Big City (Merle Haggard album)
Encyclopedia
Big City is an album by Merle Haggard
, released in 1981. It was his debut on the Epic label after ending his association with MCA
. Big City peaked at number three on the Billboard
Country Album charts and number 161 on the Pop Album charts. It was an RIAA
certified Gold album.
. The songs continue Haggard’s often-used themes surrounding the struggle of the working man amid the complexities and challenges of urban life.
Big City bore two No. 1 singles: the title track and “My Favorite Memory.” The other single release, “Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver),” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
chart and also won the Academy of Country Music
1982 Song of the Year
. Another track, “I Always Get Lucky With You,” would be recorded by George Jones
, whose version reached the top of the Hot Country Singles chart in 1983.
The CD re-issue includes two bonus tracks: “Call Me” and “I Won’t Give Up My Train” (a duet with Roger Miller
).
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
, released in 1981. It was his debut on the Epic label after ending his association with MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. Big City peaked at number three on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Country Album charts and number 161 on the Pop Album charts. It was an RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
certified Gold album.
History
Big City was recorded in a two-day marathon recording session that produced enough songs for this release, plus Haggard’s 1982 release, Going Where the Lonely GoGoing Where the Lonely Go
Going Where the Lonely Go is an album by American recording artist Merle Haggard, released in 1982. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Albums chart. The album bore two singles, both of which reached No...
. The songs continue Haggard’s often-used themes surrounding the struggle of the working man amid the complexities and challenges of urban life.
Big City bore two No. 1 singles: the title track and “My Favorite Memory.” The other single release, “Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver),” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart and also won the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
1982 Song of the Year
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
. Another track, “I Always Get Lucky With You,” would be recorded by George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
, whose version reached the top of the Hot Country Singles chart in 1983.
The CD re-issue includes two bonus tracks: “Call Me” and “I Won’t Give Up My Train” (a duet with Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
).
Track listing
- "Big CityBig City (song)"Big City" is a song made famous by country music singer Merle Haggard. Co-written by Haggard and Dean Holloway, the song was released in 1982 as the title track to his first album for Epic Records...
" (Merle Haggard, Dean Holloway) – 3:01 - "My Favorite Memory" (Merle Haggard) – 3:06
- "Good Old American Guest" (Merle Haggard) – 2:36
- "I Think I'm Gonna Live Forever" (B. Binion, Merle Haggard, Dennis Hromek) – 2:29
- "This Song Is Mine" (Merle Haggard) – 2:33
- "Stop The World & Let Me Off" (Carl Belew, W. S. Stevenson) – 3:18
- "Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)"Are the Good Times Really Over " is a single by American country music artist Merle Haggard. Released in May 1982, it was the third single from his album Big City. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and #1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.-Chart performance:...
" (Merle Haggard) – 4:14 - "Texas Fiddle Song" (Leona Williams) – 2:19
- "You Don't Have Very Far To Go" (Merle Haggard, Red SimpsonRed SimpsonRed Simpson is an American country singer-songwriter best known for his trucker-themed songs.-Biography:Red Simpson was raised in Bakersfield, California, the youngest of a dozen children...
) – 3:14 - "I Always Get Lucky With You" (Gary Church, Merle Haggard, Freddy Powers) – 3:31
- "Call Me" (Uncredited) – 4:18
- "I Won't Give Up My Train" (Mark Yeary) – 4:43
Personnel
- Merle Haggard – guitar, vocals
- Jimmy Belkin – fiddle
- Roy NicholsRoy NicholsRoy Nichols was an American country music guitarist best known as the lead guitarist for Merle Haggard for more than two decades. He was known for his guitar technique, a mix of fingerpicking and pedal steel-like bends, usually played on a Telecaster.-Biography:Roy Ernest Nichols was born in...
– guitar, harmonic - Biff Adam – drums
- Norm HamletNorm HamletNorm Hamlet is an American steel guitarist best known as a member of Merle Haggard's Stranger's group. In 2005 Hamlet had quadruple heart bypass surgery and recovered well at his home in Bakersfield, California. In April 2006 while on tour with Merle Haggard Hamlet's Dobro was stolen and a reward...
– steel guitar, dobro - Dennis Hromek – bass
- Tiny MooreTiny MooreBillie "Tiny" Moore was a Western swing musician who played the electric mandolin and fiddle with Western swing legend Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in the 1940s....
– fiddle, mandolin - Bobby Wayne – guitar, background vocals
- Leona Williams – background vocals
- Mark Yeary – piano
- Slyde Hyde – trombone
- Don Markham – trumpet, saxophone
Production notes
- Produced by Merle Haggard
- Engineered by Lewis Talley
- Mastered by Chris Athens
Chart performance
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 161 |