Workin' Man: Willie Sings Merle (Sony Legacy, 2025)

These are some of Willie's favorite Haggard tunes. They include iconic numbers like "Okie From Muskogee," "Mama Tried," "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down," "Swinging Doors" and "Today I Started Loving You Again." Most of these songs have been covered and recorded countless times by many artists in many genres. They are all classics.

Willie, even at 92, is in fine voice here. His guitar playing is 'classic Willie', as is the superb harmonica playing of long-time band member, Mickey Raphael. Raphael's playing is so tasteful throughout, as it been for the 50 or so years he's been playing with Willie.

This record marks the final recordings of sister, Bobbie Nelson and longtime pal, Paul English, on piano and drums respectively. Both offer their usual excellent contributions to these Haggard classics. "

Cover albums generally fall short of expectations, particularly when the songs are so well-known. Not the case here. Willies' takes on these classics are at least as enjoyable as the originals. It sounds like much care was taken to treat the songs like the classics that they are.