No Depression (p.84) - "The voices are more weathered, a result of decades of hard living combined with the passage of time. Their spirits, however, remain as youthful, ornery and heartbreakingly honest as the day their first singles hit radio."
Recording information: 2006.
Issued in late 2006, KICKIN' OUT THE FOOTLIGHTS...AGAIN reunites old friends and fellow country legends George Jones and Merle Haggard, who previously collaborated on 1982's A TASTE OF YESTERDAY'S WINE. Many of the tracks consist of one performer covering the other, with standouts being Jones's beautifully weary take on "Footlights" and Haggard's surprisingly lively version of "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink." Fans of both iconic, grizzled artists will especially enjoy their duets, most notably the playful, yet forlorn "All My Friends Are Strangers." Although both Jones and Haggard's voices are a little worse for the wear, this quality lends gravitas to their thoughtful performances, making FOOTLIGHTS a worthy addition to each singer's catalogue.