) alongside contemporaries like Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam, and Waylon Jennings, is one of music's all-time legends. He's written some of Country's most memorable songs, but on this venture here, featuring the talents of the backing band The Strangers, it unfortunately never quite hits that big rock button that I was hoping it would. Throughout the runtime, we're gifted with low-tempo rockabilly ballads mixed with low-energy country rock cuts that blurs the line between music and background music. Well-arranged and softly produced, it isn't offensive to the ears, actually quite pleasant to listen to, especially the title track and opener, I'm a Lonesome Fugitive. Unfortunately for me, the rest of the album plays out like generic country rock. Merle's got a great voice, and Glen Campbell rips a couple great guitar licks in this, but it's fairly tepid as it plays along. Decent, and I'm sure those country fans out there love it, but I'll stick to the heavier stuff.
I dig it
OG outlaw country. Not as refined as Willie, but it has a rough and rowdy charm.
Pretty good outlaw country singing with some great playing generally a little too tame for my very specific country tastes. 3 🌟
Older country, not offensive, but not my fav.
Nothing offensive about this. Would likely not listed to again though.
Okay, so, this was better than I thought it would be. Still not something I would listen to on my own, but it made me want to head out on a road trip down south.
Not the biggest country fan in the world, but I'm enjoying this so far. The title track was really good. Afterwards, it's a bit standard country in a somewhat forgettable way, but it's decent. I like his voice and it's definitely at least good country music.
Fínt country frá þeim sjöunda, stjörnugjöf eftir því. Mér fannst síðasta lagið skemmtilegast.
Vinyl VMP
I am not sad or drunk enough for this one to really hit. But I do think it's a pretty decent album honestly.
guitarrinha maneira
I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this album! If I'm going to listen to country, this "cowboy" folky style is definitely what I prefer and I was almost sad when it was over so quickly. Not something I would seek out for daily listening but I definitely enjoyed it and would listen to Merle Haggard again when I'm in the mood for this type of music
Music is simple but refined, and Merle’s voice is so calming. This is right where big country music began.
3.5
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: I'm A Lonesome Fugitive, Drink Up And Be Somebody, My Rough And Rowdy Ways, Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Love the little guitar flourishes he mixes in. Classic country music fare, but seems like he kinda wrote the book so I'll round up.
I expected to hate this record and ... I was not entirely wrong. This whole sad-sack, outlaw-country crooner schtick is exceptionally cheesy and comes off disingenuous. That said, I can't deny the musicianship and high production values. But I just hate the way Merle slides into every damn note like the last-chair trombone player in a middle school band. I mean, just hit the note, my man.
Having read about Merle’s life, I found the songs about prison poignant and beautiful. Beyond that it’s a neat little country album, predictable in its subject matter and style. Surprisingly good even if you don’t like country and Merle’s voice sounds great.
Merle has a phenomenal voice. This didn't do too much for me personally but I'd like to give props for great performances, excellent production, and strong songwriting.
sounds a like an alright classic country album
Middle of the road. But it’s like an old country dirt road. 6/10
Country animado. Ni fu ni fa.
Country, sin más.
Сначала подумал что круто, потом подумал, когда заиграет следующая песня? Оказывается, они все одинаковые.
This feels like a purer country artist than Cash, which is what inspired him to make music. Unsurprisingly, this sound doesn't strike me very positively, but I would not say it was the worst either. Just middle of the road.
It's easy to predict what would this album offer. Just by looking at the simple cover of him hanging on a train can infer that this album will be another one of those country stuff. And my prediction of this being an acoustic country jam album which has nothing special in it is true. But far from the simple songwriting and the overall generic sound, his voice is pretty good. Apparently a bunch of songs written by a woman Haggard didn't even know (probably "The Strangers" in the name "Merle Haggard and the Strangers"), these are songs about being a fugitive, it conjures images of wild west thingy in my mind. Fast paced and action packed. But that's not the case with this album, it's so casual it seems to be sentimental. Perhaps that's why a handful of people wondered if Haggard himself had a little prison history or experience. Overall, not really a bad one, but not a remarkably good one that is worth checking out either.
good ol' country
Classic Outlaw Country
Good music
classic country
The oh so young Merle Haggard aged so very well. A young guy telling these stories is interesting. An old guy, damn becomes credible.
