The Land of Many Churches
The Land of Many Churches | ||||
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Live album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers | ||||
Released | November 8, 1971 | |||
Genre | Country, gospel | |||
Length | 1:09:45 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Ken Nelson, George Richey | |||
Merle Haggard and The Strangers chronology | ||||
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The Land of Many Churches is the fifteenth studio album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released as a double album by Capitol Records in 1971.
Background
The album collects four live performances: two are in churches proper—Big Creek Baptist Church and Assembly of God Tabernacle—one is at San Quentin's Garden Chapel inside the prison, and one at Nashville's Union Rescue Mission. The music offers a mix of country gospel and traditional hymns with preachers introducing some of the songs. Bonnie Owens and the Carter Family are also featured. The album reached number 15 on the Billboard country albums chart.
It was reissued on CD in 1997 by Razor & Tie.
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Al Campbell of AllMusic states "To his credit, Haggard had a greater need to shine light on the music that influenced him, more so than the need to release material that guaranteed a surefire hit... Highly recommended to traditional country fans."[1] Writing in 2013, Haggard biographer David Cantwell calls it "one of the gems of the country canon."[citation needed]
Track listing
- "Introduction/We'll Understand It Better By and By" (Charles Tindley) – 4:39
- "Medley: Take My Hand, Precious Lord/Jesus Hold My Hand" (Thomas A. Dorsey, Albert E. Brumley) – 3:26
- "Precious Memories" (Traditional) – 3:14
- "History of Big Creek Baptist Church" – 2:40
- "Turn Your Radio On" (Brumley) – 2:09
- "If We Never Meet Again" (Brumley) – 2:58
- "Closing Prayer/Just as I Am – 1:23
- "Introduction & Opening Prayer – 2:09
- "Amazing Grace" (John Newton) – 3:33
- "Where Could I Go But to the Lord" (James B. Coats) – 2:25
- "Medley: Old Time Religion/Pass Me Not/Sweet By and By" (S. Bennett, F. Crosby, W. Doane, Traditional, Joseph P. Webster) – 3:15
- "The Old Rugged Cross" (George Bennard) – 4:03
- "Closing Prayer – 1:00
- "Introduction – 1:28
- "Life's Railway to Heaven" (Charles Davis Tillman) – 2:58
- "On the Jericho Road" (Don S. McCrossan) – 3:02
- "Steal Away" (Red Foley) – 4:13
- "I Saw the Light" (Hank Williams) – 2:47
- "Introduction/Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" (Elisha A. Hoffman, Anthony Johnson Showalter) – 5:02
- "Guide Me, Lord" (Johnny Gimble) – 2:50
- "Family Bible" (Walt Breeland, Paul Buskirk, Claude Gray) – 3:38
- "I'll Be List'ning" (Traditional) – 2:30
- "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" (Traditional) – 3:19
- "Closing Prayer" – 1:04
Personnel
- Merle Haggard– vocals, guitar
The Strangers:
- Roy Nichols – lead guitar
- Norman Hamlet – steel guitar, dobro
- Bobby Wayne - rhythm guitar, harmony vocals
- Dennis Hromek – bass, background vocals
- Biff Adam – drums
with
- Tommy Collins– guitar
- Jody Payne – guitar
- Johnny Gimble – fiddle
- Bonnie Owens – harmony vocals
and
- Earl Ball – piano
- Billy Liebert – piano
- Jerry Smith – piano
- Carter Family – background singers
Chart positions
Year | Chart | Position |
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1972 | Billboard Country albums | 15 |
References
- ^ a b Campbell, Al. "The Land of Many Churches > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- v
- t
- e
- The Strangers
- Biff Adam
- Jimmy Belken
- Eddie Burris
- Gary Church
- Wayne Durham
- George French
- Dennis Hromek
- Don Markham
- Johnny Meeks
- Marcia Nichols
- Ronnie Reno
- Clint Strong
- Jim Tittle
- Jerry Ward
- Bobby Wayne
- Mark Yeary
- Strangers
- Swinging Doors ‡
- I'm a Lonesome Fugitive ‡
- Branded Man ‡
- Sing Me Back Home ‡
- The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde ‡
- Mama Tried ‡
- Pride in What I Am ‡
- Same Train, a Different Time ‡
- A Portrait of Merle Haggard ‡
- A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills) ‡
- Hag ‡
- Someday We'll Look Back ‡
- Let Me Tell You About a Song ‡
- It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) ‡
- If We Make It Through December ‡
- Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album ‡
- Keep Movin' On ‡
- It's All in the Movies ‡
- My Love Affair with Trains ‡
- The Roots of My Raising ‡
- Ramblin' Fever
- A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today ‡
- My Farewell to Elvis
- I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall
- Serving 190 Proof
- The Way I Am
- Back to the Barrooms
- Big City
- Going Where the Lonely Go
- That's the Way Love Goes
- It's All in the Game
- Kern River
- Out Among the Stars
- A Friend in California
- Chill Factor
- 5:01 Blues
- Blue Jungle
- 1994
- 1996
- If I Could Only Fly
- Roots, Volume 1
- The Peer Sessions
- Haggard Like Never Before
- Unforgettable
- Chicago Wind
- The Bluegrass Sessions
- I Am What I Am
- Working in Tennessee
- Songs I'll Always Sing
- Merle Haggard's Greatest Hits
- His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...)
- Down Every Road 1962–1994
- 16 Biggest Hits
- Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard
- Okie from Muskogee ‡
- The Fightin' Side of Me ‡
- I Love Dixie Blues ‡
- Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium
- The Epic Collection (Recorded Live)
- Amber Waves of Grain
- The Land of Many Churches ‡
- Songs for the Mama That Tried
- Cabin in the Hills
- Two Old Friends (with Albert E. Brumley, Jr.)
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