Merle Haggard’s fourth studio album, Branded Man, was released on Capitol Records in August of 1967. Easily one of the greatest country records of all time, this album showcases the fine songwriting and musicianship that catapulted Merle Haggard and his band, The Strangers, to the top of the US Country charts in the mid-to-late 1960s.
Branded Man was produced by Capitol’s Country division head Ken Nelson, and Merle Haggard is credited for writing, or co-writing, seven of the twelve tracks on the album. The pedal steel work of Ralph Mooney complements Merle’s heartfelt vocal delivery perfectly, and each song resonates with authenticity, often drawing from Haggard’s own life experiences.
The heart-breaking ballad, “I Threw Away the Rose” climbed to the number 2 position in the spring of 1967, while the title track, “Branded Man”, reached number 1 that summer. Other standout tracks include the classic “You Don’t Have Very Far to Go”, the bluesy, piano-driven “Loneliness Is Eating Me Alive”, and the humorous “I Made the Prison Band”.
Branded Man stands as a true masterwork in country music storytelling, capturing the essence of life, love, and struggle.
Track Listing:
- Branded Man
- Loneliness Is Eating Me Alive
- Don’t Get Married
- Somewhere Between
- You Don’t Have Very Far to Go
- Gone Crazy
- I Threw Away the Rose
- My Hands Are Tied
- Some of Us Never Learn
- Long Black Limousine
- Go Home
- I Made the Prison Band
Credits:
The LP cover specifically lists songwriters, but it does not mention the musicians who participated in the recording sessions. However, the 2006 CD release (which combines I’m a Lonesome Fugitive and Branded Man on one disc) includes information about the musicians involved in the recording sessions during 1967, the year both albums were released. The musicians mentioned are:
Guitar – James Burton, Glen Campbell, Roy Nichols
Piano – Glen D. Hardin
Steel Guitar – Ralph Mooney
Producer – Ken Nelson
Click an image below to see a larger version.
Listen to the full album on YouTube below:
