The running kind : listening to Merle Haggard / David Cantwell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cantwell, David, author.

Series:

American Music Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Haggard, Merle.

Haggard, Merle--Criticism and interpretation.

Country music--History and criticism.

Country music.

Country musicians.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (337 pages)

Place of Publication:

Austin, TX : University of Texas Press, [2022]

Summary:

"Merle Haggard is described as a legend in almost everything written about him, and for good reason: some 75 albums, three dozen number one hits, multiple Grammy awards, membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with a notorious youth that included time in San Quentin Prison (California). He, along with Buck Owens, is credited with creating the "Bakersfield sound," a style of guitar playing that has influenced countless country musicians who came after him. At the time it was published, this was the first serious book on Haggard. Because the singer published an autobiography in the 1980s (now out of print) and another in 2002, Cantwell did not attempt to write a true biography. Instead, this book is "the attempt of a life-long Merle Haggard fan, and long-time music critic, at writing a monograph on Merle Haggard's music--on the songs he's written and, a key but too-often-elided distinction, the records he's made." This edition is heavily revised from the version published in 2013 under a different title"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction. "Silver Wings" : Kansas City, Missouri, September 14, 2001

"Hungry Eyes," 1969

The roots of his raising

"Mama Tried," 1968

Toward the bad he kept on turnin'

He loves them so : a playlist of early influences

"Leonard," 1981

The Bakersfield sound and fury

Someone told his story in a song

"I Started Loving You Again," 1968

The legend of Bonnie and him

"Sing Me Back Home 1967,"

They won't let his secret go untold

He's living in the good old days : countrypolitan, country soul, country rock

"Workin' Man Blues," 1969

He likes living right and being free

"Irma Jackson," 1969

His fightin' side

He'd rather be gone

"It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)," 1972

He wishes he was Santa Claus

Merle loves Dolly

Songs he'll always sing

He takes a lot of pride in what he is (hint: he's a white boy)

"A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today," 1977

His country girl with hot pants on

He's always on a mountain when he falls

"Rainbow Stew," 1981

He wishes a buck was still silver (not really) and likes the taste of yesterday's wine (really)

"Kern River," 1985

He's going where the lonely go

"Me and Crippled Soldiers," 1990

The Hag versus the Man in Black

He'll never be gone? Merle Haggard in the twenty-first century

"If I Could Only Fly," 2001

Epilogue. Cuba, Missouri : July 15, 2010.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Cantwell, David The Running Kind

ISBN:

9781477325681

OCLC:

1328136062