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RIP Merle Haggard

Crap. Saw him in Tulsa with Ray price Willie Nelson and asleep at the wheel. The genre of music I love is almost completely gone.
 
Sad day. I think it was also his birthday today also.
 
Man I've had a range of crazy news today and I just cannot deal with this right now. I'm teaching an online class on the 60s, and this week on the syllabus was titled, "This Song's fer the Workin' Man," in which we discuss the rise of the New Right and resentment politics. I was just sitting down to write a long post on the course management site about "Okie from Muskogee," set to something of a happy birthday to Merle. I've been hyping our Merle Haggard week for awhile now. Crazy. Anyway, you should first and foremost listen to this Hag song about death and remembrance:



On another note, I heard the local pop-country, mass-produced playlist country station feigning sorrow about Haggard's passing. They can **** off.
 
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Damn. Listening to that just emphasizes how horrible today's rural pop music is.
Guys like Merle wouldn't even get a chance today.
 
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To add. My dad bought a reel to reel tape player and recorder in probably 69. He loved Cash, Jones and Merle and had hours of the albums taped. Biggest memory is Sunday mornings, before church, the music would play all morning, while we were getting up and around and ready for church. Interesting that many of my favorite songs were never really hits. If you've never heard Merle's Jimmy Rodgers tribute "same train different time" I urge you to seek it out.

#poetfortheworkinman
 
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Loved Merle but he left a bad impression live after I saw him at Tumbleweeds about 15 years ago. Came out and maybe lasted 45 minutes. Worst show ever.
 
I'd like to see you try and last 45 minutes.
Go see Willy, saw him same year at Tumbleweeds and I bet he played 2 hours. Again, all relative but Merle didn't put on a good show in concert although I cannot think of a song whether popular or obscure that I don't know or love.
 
I saw George Strait at tumbleweed in the early 80s. He played 45 minutes and repeated songs. Loved me some George then, but wow I was pissed. He won entertainer of the year a few years later and my wife and I were both stunned.

We got revenge on old George though. One of my wife's friends (woman) peed on one of the bus tires.
 
That takes talent when not properly equipped.

How could George need to repeat songs for a 45 minute set? Weird.

Played milk cow blues twice and I can't remember what else. That stuck with me because it wasn't even his song. He'd already had straight from the heart and straight country out by then ... It was weird.
 
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