The Epic Collection (Recorded Live)


The Epic Collection is a live album by Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers released on Epic Records in November 1983.
The title is misleading as Haggard had only been with Epic for two years in 1983, so the recording leans heavily on his Capitol-era hits. The album peaked at number 28 on the Billboard country albums chart.

Critical reception

AllMusic critic Steven Thomas Erlewine stated in his review: "The atmosphere is mellow, with Haggard favoring late-night ballads—both broken-hearted and romantic—and adopting a nicely weathered saloon crooner stance. This doesn't make for the liveliest record, but it's a nice, unassuming portrait of a master at middle age playing his way through just another date."

Track listing

  1. "Honky Tonk Night Time Man/The Old Man From the Mountain"
  2. "Holding Things Together"
  3. "Sing a Sad Song"
  4. "Every Fool Has a Rainbow"
  5. "Blue Yodel #5"
  6. "Trouble in Mind"
  7. "Things Aren't Funny Anymore"
  8. "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers"
  9. "I Always Get Lucky with You"
  10. "Workin' Man Blues"

Personnel

The Strangers: