Working Man's Poet: A Tribute to Merle Haggard

Favoring sparse, no-frills production, a distinct blue-collar emphasis, and above all, wonderful and sturdy songwriting, Merle Haggard helped create the Bakersfield country sound of the 1960s, but as his career went on, Haggard became even more than that, becoming, in essence, his own quality brand. This homage features young contemporary country performers delivering tribute versions of several of his iconic songs, and while it's a fun set, it ultimately leads the listener back to Haggard's own versions, which, when you think about it, is what a good tribute should do. ~ Steve Leggett