Merle Haggard: The Running Kind (American Music Series)

Merle Haggard's a national treasure - and I say that as a guy who spent his fair share of time wearing "Roman sandals." I think I may have even disrespected the college dean once or twice.OK, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about the book. You will really enjoy this book as long as you understand what it's *not.* It's not a detailed biography, it's not a note-by-note analysis of recording sessions, and it's not a collection of gossip. There's enough gossip and biographical material to keep the whole thing from getting dry, but mostly David Cantwell has focused on the songs, both those Haggard has written himself and songs by others which he has recorded. Cantwell has given a great deal of thought to the songs, to Haggard, and his mystique. He's thought about how Haggard has been shaped by American politics and culture - and how he's helped shaped our culture in return. He's thought about how Haggard fits into country music and why - in the present - he really no longer fits into country's mainstream.Notice I keep using the word "thought?" That's because this is a really thoughtful book. Cantwell would certainly agree with my statement that Haggard is a national treasure, and he gives his music the serious consideration it deserves.OK, since all this sounds pretty darn serious, especially for a book on popular music, it's fair to ask "what's in this for the reader?"Plenty. Reading the book is like sitting down with a really smart friend who knows even more about Merle Haggard than you do and getting his take on the songs and albums you already love - and the ones that aren't all that hot. Plus unless you're a walking encyclopedia on Haggard, you'll hear about some obscure songs and albums that you didn't know about (I did). Cantwell also doesn't take his seriousness too seriously - the book is written in a frank, funny, personal and conversational style. He also does a great job of poking holes in some Haggard myths, often by the simple technique of looking at the facts. That song everyone assumes is 100% autobiographical? Actually, someone else wrote it. Merle's Okie roots? Real enough, but he never saw his parents "picking cotton in a double row" because they actually did ok once they got to California and did not work as migrant farm laborers. And you probably knew this already, but yeah, a joint was being passed around the tour bus when they came up with that line "we don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee." Cantwell also takes a good look at Haggard's politics, which are a lot more complicated than "The Fighting Side of Me" would lead you to believe.I really enjoyed reading this book. If you want to learn more about Merle's music and don't mind doing some thinking along the way, you'll enjoy it too.

I'm about half-way thru this book, & I have really enjoyed it! It has biographical elements, but the insight into the stories behind the songs & recordings are really of great value to a Hag fan like me. I think this book also is a trip into the influence Haggard's music had back when it was originally released, going all the way back to the 60s. I think anyone interested in any & every era of Merle's music would enjoy this book.

Like any decent American I have all due appreciation and respect for Merle Haggard; beyond that I'm a distant fan of a few of his songs. Having read other work by David Cantwell, I figured "The Running Kind" would be gorgeously written, packed with humor and heartache, provocation and compassion. What I wasn't prepared for was a whole new perspective on America and my generation. It was no surprise that Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell and Dolly Parton play prominent roles; what shouldn't have been surprising were the appearances by Sly & the Family Stone, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Or John Steinbeck and Dorothea Lange, George Wallace and Richard Nixon. And a deep roster of musicians - working men and women - who created moments (some fleeting, some still reverberating) that shaped our world.

I'll be reading this book after I've moved! I'm gonna need a lot of down time! My favorite appearance Merle made was the Waltons! And I can't find that one song, not even the entire song, no where in any of his many, many albums! Why is that?

This is a very good book analyzing Haggard's songwriting and songs. Even though he has written two autobiographies, this is really the only work that looks in depth into his songs and songwriting. It is long over due for a man of his talent and status in American music. I'm still waiting for the definitive biography that covers everything about him including life, prison, family, music, etc. He more than deserves this treatment.

Can`t put it down reading. The ups and downs of an American musical icon. You feel like you are right in the mix of the action of the day to day life of Merle Haggard. It will make you laugh and then make you cry. You will enjoy this book, and want to read it over and over.

I was not impressed. While there is some worthwhile information, too much of the book reads like blog. One bothersome stylistic complaint: the author has the habit of using hyphenated phrases, e.g. "the be-proud-of-what-you-got closing track" (page 127), as adjectival clauses entirely too often. Once or twice in a book would be acceptable, but there are times he uses them twice in one sentence. The book would have benefited from the author working with a good editor.

I liked the way Cantwell organized this biography around the songs Haggard sang and wrote with what was going on in his life and how that all connected with who Merle Haggard is. Seemed to me a rather novel way to do a biography, rather than a simple chronological approach.

Merle Haggard's discography has long waited for a serious and in-depth critical review and this book certainly delivers.David Cantwell looks at milestone recordings by MH and puts them in cultural and artistic context. His reviews are insightful and intriguing. Including a chapter comparing the contrasting media review/perception of the two greatest country artists Merle Haggard & Johnny Cash.A big positive is this review doesn't stop with his Capitol recordings (which is often the case) and reviews key recordings up to and including Working In Tennessee.Another positive is whilst this book reviews Okie/Fightin' is doesn't obsess about their relevance to MH - neither song, in my opinion, are in the top 30 MH songs. Often reviews of MH start and stop with these two songs.The only reason I didn't give five starts as this is not a song by song, album by album review (a la the excellent Complete David Bowie by Nicholas Pegg) as I hoped it would be but it still highly recommended this book.

Brilliant book,very interesting,its one of those books that when you pick it up you cant seem to put it down,well worth the money,would buy again

thank you

It gives a lot of background information that one would not normally hear of.

was basically all about his music and his various output over the decades. Did not reveal much about the man himself