Merle Haggard’s status because the champion of the working class was additional cemented on Might 16, 1969. That day, he was at Capitol Data’ studios in Hollywood with an A-list of musicians that comprised the Strangers, recording the nice “Workin’ Man Blues.” It went on to turn out to be the seventh in an unimaginable complete of 24 nation No.1s amassed by “The Hag” in simply ten years.
Haggard’s powerful upbringing, together with time in San Quentin for a theft conviction, and his unshakeable ideas as a person of the folks, had now made him certainly one of America’s defining nation artists. This new composition of his solely strengthened that bond.
‘Nine kids and a wife’
In little greater than 150 seconds, “Workin’ Man Blues,” produced by Ken Nelson, turned an ideal illustration, and celebration, of blue-collar America. “It’s a big job just gettin’ by with nine kids and a wife,” sang Haggard, “I been a workin’ man dang near all my life/I’ll be working long as my two hands are fit to use/I’ll drink my beer in a tavern/Sing a little bit of these working man blues.”
And what a line-up it was that performed on it. Haggard took the lead guitar strains himself, augmented by the nice session participant James Burton, who had made his status enjoying on all Ricky Nelson’s nice early hits and was now establishing an equally enduring relationship with Elvis Presley.
A future Domino
Lewis Talley added a 3rd guitar on the observe, with bass by Chuck Berghofer; the drum half was offered by one other man with a fantastic Sixties observe file, Jim Gordon, quickly to be recognized for his work with Delaney & Bonnie and as a member of Derek and the Dominos.
Hearken to the All Time Biggest Nation Hits playlist, that includes Merle Haggard amongst dozens of nation greats.
“Workin’ Man Blues” was launched by Capitol on the finish of July 1969, getting into the nation chart the next week, and in mid-August, it turned Merle’s seventh nation No.1 in lower than two and a half years. It then featured on the album A Portrait Of Merle Haggard, which adopted in September.
Purchase or stream “Workin’ Man Blues” on A Portrait Of Merle Haggard.
