With 38 number one country hits and many other top ten country hits, it isn't possible to even come close to encompassing his career on a single CD. Quite apart from his hits, there were some that got away. Silver wings (included here) was only released as a B-side but is now regarded as one of Merle's classic songs. Today I started loving you again, another of Merle's B-sides included here, has been covered more frequently than any of Merle's other songs and has also become a classic. The inclusion of B-sides would normally devalue a hits compilation but it is clear that Capitol made big mistakes when deciding not to release these two songs as A-sides at the time.

There are a few other songs here that were only minor hits or weren't hits at all but most of the songs here are selected from Merle's number one hits - classics such as Mama tried, Always wanting you, Okie from Muskogee, Branded man, If we make it through December, Fighting side of me, Daddy Frank and Hungry eyes among them.

If you really only want a single CD of Merle's music, this is one of the best you'll find, but if you can afford it I recommend that you pay a bit extra for the double-CD containing all his number ones (40 #1 hits), which I've also reviewed. You won't find Bottle let me down (a top ten country hit but not a number one) nor will you find the two classic B-sides or the other lesser hits and non-hits, but you'll get all the number one hits that didn't make it on to this collection.

I was fascinated to find out that Merle either wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on this CD. I would recommend this CD to anyone who likes the "real country" music. All you have to do is listen to this CD and you will know that Merle has lived what he writes about. You will like this CD!

For anyone who is looking for one cd with most of Hag's biggest hits done on Capitol (1963-1977), this would be the one. There are a lot of hits packages out with re-recorded versions of Merle's hits, but these are the originals. The sound is excellent, as is the song selection. While most of his most famous Capitol hits are here, several great "non-hits" are included (silver wings, today I started loving you again, honky tonk night time man, living with the shades pulled down, house of memories, what have you got planned tonight Diana, etc.) Some of the greatest songs ever recorded are here in their original form (mama tried, hungry eyes, sing me back home, lonesome fugitive, tonight the bottle let me down, if we make it through december, etc.) There are far too many great Haggard songs to ever put on one CD, but this is probably the best single CD set currently available.

The best single disc collection of any of the greats. As far as more than one dics collection go, Original Singles Collection by Hank Williams is the best.

This is with out a doubt the best, single disc, Greatest Hits set of any country music artist ever. If you could have only one greatest hits cd by any artist in country, this is the one to choose. Strong from start to finish. The only single disc set that even comes close to this one, is the George Jones "Anniversary, 10 years of Hits", by Epic. Then as far as other single discs go, Willie Nelson's "Greatest Hits and Some That Will Be" is right up there. Once you start getting in to double discs, The Essential Johnny Cash or the 3 disc Essential set 1955 to 1983. The Essential Willie Nelson or the "As seen on TV" Very Best of Willie Nelson. George Jones "The Spirit of Country Music", The #1's, by MCA, of Conway Twitty and The Hank Williams Sr. Ultimate Collection. As far as finding something on Merle with out getting his awesome 4 CD Box set, Down Every Road, but still having more than one disc, either buy this 20 Greatest Hits and the Ultimate Collection, for a better overview of his carrer, or for a double set of just Capital recordings, get The Lonesome Fugitive, The Merle Haggard Anthology.