Country. Está bien. Un 3
Ik 🤝 cowboy albums
I'm not a big country fan, but I appreciate this old-time, authentic country music so much more than today's popular trash. 3 stars.
I enjoy.
Esto, por ejemplo, suena viejo, pero no avejentado. No sabría explicarlo mejor. De todas formas, también creo que hemos escuchado varios discos similares y, con todo, lo disfruté. Muy gringa la onda, no me hace pensar más que en todo lo que se ha construido como gringo rural, el "viejo oeste", etc. Me gustaron "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive", "Someone Told My Story" y "Skid Row". 7/10
Good ol country album. Lots of cool slide guitar. Classic country story telling. Not exactly my thing, but not bad either.
Better than I thought. A good voice and standard country songs but all done pretty well
Country...
Good country album, and not a bad album generally speaking, but it fails to have an identity unique to itself when compared to Cash.
Short and sweet country album but no songs are really outstanding
60's Country
It's a country album. Not any more, not any less. Pure oldie-country. I'm not the biggest fan, but that's only because I don't like those kinds of songs. Favorite track: Drink Up and Be Somebody
Boring
I liked it. Did I like it more because I haven't listened to any classic country in such a long time. I don't remember hearing any of the songs before, but I am familiar with Haggard's voice and other music. On first listen, I liked "My Rough and Rowdy Ways" the most. This album is borderline 4 stars, I MIGHT listen to this album again.
Only listened to a few songs. I don’t hate this. If I’m with friends who insist on listening to country, these classics are what I will ask them to play.
It's proper country. Too country for me, probably.
I liked the dark lyrics and it rollicking by in just half an hour. Outlaw country baby.
Pleasant album. I feel like I'm starting to enjoy country a bit more than I used to. This could be dangerous.
One of the many things I love about this 1001 Albums project is the inclusion of the Wikipedia article about each album. Through this album's entry, I learned about Merle Haggard's prison time and its effect on him and his music. I happen to LOVE knowing the stories behind the art. Always adds such richness and depth to the experience for me. Regarding this album, although I only very rarely listen to country, I enjoyed this album. Great songwriting, singing, and playing. Nice one.
Old country is cool!
It's actually pretty good even though I don't like country.
Another country album, ok not life changing
De cover toont al meteen wat voor soort album het wordt. Zeker niet slecht, maar ook geen echte uitschieters.
100 % wat ik van country zou verwachten. Eens plezant om naar te luisteren, maar niet snel voor herhaling vatbaar
When singing about being a criminal felt kinda wholesome. It was good but didn’t totally grab me
Low-key it was p good. I actually liked the sound of it, and the lyrics made it better for me than modern country. I liked I'm a Lonesome Fugitive, Life in Prison, and If You Want to be my Woman
A more country Johnny Cash. Rather than being an imitation, Merle Haggard sang from experience, having been serving a 15 year sentence in San Quentin when Cash played there. Haggard may be the more authentic jailbird, but somehow his songs sound less so and lack some of the Cash grit, poetry, emotion, and magic. Maybe it's unfair to consider this through the prism of Johnny Cash, but it's impossible not to. 3/5.
