Personnel: Merle Haggard (vocals); Abe Manuel (acoustic guitar, fiddle, accordion); Joe Manuel (acoustic guitar); Gary Church (trombone); Bobby Wood (piano); Eddie Curtis, Leland Sklar (bass instrument); Larrie Londin, Biff Adam (drums).
Recording information: Spicewood, Austin, TX; Bradley's Barn Nashville, TN.
Few things seem unlikelier than a laid-back, lounge-themed album of standards by the maverick king of Outlaw Country, Merle Haggard. But the Hag is known for flying in the face of conventions, even his own, and UNFORGETTABLE is--as a result--smooth, smoky, and infinitely more suitable to a candlelit dinner at a high-end restaurant than a beer in a dingy saloon. Accompanied primarily by the elegant tinkling of the ivories, with some subtle strings and combo work behind him, Haggard brings his textured voice and warm, casual phrasing to the classic American songbook.
"As Time Goes By," "Pennies from Heaven," and the title track are among the usual suspects here. The real delight, naturally, is Haggard's voice, which never sounds forced or out of context. He delivers his excellent version of "Stardust," for example, in a mellow, age-deepened croon that still bears traces of his usual tug and twang. Even the most countrified tune on the album, Haggard's own "What Love Can Do," fits seamlessly alongside its dignified cohorts. Though he may be wearing a dinner jacket, the Hag still sounds like no one else, and his unique approach stirs up life in these old chestnuts.
