''Roots, Volume 1'' is the fifty-third studio

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

singer Merle Haggard, released in 2001. It reached Number 47 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' Country Albums chart.

Background

After the success of Haggard's '' If I Could Only Fly'', his first album for the independent label

ANTI- Anti- is an American record label founded in 1999 as a sister label to Epitaph Records. While Epitaph's focus has mostly been on punk rock, Anti-'s roster includes gospel (Mavis Staples), country (Merle Haggard), hip hop (Sage Francis, The Cou ...

, he followed with another successful recording with Norman Stephens, the guitarist for

Lefty Frizzell William Orville "Lefty" Frizzell (March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975) was an American country music singer-songwriter and honky-tonk singer. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982. Frizzell released many songs that charted ...

, one of Haggard's major influences. Five of the album's tracks were written by Frizzell, but also pays tribute to

Hank Williams Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...

and Hank Thompson. Haggard also contributes the original composition "More Than My Old Guitar."

Reception

In his

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

review, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called ''Roots, Volume 1'' an "unexpected return to how country records used to be made" and "an album filled with small gems, but they add up to a large triumph–a rich, masterful album that's not just the best country album of 2001, but one of Haggard's finest moments."

Track listing

Always Late with Your Kisses "Always Late (with Your Kisses)" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Lefty Frizzell. It was the fifth single released from his 1951/1952 album ''Listen to Lefty''. It peaked at number one in 1951 and became his four ...

" (

, Blackie Crawford) – 3:14 #"More Than My Old Guitar" (Merle Haggard) – 3:28 #"

If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time "If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time)" is a debut song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Lefty Frizzell, released on September 14, 1950. The song is the second song recorded by Lefty Frizzell during his first session ...

" (Frizzell, Jim Beck) – 3:02 #"Look What Thoughts Will Do" (Jim Beck,

Little Jimmy Dickens James Cecil Dickens (December 19, 1920 – January 2, 2015), better known by his stage name Little Jimmy Dickens, was an American country music singer and songwriter famous for his humorous novelty songs, his small size (4'11" 50 cm, and h ...

, Dub Dickerson, Frizzell, Richard Duncan James) – 2:28 #"My Baby's Just Like Money" (Frizzell) – 2:27 #"

Honky Tonkin' "Honky Tonkin'" is a 1947 country music song, written and recorded by Hank Williams. His song went to #14 on the ''Billboard'' country music chart in 1948. In 1982, it became the sixth chart topping single for Williams' son, Hank Williams Jr. ...

" (

) – 2:51 #"Runaway Mama" (Haggard) – 4:08 #"I'll Sign My Heart Away" ( Hank Thompson) – 2:29 #"I've Got a Tender Heart" (Haggard) – 2:21 #" The Wild Side of Life" (Arlie Carter, William Warren) – 2:42 #" Take These Chains from My Heart" ( Fred Rose,

Hy Heath Walter Henry "Hy" Heath (July 9, 1890 – April 3, 1965) was an American entertainer, songwriter, composer and writer. Born in Oakville, Tennessee, he received his education in public schools and then became a comedian in musical comedy, vaudeville ...

) – 2:42 #"I Want to Be with You Always" (Frizzell, Beck) – 3:00

Personnel

* Merle Haggard – vocals, guitar * Norm Hamlet – steel guitar *Theresa Lane Haggard – background vocals, percussion *Abe Manuel, Jr. – fiddle, mandolin, background vocals *Billy McGill – guitar *Chester Smith – guitar *Norman Stephens – guitar *Redd Volkaert – guitar *Doug Colosio – piano *Eddie Curtis – bass *Johnnie Barber – drums *Brooks Liggatt – drums Production notes: *Merle Haggard – producer *Lou Bradley – engineer *Bob McGill – engineer *Doug Sax – mastering *Robert Hadley – mastering *Jesse Fischer – art direction, design *Piper Ferguson – photography *Johnny Whiteside – liner notes

Chart performance

References

{{Authority control 2001 albums Merle Haggard albums Anti- (record label) albums