Merle klingt älter als er aufm Cover aussieht, aber vielleicht hat man damals mit 30 auch schon alles zigfach erlebt und ist ein alter weiser/weisser Mann mit Gitarre, dessen Geschichten sich ein bisserl anhören wie die Lebensberichte eines Rowdies wie Nelson Muntz, der zwar bekanntlich auch eine weiche Seite hat, aber noch bekanntlicher ein Vertreter vom schäbigen Gesocks , ein brutaler Vollasi und wirklich der letzte ist, dem ich über länger gern meine Aufmerksamkeit schenke. Weniger erstaunlich die Aufmerksamkeit, die solche Worte abverlangen: "My life will be a burden every day If I could die my pain might go away" Tiefgang den einen, schlimmer Kitsch den anderen. Ich wähle den Mittelweg und lasse mir von dem Ganoven angesäuselt ein paar Sympathiepunkte aus den Rippen leiern, um genau zu sein genau: 3.0
I'm A Lonesome Fugitive is the seed of every cowboy country song. Yea this album is a solid encapsulation of the change of country from the blues to the outlaw.
Perfectly fine and enjoyable album, although "if you want to be my woman" may get ol Merle cancelled today
Pleasantly surprised by this album. Not the biggest fan of Merle and his politics, but this was a nice collection of outlaw country songs
probably good c&w, but not my cuppa
good 'ol country
Great voice. Liked this more than expected.
Not really for me, but I can appreciate the artistry.
Not bad. Better than I was expecting for a country record!
I cannot remember almost anything about this and I listened to it yesterday.
meh. first couple tracks were pretty good
Ehh
Continuing a week of meh albums for me
the only tracks this guy should stick with are train tracks or moose 2/5
Elvisy voice. I like I'm a lonesome fugitive the most. Too slow for my liking though.
Lidt for country til min smag
This was just kind of ok. I was hoping for less twang, but then the stories didnt really grab to excuse the twang. That said, I admit I just had it on in the background and wasnt paying close attention, but for the most part a lot of these songs feel kind of lazy. Especially for 1967, this feels dated, but I might be comparing it to Johnny Cash, which isnt fair. He has a nice voice, but it sounds like a guy who is singing someone else's experience but pretending like he did.
Music to be a vapid racist to. Gave it a 2 only because it didn't break me nearly as much as Western did.
It's all there, the strong vocals, the slide guitars and the subtly honky-tonk pianos, the lyrics portraying tormented characters... but man, I wish Merle would have spent even a single second on this album thinking outside the box called "country ballads".
Twangy old school country is not my thing.
Not my speed and didnt win me over
Nah not for me
Album #181 Merle Haggard: I’m A Lonesome Fugitive I’m not even one of those “I’ll listen to anything but country guys”, but I’d be lying if I said that only a country album can make 30 minutes feel like a slog. The main issue with bad/boring country is the lack of grit; for an album supposedly about fugitives, in a genre called ‘outlaw’ country, you would think there would be some gunslinging; instead, all we are left with is one-note, sappy woe-is-me ballads. I mean, I guess there is a time and place for sad cowboy songs, but after about five I think we get the point. I say it ad nauseum, but truly Townes Van Zandt is country done right: sentimental yet powerful, presents a message yet stays relatable. Alt-country also does really well in paving over the flaws of classic country, keeping the same melancholy vibe but channelling it into angst. Oh well, at least I now know what to listen to when I drop by the old saloon in a desert town. Best Songs: I’m A Lonesome Fugitive, House of Memories, Drink Up And Be Somebody Worst Song: Skid Row Score out of 10: 4.5
Not terrible but not super enjoyable.
Kind of a snooze fest, no?
This is not my favorite sound in country music, so there's a strike against it for that. It's also not terribly exciting from a lyrical ground or covers new storytelling territory. So, *shrug*.
06/09 Boring
Country, country; and more country
2.5
'if you wanna be my woman then you know you gotta let me be your man' okay...?
Pretty run of the mill country album. Definitely a few songs I would put on in the background but nothing I think I’d sing along to or that. Harmless album not a must listen tho.
Forgettable, but okay.
how was this made in 2001
1. fugitive - 2 2. belongz - 2 3. memoriez - 2 4. prizon - 1 5. happened - 2 6. drink - 2 7. ztory - 1 8. uuoman - 1 9. mine - 2 10. zkid - 1 11. rough - 1 12. heart - 1
Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate why others would like it.
