The Bluegrass Sessions is the sixty-first studio 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 virtuoso Rob Ickes. It was produced by Ronnie Reno, former rhythm guitarist of The Strangers.
Track listing All songs written by Merle Haggard except 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 Krauss) – 3:37 "I Wonder Where To Find You" – 2:54 "Holding Things Together" – 3:25 "Big City" (Haggard, Dean Holloway) – 3:38 "Momma's Prayers" – 4:08 "Wouldn't That Be Something" (Merle Haggard, Freddy Powers) – 3:28 "Blues Stay Away From Me" (Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore, Henry Glover, Wayne Raney) – 3:45
Chart performance Chart (2007) Peakposition U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 43 U.S. Billboard Independent Albums 34
Personnel Merle Haggard – Guitar, Vocals Ronnie Reno – Producer, Mixing John Caldwell – Engineer Charlie Cushman – Banjo, Guitar Randy Garrett – Cover Illustration Lee Groitzsch – Engineer, Mixing Aubrey Haynie – Fiddle Rob Ickes – Dobro, Slide Guitar Ben Isaacs – Upright Bass Carl Jackson – Guitar, Tenor Vocal, Vocal Arrangement, Vocal Producer Scott Joss – Fiddle J.D. Wilkes – Harmonica Alison Krauss – Vocals Brenda McClearen – Photography Teeroy Morris – Graphic Design Marty Stuart – Guitar, Mandolin
References