1996 (Merle Haggard album)
# 1996 (Merle Haggard album)

1996 is the forty-ninth studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 1996. It was his last studio album on the Curb Records label, and was considered something of a return to form for Haggard despite poor sales.

## Background

Despite good reviews, 1996 was the first studio album in Haggard's career not to chart. Curb's indifference to the release is commonly cited as a major factor in the LP's commercial failure, with country music critic, journalist and historian Michael McCall summarizing the situation in his AllMusic review of the album: "His record company didn't send promotional copies to reviewers until the album had been out for nearly a month, and no advertising or promotion has been devoted to the music. The album artwork and cover reflect this lack of care: the title, 1996, is boxed on the cover like a tomb, exactly like Hag's last set, 1994." In his 2013 Haggard biography The Running Kind David Cantwell adds, "To be a singer and a writer with next to zero chance of being heard was maddening enough. That 1996 boasted several strong new originals only compounded the frustration." On "Beer Can Hill," a song that celebrates his Bakersfield roots, Haggard is joined by Dwight Yoakam and fellow country legend Buck Owens. 1996 also features contributions from John Anderson, Iris Dement, and Johnny Paycheck.

## Reception

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | |

Michael McCall of AllMusic writes, "Recorded in Bakersfield, Haggard's album takes a jaunty yet melancholy look at a middle-aged man's concerns... The album's standout is a cover of Iris Dement's great 'No Time to Cry,' which Haggard fills with aged, tired wisdom."

## Track listing

* "Sin City Blues" (Merle Haggard, Theresa Lane Haggard, Joe Manuel) – 2:28
* "No Time to Cry" (Iris Dement) – 4:25
* "Beer Can Hill" (Haggard, Abe Manuel, Jr.) – 3:16
* "Truck Drivers' Blues" (Haggard, Tim Howard) – 3:04
* "Too Many Highways" (Haggard, Max D. Barnes) – 2:59
* "Five Days a Week" (Haggard) – 2:13
* "Kids Get Lonesome Too" (Haggard, Lou Bradley) – 3:00
* "If Anyone Ought to Know" (Haggard, Bonnie Owens) – 3:03
* "Untanglin' My Mind" (Haggard, Clint Black) – 4:09
* "Winds of Change" (Haggard, Terry Hardesty) – 3:28

## Personnel

* Merle Haggard – vocals, guitar
* Norm Hamlet – steel guitar, dobro
* Biff Adams – drums
* Mark Yeary – piano
* Don Markham – trumpet, saxophone, penny whistle
* Jim Belkins – violin
* Clint Strong – guitar
* John Anderson – vocals
* Dwight Yoakam – vocals
* Buck Owens – vocals
* Johnny Paycheck – vocals
* Seymour Duncan – guitar
* Eddie Curtis – bass
* Iris DeMent – piano
* Hilton Reed – guitar, bass, background vocals
* Oleg Schramm – piano
* Dawn Sears – background vocals
* Leland Sklar – bass
* Bob Teague – vocals
* Bobby Wood – electric piano
* Terry Hardesty – guitar
* Tim Howard – guitar
* Abe Manuel, Jr. – guitar, fiddle, percussion, accordion, harmony vocals
* Joe Manuel – guitar, background vocals

Production notes:

* Lou Bradley – producer, engineer
* Merle Haggard – producer
* Abe Manuel, Jr. – producer