There wasn't anything wrong with the album, but nothing really stood out to me from it. I can appreciate the occasional country song, but I wasn't hooked.
Surely there are better Merle Haggard albums
I’m glad there’s a Merle Haggard album on this list, and I’m glad it’s the one that contains’My Rough and Rowdy Ways’ (I’d bet my stack of antique Triplicates this is where Dylan got the idea). But, this album doesn’t stand out on its own. It’s so short that I didn’t even realize it’d begun before it was over. The Rolling Stone 500 list includes compilations, and their’s selects a career-spanning epic of Merle Haggard songs. It’s a conundrum. I’m here for albums and to get a flavor of the history of popular music. Merle Haggard should be included, but his albums aren’t much to write home about. I’m not here for compilations, but in this case, you really get to live in the vibe when you have like 75 songs instead of 10. So, a five for Merle as an artist. A lackluster 2 for I’m a Lonesome Fugitive as an album.
I was going to say “like George Jones but not as dark!” Then I heard “Life in Prison!” 🙀 Not my favorite type of Country. That is, a little too corny and there’s a lot of tropes. Some nice playing obviously, Glen Campbell is on here and there’s shades of the Bakersfield sound some proto-rockin’-country that seems like the only thing I heard in the 90s. It’s alright, Haggard has a nice voice, and some of the songs evoke the later outlaw country trend. Too polished for me though.
I'm not really a fan of country music. This was okay, but it didn't change my opinion of the genre much.
This is almost parody-levels of country. Songs about Cadillacs, how women have “done me wrong” all packaged up in the classic Southern country vocals and slide guitars. This album is a classic example of what I mean when I tell people I don’t like country. Couple of bluesier tracks are ok.
Not really with this but didn’t hate
I'm not a country family that was a pleasant bike ride to work
★★½
In a nutshell: it's a hard knock life... It's earnest and explores the various moments Merle is confined or dejected in life. Not just as a former inmate, but a scorned love and as a guy trying to integrate himself in the world again. I know jack shit about country music. What I do know is that one has to acknowledge the roots of a genre or sub genre. For the Bakersfield sound- country music fostered California- the 1001 Albums and 1001 Songs books (well in the editions I have anyway) are missing the guy who pioneered the genre in the first place- Wynn Stewart. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are the predecessors. Household names. I'd recommend Marty Robbins or Buck Owens over Merle Haggard as an entry point to be honest. I can see how this album is important and a next step though. Overall: 3/10
A little more upbeat than I expected from some 1960's country but its still firmly in the wheelhouse of the genre. I'm not a country fan by any means but this wasn't slog to get through. Just some run of the mill jaunty country tunes from an apparent ex-con. I'm sure this was influential to the early county fans but it does little for me 60 years later. Put it in the realm of everything else that came from this genre and era for me. 1.58 stars
Even though I’m not a fan of the genre, I have found some Country albums throughout this that I have really enjoyed. This is not one of them. I did really like the track If You Want To Be My Woman. Unfortunately I absolutely hated everything else about it.
Didn’t like this as much as I hoped
Another country album… not terrible though.
It's pretty generic sounding country music.
There's no way he was a criminal… oh wait. Cringeworthy country but I am not saying that to his face even if he is dead.
Why is this here. Just generic country.
“sir” “ma’am”
I fail to find something new and interesting within this that I haven't heard at least half a dozen times before on the list. I think I have country music fatigue, because whilst this is by no means a bad album, I have no desire to listen to it again.
Pickin', strummin', knee slappin' and moonshine juggin'
Mir zu altbacken.
High scoring on the ‘would the residents of the town in Tremors listen to this’ scale. Quite low scoring on the ‘rate the album based on your taste’ scale.
meh
Many of my favorite musicians respect Merle Haggard, so I was disappointed that I found this to be standard, unremarkable, middle-of-the-road sad cowboy music. When it comes to midcentury twang, this corny stuff has nothing on Townes Van Zandt or Patsy Cline.
