Name: Roots Of My Raising by Merle Haggard, The Strangers
Brand: Merle Haggard
SKU: 5099964251851
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (70 reviews)

ALBUM

The Roots of My Raising is Merle Haggard's final recording for Capitol. Like its predecessor, My Love Affair With Trains, it features only one of his originals. But it's difficult to say whether Haggard was saving his own songs for his new deal with MCA or had specifics in mind when he made these albums. It was a hell of a way to go out though: The album garnered two number one singles (Hag's 23rd and 24th) in the title track written by the great Tommy Collins and Cindy Walker's "Cherokee Maiden," which Bob Wills hit with in 1941. The most interesting thing about these songs as hit singles is how far outside the mainstream of country music they were. The music was becoming slicker and more urban for the first time in a decade, and urban cowboy was just around the corner. One of Haggard's most overlooked gems is here, though it was never issued as a single. "What Have You Got Planned Tonight, Diana?" is a deeply moving love song from the bed of a dying man. There's also Haggard's definitive version -- he recorded it three different times -- of Lefty Frizzell's hit "I Never Go Around Mirrors" and his own lovely and poignant "Am I Standing in Your Way." The Strangers remained the most rock-solid of country bands, able to slide from honky tonk to near-bluegrass stomp to Jimmie Rodgers-style blues ("Gamblin' Polka Dot Blues" and "Delta Blues") to Western swing with a horn section on "Cherokee Maiden." While The Roots of My Raising ended a 12-year relationship with Capitol, it was also the end of a particular stylistic direction for Haggard. The move to MCA would see an evolution in his sound and recording approach.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo

1. The Roots Of My Raising

by Merle Haggard

Lyricist: Tommy Collins
Merle Haggard; Composer
Bass Guitar: James Tittle; Performer
Bass Guitar: James Tittle; Performer
Dobro: Norman Hamlet; Performer
Drums: Biff Adam; Performer
Guitar: Merle Haggard
Eldon Shamblin
Roy Nichols
Ronnie Reno; Performer
Mandolin: Tiny Moore; Performer
Producer: Ken Nelson
Charles "fuzzy" Owen; Production
Composer: Tommy Collins
Merle Haggard; Composer
Primary Artist: Merle Haggard; Main Performer
Performer: James Tittle
Merle Haggard
Ronnie Reno
Tiny Moore
Roy Nichols
Biff Adam
Don Markham
Eldon Shamblin
Mark Yeary
Norman Hamlet; Performer
Piano: Mark Yeary; Performer
Saxophone: Don Markham; Performer
Steel Guitar: Norman Hamlet; Performer
Vocals: Merle Haggard; Performer
Composer Lyricist: Merle Haggard
Tommy Collins; Other

2. What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Composer: Merle Haggard
Dave Kirby; Composer
Primary Artist: Merle Haggard & The Strangers; Main Performer
Producer: Ken Nelson; Production

3. The Waltz You Saved For Me

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Primary Artist: Merle Haggard
The Strangers; Main Performer
Composer: Wayne King
Gus Kahn
Emil Flindt; Composer

4. Walk On The Outside

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Primary Artist: Merle Haggard
The Strangers; Main Performer
Composer: Howard
Paul Kirby; Composer

5. Gambling Polka Dot Blues

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Primary Artist: Merle Haggard
The Strangers; Main Performer
Composer: Jimmy Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers; Composer

6. Cherokee Maiden

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Lyricist: Cindy Walker; Composer
Bass Guitar: James Tittle; Performer
Bass Guitar: James Tittle; Performer
Dobro: Norman Hamlet; Performer
Drums: Biff Adam; Performer
Guitar: Merle Haggard
Eldon Shamblin
Roy Nichols
Ronnie Reno; Performer
Mandolin: Tiny Moore; Performer
Producer: Fuzzy Owen
Charles "fuzzy" Owen
Ken Nelson; Production
Composer: Cindy Walker; Composer
Primary Artist: Merle Haggard & The Strangers; Main Performer
Performer: James Tittle
Merle Haggard
Ronnie Reno
Tiny Moore
Roy Nichols
Biff Adam
Don Markham
Eldon Shamblin
Mark Yeary
Norman Hamlet; Performer
Piano: Mark Yeary; Performer
Saxophone: Don Markham; Performer
Steel Guitar: Norman Hamlet; Performer
Vocals: Merle Haggard; Performer
Composer Lyricist: Cindy Walker; Other

7. Am I Standing In Your Way

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Primary Artist: Merle Haggard
The Strangers; Main Performer
Composer: Merle Haggard; Composer

8. Colorado

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Primary Artist: Merle Haggard
The Strangers; Main Performer
Composer: Dave Kirby; Composer

9. I Never Go Around Mirrors

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Composer: Lefty Frizzell
Sanger D. Shafer; Composer
Primary Artist: Merle Haggard & The Strangers; Main Performer
Producer: Ken Nelson
Charles "fuzzy" Owen; Production

10. Mississippi Delta Blues

by Merle Haggard, The Strangers

Composer: Jimmie Rodgers
Jack Neville; Composer
Primary Artist: Merle Haggard
The Strangers; Main Performer
Producer: Ken Nelson
Charles "fuzzy" Owen; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

10 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

30 minutes and 5 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1500x1500 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

5/10 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

3/10 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Country, Traditional Country, Bakersfield Sound

Label

Capitol Nashville

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1975

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

5099964251851

Shopping cart

Notification

Roots Of My Raising

1. The Roots Of My Raising

2. What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana

3. The Waltz You Saved For Me

4. Walk On The Outside

5. Gambling Polka Dot Blues

6. Cherokee Maiden

7. Am I Standing In Your Way

8. Colorado

9. I Never Go Around Mirrors

10. Mississippi Delta Blues

Technical Specifications

Roots Of My Raising

Product information

Release options

1. The Roots Of My Raising

2. What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana

3. The Waltz You Saved For Me

4. Walk On The Outside

5. Gambling Polka Dot Blues

6. Cherokee Maiden

7. Am I Standing In Your Way

8. Colorado

9. I Never Go Around Mirrors

10. Mississippi Delta Blues

Technical Specifications