Recording information: 10/30/1985.
Though recorded in 1985, this performance by Merle Haggard and the Strangers for the legendary PBS series Austin City Limits wasn't released until 2006 (as part of the Live From Austin, TX, series). No matter, though, since Haggard's music has proved timeless--LIVE might have been recorded in the mid 1960s or yesterday and it would still have that classic sing-me-back-home Bakersfield sound.
Haggard does his fans a good turn by serving up favorites ("Mama Tried"), lesser-known gems ("Misery and Gin"), and genre standards (Bob Wills's "Take Me Back to Tulsa"). The Strangers offer smooth, flawless support behind Haggard's lovely singing, and prove that even 20 years into the game they can still kick it up a notch when necessary ("Ida Red"). This is yet another fine addition to a Hag catalogue already filled with fine music.