"If you want to be my woman" was the one song that moved at a pace I'd have liked, if it weren't for the Country part of the song. You know, like everything else about the song. I don't dig Country. This is a good example of why.
Nope
I am once again convinced all country and western music sounds the same.
I read one of the earlier reviews that it could be worse, but you could do a lot better; that is pretty much it.
Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart
Just too old school “this is my pops country” for me.
Unremarkable country.
Ok 2/5
Never liked country music and this album embodies everything country. Just not for me. At least it was really short.
Hmmmm.
Yeah, it's a classic. Simple, repetitive music and cliché lyrics about god, america and women, that's country music for ya. It's probably a great representative of its genre, but pretty boring to me.
Life is Prison was kind of a bänger. Otherwise it's the same old country shite that I don't have much tolerance for.
Yawn. Same old country themes with some twangy music. You only need to listen to the first two songs to know what every other song will sound like - either a riff on criminality or ‘romance’. The only blessing is that it’s just over 30 minutes long so the suffering is short-lived.
If you want to listen to a classic of the country genre, this is probably one of the best albums for it, but looking back, I have to question anyone who would voluntarily want to do so. 2.5/5
Nice easy listening. lots of this style of country sound the same to me which isn't a bad thing. Cool that he actually went to jail AND saw Johnny Cash in San Quentin. You couldn't be called Merle Haggard and NOT be a country artist
Pretty enjoyable classic country, sounds a bit generic but thats probably because it was influencial, really makes me wish I could read the article in the book for why its in the list
Waarom moet alles zo over-the-top country zijn? Onderwerp, geluid, accent. Anders telt het niet ofzo? Pedal steel maakt een hoop goed, maar verder heel erg.
Not my thing
Very interesting and different instrumental choice!
2.5
Perfectly ordinary, perfectly standard, does nothing novel or exciting enough to be included but also sounds perfectly fine enough to not despise for any reason, the epitome of an "okay listen." And for an old country singer, he wrote a lot of his own stuff, so I can't fault that
Not really feeling Good old boys country music today celebrating old glory and might of imperial u s of a....
When The Beatles were releasing 'Sgt Pepper', a certain ex-con was thrumming out some 'by-numbers' country - alternating basslines, twanging tele, brushed drums and tales of heartache and the penitentiary. Which is all to say it's quiet indistinguishable from a huge body of fungible country albums. So what are the positives? Well a good voice (even though backing on guitar is Mr Golden Pipes himself, Glenn Campbell, which is the real criminality here). There's some pretty cool fender twanging. And a couple of decent melodies, 'House of Memories' among them, which, with it's restrained pedal steel and piano, feels like a lilting country classic. 'Mary's Mine' is another with a nice piano-ballad feel ; the subject matter fitting the easy arrangements and pace. But it doesn't have the edge of Johnny Cash. The lyrics and music are all pretty unadventurous. Overall, aside from a couple, rather hackneyed and uninspiring, lacking danger despite the subject matter; a fair voice and a couple of nice ballads.
Feels like listening to AM radio in backcountry Iowa. I can respect it, but not exactly my bag
I'm a Bit Bored of 1960s American Country Music
Best Song: Drink Up And Be Somebody. There was a kind of earnest honesty to this song that actually felt genuine. Worst Song: Mary's Mine. These stupid ballads always seem so incredibly insincere to me. Just pick an appropriately Biblical popular name and repeat a bunch of saccharine platitudes at her. I even went to Merle Haggard's wikipedia page to see if he was married to a woman named Mary, and this motherfucker has a subsection titled "Wives." Man's had 5 wives and none of them were named "Mary". Overall: This feels like the best of a genre of music that I'm just never going to like. There's nothing obliquely wrong about it, but goddamn if all these sounds don't sound the same. I can tell it is thoughtfully produced, but I just don't like the forced sentimentality, the boring and repetitive rhyming schemes, or the noodle-y guitar tone. So I don't really like any of it.
