“He won’t ever be gone,” Willie Nelson sang of Merle Haggard on the last song of Nelson’s 2017 album God’s Problem Child — and he’s right, of course. Haggard, who died in 2016, was one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century regardless of genre. So not only did Willie want to pay tribute to him with Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, but he also was guaranteed to have a great album, because Haggard’s songwriting standards were so high.
Part of what makes this record special is that it was recorded before Willie lost his best friend and drummer Paul English (in 2020) and his piano-playing sister Bobbie Nelson (in 2022). It’s bittersweet to hear their playing on this album, which Willie recorded at his Pedernales Studio in Austin with Willie and longtime harmonica sidekick Mickey Raphael co-producing. Also on the recording are bassist Kevin Smith and Paul’s brother Billy English on percussion.
