Merle Haggard - Just Between The Two Of Us (With Bonnie Owens) - Review

MERLE HAGGARD - JUST BETWEEN THE TWO OF US (WITH BONNIE OWENS) Merle Haggard 4 stars

Mr & Mrs Bakersfield and an in-concert classic on a twofer

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Hag's rep was still rising when he cut second album... Two Of Us with new wife (and the ex-Mrs Buck Owens) in 1966. Largely restrained to counterpoint harmony alongside Bonnie's weaker honky-tonk purr, Merle gets suitably country-tough on superior 1970 live-in-Philly effort Fightin' Side Of Me, rush-released to cash in on the unapologetic jingoism of recent smash "Okie From Muskogee" (also included here). Paying homage to Marty Robbins, Hank Snow, Johnny Cash and Jimmie Rodgers, he's never better than on the latter's extraordinary "TB Blues".

Stian Bjerklund

In-betweens

OK, let's face it: both of these two Lp's that makes up this CD ain't of Hag's greatest. Bonnie is an excellent backup-singer, but has none of the power to carry a song on her own, barely as a duet partner. The songs are ok, Hag's is as always on top form, but the album is more of a husband/wife in-casher than a justified album.

For the live effort, The Fighting side of me, this is a much stronger album, showing off Hag alive and kickin', the songs are mostly old favorites by old heroes, but Hag lends his voice sincerly and heartfelt. A glipse of a singer no'one longer cares about, not (shamefully!!!!!) even Uncut. The Man still records albums just as great as ever before. Allan & co, SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!! Real country is extremely neglected in your magazine! Only sc "americana" lets through. BHUUU! Straighten UP!But you're excellent otherwise, then...

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