A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today
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| A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today | ||||
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Ken Nelson, Fuzzy Owen | ||||
| Merle Haggard and the Strangers chronology | ||||
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A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today is a studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and the Strangers, released in 1977. Even though Haggard had moved to the MCA label, Capitol created this release from tracks previously recorded in 1975 and 1976.
Recording and composition
The album was the result of some shrewd marketing on Capitol's part, playing off Haggard's previous #1 hit "
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A−[3] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
AllMusic critic Eugene Chadbourne stated in his review: "This is one of this country legend's well thought-out combinations of hardcore traditional material from Hank Williams and the Delmore Brothers, combined with his own brilliant songwriting from some of his tried and true perspectives..."[2] Music critic Robert Christgau also rated the album highly, writing "These are powerful pieces whether you like them or not, rendered with passionate sympathy and a touch of distance—his strongest in years."[3] The Rolling Stone Album Guide called the album "as tough a set of country blues as was released in the '70s."[4]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | " Rabon Delmore, Henry Glover, Wayne Raney | 2:16 | |
| 4. | "Got a Letter from My Kid" | Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney, Hy Zaret | 2:29 |
| 5. | "When My Last Song Is Sung" | Haggard | 1:58 |
| 6. | "Moanin' the Blues" | Hank Williams | 2:03 |
| 7. | "Goodbye Lefty" | Haggard | 2:39 |
| 8. | "Blues for Dixie" | O. W. Mayo | 2:40 |
| 9. | "Running Kind" | Haggard | 3:00 |
| 10. | "I'm a White Boy" | Haggard | 2:05 |
Personnel
- Merle Haggard – vocals, guitar
- Roy Nichols – lead guitar
- Norman Hamlet – steel guitar, dobro
- Tiny Moore – mandolin
- Ronnie Reno – guitar
- Mark Yeary – piano
- James Tittle – bass
- Biff Adam – drums
- Don Markham – saxophone
with
- Tommy Collins– guitar
- David Kirby – guitar
- Dennis Hromek – bass
- Johnny Gimble – fiddle
and
- Al Bruno - guitar
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano, organ
- Glen D. Hardin – piano
- Bob Moore – bass
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Billboard Country albums[5] | 28 |
References
- ISBN 978-0-062-02321-6.
- ^ a b Eugene, Chadbourne. "A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 299, 300.
- ^ "Merle Haggard". Billboard. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
