Merle Haggard Album: “Chicago Wind”

Prime Cuts: Chicago Wind, Honky Tonk Man, I Still Can't Say Goodbye

"Chicago Wind" explains why there are so many Merle Haggard clones in and around Music Row. On this sophomore CD that bears the Capitol Nashville logo this side of the new Millennium, Haggard does not just sings. But, with some deftly strokes of his vocal nuances, he paints a sonic magnum opus drawing upon a mélange of colorful emotions from his listeners. In short, Haggard personifies his music as it engages the listener on an emotional and spiritual level. A listen to the forlorn title cut "Chicago Wind," a newly penned Haggard original, proves the point. On this lonesome ballad, when this old Okie describes the razor-sharp freeze of the gust of the Windy City, there's an incumbent pain and loneliness producing a gush of spine chilling moments in seriatim.

This title cut sets the pace of this CD: Rather than a rough and rowdy honky-tonk record some have been hankering for, this new CD finds a reflective and warm Hag. Like Neil Young and John Prine's latest efforts, the backings accommodate rather than intrude, providing a sympathetic undercurrent for Hag's soft yet gruff deliveries. This is in part credited to co-helmsman Jimmy Bowen, who came out of an over a decade-long retirement to produce this set with Mike Post. Despite its title, "Honky Tonk Man" (one of four tracks not written by Hag) is an understated love ballad delivered with a seasoned devotional restrain that is tender and romantic. Roger Miller's lesser known "Leaving's Not the Only Way to Go" bespeaks to our times where marriage and relationships are often so flippantly resolved. A poignant ballad that calls for giving love a second consideration, lines such as "Maybe leaving's not the only way to go/People reach new understandings all the time/Take a second look, maybe change their minds" are therapuetic. Leaving romance aside for a moment, the James Moore and Robert Blinn "I Still Can't Say Goodbye" is a gentle tear-jerking love song from a child to his departing dad that offers sentiments so dear yet often suppressed. This superior paean ought to be a Father's Day anthem in years to come.

Amongst the Hag originals, "Some of Us Fly" finds the Hag teaming with Toby Keith on the much anticipated duet. Offering a philosophical treatise on Fate's right hand, this fiddle-laden ballad has a jazzy late night feel, though Keith sounds a little bored. Showing a tender side to this country legend, "What I've Been Meaning to Say" finds a regretful Hag laying his heart on the line on this insightful as well as heartfelt love song. Included also are two patriotic numbers: the debut single "America First" and the freedom of speech "Where's All the Freedom." With comments made about the public read of the Ten Commandments and the Iraqi War, though there's nothing as bellicose as pal Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue," there's nothing watershed about these recycled political decries. Compared to Hag's previous "Me and the Crippled Soldier," these two patriotic numbers pale in terms of their messages and ingenuity.

Nevertheless, "Chicago Wind" finds the Okie leaving his rambling soul behind. Instead, this is an album filled with heart warming moments with Hag dealing with various issues of the heart. And with such thoughtful ruminations and carefully executed tunes (thanks in large to a cohort of A-list musicians including Billy Joe Walker, Jr, Herb Pederson, Reggie Young to list a few) the Chicago wind doesn't feel that cold and lonesome.

Do not but this cd or any EMI copy protected cd's if you want to put them on an Ipod Nano. I am pretty sure it is not possible. I would never have bought it if I had known. I am a more educated consumer now, at least. I hate it for Merle. I have listened to a few songs and they are solid good Merle Haggard. It is a shame here he is with a major label again with a great new recording on a worthless format. It may be compatible with non apple portable players.

While Hag's voice is not quite the instrument that it was during his first stint on Capitol, his weathered vocals suit the material on this album quite well. This album features a lot of the giants of his late-peak years, with production by Jimmy Bowen and Mike Post, and a roster of great musicians such as Herb Pedersen, Reggie Young, Billy Joe Walker Jr and Leland Sklar and more.

The musicians are put to good use - there is a beautiful instrumental passage on the title track that lasts about a minute before Hag starts into his vocals.

I suppose "Chicago Wind" is a truck driving song, but I'd call it a desolation ballad, and no one can write about the forlorn and lonely like Haggard. Hag also can express a subdued anger, as is evident on "America First", or a questioning and lively "Where's All The Freedom" wherein Haggard poses questions, sometimes rhetorical, about the direction the country is going.

Other Hag tunes include a reworking of his 1970 classic "White Man Singin' The Blues" and an interesting duet with Toby Keith on "Some Of Us Fly".

Hag wrote seven of the tunes, which leaves room for some exquisite cover tunes. Roger Miller's "Leavin's Not The Only Way To Go" isn't covered all that often but it deserves to be revived more often with it's reflections on decisions made and not made. Hag also covers his buddy Willie Nelson's "It Always Will Be" the title cut of one of Willie's many albums issued in the last few years. A quiet and gentle ballad, Hag covers it perfectly.

While my favorite country singers are Ernest Tubb and Webb Pierce, Merle Haggard is the greatest country artist EVER. I am delighted that he continues to produce vital work

Once again, EMI has created a copy protected CD which can be imported as WMA or AAC but not MP3. Once again, Amazon provides minimal warning about this (see guidance under "Format"), instead of putting advice in our faces - which it does excellently to sell product.

I'll be returning this CD as not fit for purpose. If you can afford to, I suggest that you also buy and then return it, to maximise cost and inconvenience to the label and Amazon. If not, just don't buy it, regardless of the quality of the music.

This crap has to stop. 1 star review because Amazon prevents a zero star choice.

But I am a big fan of Merle Haggard. This is a good album to listen to. Some of the songs have an initial grab you appeal. The others grow on you with each listening. It is nice to have some new Merle Haggard songs to listen to.