The Bluegrass Sessions (Merle Haggard album)
Encyclopedia
The Bluegrass Sessions is an album by American country music
singer and songwriter
Merle Haggard
. This album was released on October 2, 2007 on the McCoury Music and Hag Records.
The bulk of the album was cut live in the studio in one day, with very little overdubbing. Guests include Alison Krauss
, Marty Stuart
and dobro virtuso Rob Ickes
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer and songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
. This album was released on October 2, 2007 on the McCoury Music and Hag Records.
The bulk of the album was cut live in the studio in one day, with very little overdubbing. Guests include Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
, Marty Stuart
Marty Stuart
John Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
and dobro virtuso Rob Ickes
Rob Ickes
Rob Ickes is a dobro player. A Northern California native , Rob Ickes [rhymes with "bikes"] moved to Nashville in 1992 and joinedthe contemporary bluegrass band Blue Highway as a founding member in 1994...
.
Track listing
- All songs written by Merle Haggard expect where noted.
- Runaway Momma – 3:49
- Pray – 2:53
- What Happened? – 3:42
- Jimmie Rodgers Blues – 4:17
- Learning to Live with Myself – 4:09
- Mama's Hungry Eyes (with Alison KraussAlison KraussAlison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
) – 3:37 - I Wonder Where To Find You – 2:54
- Holding Things Together – 3:25
- Big CityBig City (song)"Big City" is a song made famous by country music singer Merle Haggard. Co-written by Haggard and Dean Holloway, the song was released in 1982 as the title track to his first album for Epic Records...
(Haggard/Dean Holloway) – 3:38 - Momma's Prayers – 4:08
- Wouldn't That Be Something (Haggard, Freddy Powers) – 3:28
- Blues Stay Away From Me (Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore, Henry Glover, Wayne Raney) – 3:45
Chart performance
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 43 |
| U.S. Billboard Independent Albums | 34 |
Personnel
- John Caldwell – Engineer
- Charlie Cushman – Banjo, Guitar
- Randy Garrett – Cover Illustration
- Lee Groitzsch – Engineer, Mixing
- Merle HaggardMerle HaggardMerle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
– Guitar, Vocals - Aubrey Haynie – Fiddle
- Rob Ickes – Dobro, Slide Guitar
- Ben Isaacs – Upright Bass
- Carl Jackson – Guitar, Tenor Vocal, Vocal Arrangement, Vocal Producer
- Scott Joss – Fiddle
- Alison KraussAlison KraussAlison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
– Vocals - Brenda McClearen – Photography
- Teeroy Morris – Graphic Design
- Ronnie Reno – Producer, Mixing
- Marty StuartMarty StuartJohn Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
– Guitar, Mandolin