Dag nabbit, it just ain’t my thang
Meh
Didn't listen properly, but didn't move
3/10 - Someone who likes country can probably tell me why it’s important and iconic, but it’s not for me.
This album smacks of they got to album number 1000 and realized they should have another country album in there, found this one and thought “that’ll do”. Maybe it represents a major leap forward in the creation of “outlaw country” or something but listening to it with my 2026 ears it’s fine, nothing special
< the Beatles
I didn't hate it, but it neither spoke to me or entertained me
Hugo Duncan the album. Can’t lie listened to this walking through Tesco and I did have a bounce in my step 😂
3.5/10
It's fine. I like older country, but don't get excited by this album.
Not bad, but not for me.
is this the original sadcore?
Some good, ol' fashioned country music. Nothing else. Special - not at all. Solid 2 Stars
Au début c'est pas désagréable mais ça devient ennuyeux au fil des titres 2/5
Præcis som jeg forestillede mig al country lød som før jeg begyndte det her projekt. Ikke et kompliment
Ganske hyggeligt!
No, this is too much country for me.
Some artists and genres have grown on me going through this list. Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits for sure, also I've enjoyed some of the jazz stuff more as I've gone on. Around three quarters through the list though and the country albums have mostly just not grabbed me. This was no different
Maybe it's because it's 5:25 am but hearing this made me realise that if I was born on that time and all that was on radio was this I would have kms
2.0
Nope. This is so much of what I do not like about country.
Kolejny generic country album. Willie Nelson zrobił to dużo lepiej. Kiedyś takiemu generykowi postawiłbym pewnie 3, ale słuchanie tych samych rzeczy po raz dziesiąty mnie już nuży.
Sad cowboy broke the law 😞
It's a pleasant enough listen, but it's country, and that will never be a bit of me. There are some head bobbers on this album and as country albums go, I can tell it's a half decent one. The pace & flow of the songs are also relatively chill and I could definitely see myself happily listening to this as a bit of background music. A mid to strong 5/10.
Capital C Country. I don’t know the genre that well but I certainly prefer Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins to this. There is a brevity to this which I did like and a few songs did stick out. I liked Drink up, Someone told my story, If you want to be my woman, Skid row and Mixed up. The back half certainly stronger for me.
Alright.
Some of these song lyrics have not aged well. This takes me back to driving out to the farm as a kid.
Generally pointless and uninteresting
2.5. it was fun.
A classic country record, exactly what I imagine. I understand why it has so many fans, but it’s not really my taste. Still, the clean guitar tone is genuinely pleasant to hear.
Average country album of its day.
This was bad. I didn't like it.
I like country music. It's what I grew up listening to. This is just very generic and doesn't give me a reason to love it. Today, country isn't my genre of choice, but it really depends on the song. I don't think I'd really listen to any of these again, but who knows? Solid album overall
4/10
Country music at it’s most familiar.
Album No. 0069 on my list (lol). I've never heard of Merle Haggard before, and unfortunately, the likelihood that I'll listen to his music again after listening to "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" is rather small. It's a country album, but rather of the boring kind. My favorite tracks were "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive", and "Life in Prison". The whole album is not terrible, but it's nothing I'd actively listen to. Could imagine it playing in the background in some bar in Oklahoma or whatever. 2/5 stars.
2/5 - another one that's just not my thing, first track was pretty cool though
12 times the same song.
60
Classic country. Not really my thing. A little too "twangy" for me.
Yup.
Was Merle the first country star to sing about his John Deere? Surely not. I’m not a big country fan, and this didn’t change my mind. It’s not terrible by any means, but it’s definitely not for me.
Started as 3. Ended as 2
Enjoyable but forgettable. Diet Glen Campbell
Solid outlaw blues country but an album's worth is a lot.
A stereotypically bad country album.
