Merle Haggard's Christmas Present | Mint (M) Mint (M)

BRAND NEW

Label:    UMe – B0025175-01
Format:    Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country:    US
Released:    Sep 23, 2016
Genre:    Folk, World, & Country
Style:    Country, Bakersfield Sound, Holiday

A1        If We Make It Through December
Written-By – Merle Haggard
2:52
A2        Santa Claus And Popcorn
Written-By – Merle Haggard
2:11
A3        Bobby Wants A Puppy Dog For Christmas
Written-By – Merle Haggard
2:11
A4        Daddy Won't Be Home Again For Christmas
Written-By – Merle Haggard
3:04
A5        Grandma's Christmas Card
Written-By – Merle Haggard
1:49
B1        White Christmas
Written-By – Irving Berlin
2:30
B2        Silver Bells
Written-By – J. Livingston-R. Evans*
3:19
B3        Winter Wonderland
Written-By – D. Smith*, F. Bernard*
2:30
B4        Silent Night
Arranged By – Walker*
Written-By – Gruber*, Mohr*
2:27
B5        Jingle Bells
Arranged By – Walker*
Written-By – Pierpont*
2:19

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Capitol Nashville
Copyright © – Capitol Nashville
Distributed By – Universal Music Distribution
Accompanied By – Billy Walker And His Orchestra* (tracks: B1 to B5), The Strangers (5) (tracks: A1 to A5)
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Billy Walker* (tracks: B1 to B5)
Art Direction – John Hoernle
Engineer – Lou Bradley
Producer – Fuzzy Owen, Ken Nelson (2)

Barcode: 602547951816

First released in 1973, this C&W holiday evergreen has not only held up well but also gained stature with time. The Hag's aching, mellifluous baritone is in as fine a form as it was at any point in his long, prolific career, and his grumpy, blue-collar heart betrays the soft and sentimental core he's battled to hide for years. The showpiece, of course, is Haggard's towering, belt-tightening anthem, "If We Make It Through December;" a song that marries familial dedication, Woody Guthrie-esque socio-political relevance, a sublime arrangement, and a crackerjack melody for a rare Christmas song of year-round usefulness. Merle's remaining four originals cite Santa, popcorn, puppy dogs, a missing daddy, and a card from grandma with such unflinching sincerity that only a Grinch could doubt him. The five standards are all first-rate, but Haggard's "Silver Bells" is positively definitive. At just over 25 minutes, A CHRISTMAS PRESENT is a bit brief but perfect from front to back.

• Format Type: LP
• Genre: HOLIDAY
• Format: Vinyl
• Media Condition: Mint (M)
• Sleeve Condition: Mint (M)
• Released: 9/23/2016