Working in Tennessee is the sixty-third and final solo studio album by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released on October 4, 2011 by Vanguard Records. This is also the second Merle Haggard album released by Vanguard.
Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic praised the album, writing "Hag never rushes things, never turns up the volume, his western swing now bearing a closer resemblance to the gentlemanly amiability of Hank Thompson instead of the wild, woolly Bob Wills. He’s proceeding at the pace of a 74-year-old legend with nothing to prove, yet he’s not resting on his laurels, he’s just doing what he’s always done: singing songs so expertly his virtuosity almost goes unnoticed." In his review, music critic Robert Christgau only wrote "Now 74 and short half a lung, he's not making the best music of his life, just the best albums... Man's learned how to live, and he has no intention of stopping." Spin writes of the style, "His greatest skill remains how convincingly he stands in, and stands up, for regular guys, even when he's coasting... Working in Tennessee glides along on its Bakersfield groove with the greatest of ease, despite the album's title."
Track listing
Personnel Merle Haggard – vocals, guitar Biff Adam – drums Don Markham – saxophone Red Lane – guitar Willie Nelson – vocals, guitar Ben Haggard – vocals, guitar Gene Chrisman – drums George Receli – drums, percussion Doug Colosio – keyboards, piano Theresa Haggard – background vocals David Hood – bass Kevin Williams – bass Tim Howard – drums, guitar Rob Ickes – Dobro, pedal steel guitar, slide guitar Jeff Ingraham – drums Scott Joss – banjo, fiddle, guitar, background vocals Reggie Young – guitar Joe Manuel – dobro Bobby Wood – piano
Chart performance Chart (2011) Peakposition U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 30 U.S. Billboard 200 155 U.S. Billboard Independent Albums 25
References