Classic country. The kind you hear in tv shows set in Texas. It has its charms, sure. But you have to like this kind of music to really appreciate it. And I don’t. ⭐️⭐️
marginaal beter dan de gemiddelde country...
this is probably good country but I can't get into it
ну не люблю я кантри мужичков
I fail to understand where the “outlaw” part of “outlaw country” comes from.
Not my thing
meh, not for me
Не ужасно, но и не интересно как-то
Not for me
To borrow from Bob Newhart: I don't like country music, but I do not want to denigrate those who do. And if you like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'
enjoyed this well enough - there's some nice tunes - but nothing here impressed me much aside from the title track. i'm a lonesome fugitive?? i'm a well-endowed law-abiding citizen. now what. highlights - i'm a lonesome fugitive
Listened Before? N Classic country. Not much to say here... one big hit and the rest is just sort of normal 60's country western stuff. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: I'm A Lonesome Fugitive
I like old Merle. Like, when he was old - not his old stuff.
- I'm not a country fan (and this album confirms it), but the storytelling is pretty good. many songs are like short stories set to music instead of the very identity-driven songs of the 2020s ("Try That in a Small Town" comes to mind) - if music is food, this is a chicken-fried steak or chicken 'n dumplings: predictable, safe, and pretty delicious, but with no seasoning other than good ole salt 'n pepper (and a lot of Crisco). not a TV dinner or a school lunch -- good for what it is and never turned down when offered, with maybe even a "thank you for the meal" -- but just like when you've eaten at home the entire week and are craving something spicy or exotic from a restaurant, this album was a little tiresome over time and left me wanting to hear something that isn't just essentially I-IV-I-V-I 60s-70s country music has always felt like a time capsule or love letter to a time that never actually existed -- which might be exactly how the identity-focused Jason Aldean/Toby Keith found room to flourish decades later and become what the artists (or label execs, let's be real) wanted to push to the masses. I'm looking forward to hearing more "good" older country so I can build upon this thought or see if/how my views change over time
Uninspired, uninteresting.
Didn't care for it. Not my cup of country.
I expected more
I don't like country music in general so not my best album either.
Old fashioned 'poor me' honky tonk country music
Not getting much from these honky tonk classic country albums. Very little variety in tone, sentiments mostly banal, very little edge. I guess it's good at what it does, but it's not for me.
It’s pretty good but just too country for me. 2.5
If I were in a bar and the band was playing this album, well I wouldn't leave, but I also wouldn't go back to that bar again. Two stars.
A bit too old-fashioned. Not bad but not really my jam.
Meh. I don't see what the fuss is about. He sounds like every other 60's country album that is made by Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson. Didn't really like.
Sounds a lot older than it is to my ears. Fine record, theme is cool.
It's OK as far as a country album, but twangy banjo and cliched whinge-fest lyrics just don't do it for me. I try to keep an open mind but this is such an unoriginal, boring album. At least it's short. If I have to pick one track, I guess it's "if you want to be my woman", at least that has some energy. Oh and Skid Row is actually a pretty good song, too. Almost redeems the whole album.
Decent 60s country for about 70% the the ending is rough
As someone who cannot stand country this album isn't that bad. It is short, he has a nice voice, and it isn't that twangy/honky tonky. Not something I would listen to again, but it isn't unlistenable. The second half, gets a little too generic country for my liking and drops my rating down from a low 3 to a high 2. High 2.
Look, I tried. I just don't get Country. It all sounds the same to me, outside of a handful of artists like Johnny Cash. The second the pedal steel started up on this record I was pretty much out.
This country album is the countriest country that ever countried. I prefer my misogyny in hip-hop form, otherwise it's just sparkling sexism. Rating: 2
Country meininkiä vanhalla otteella.
Did not like, not especially bad but just old school country
Country but fine
J’ai l’impression que plus que j’écoute du country, moins je suis capable de le supporter, j’ai craqué à la moitié j’étais pu capable de sa voix nasiarde pis de ses tounes plates de wannabe cowboy