Down Every Road

2016 four CD anthology. Merle Haggard is a rarity: a complex artist whose rich scope can accurately be summarized through singles, but who has far more great material than can be fit on one or two discs. Which, of course, makes him the perfect candidate for a box set of four CDs It's not just the perfect Merle Haggard box set, it's one of the greatest box sets ever released as well, since it truly presents all sides of it's subject, while offering nothing but sheer pleasure in terms of mere listening. Haggard helped create the Bakersfield sound with his Fender Telecaster, stripped-down arrangements and lyrics that often reflect the hardscrabble and tragic sides of life. His long, storied and influential career began shortly after his release from San Quentin Prison in 1960 and ended with his death earlier this year. This set covers 30 of those years and includes 100 of his greatest songs. Tracks include "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers," "The Bottle Let Me Down," "Sing Me Back Home," "Mama Tried," "Okie from Muskogee," "If We Make It Through December" and many more.