On This Date (58 Years Ago): Merle Haggard – Branded Man Release

August 28, 1967 – Merle Haggard released his landmark album Branded Man, which went on to rank #484 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2003). The record captured Haggard’s Bakersfield-born country sound, raw storytelling, and personal struggles.

Listen/Buy: Amazon Link

The title track “Branded Man” was Haggard’s second #1 hit on the country charts, staying on the charts for fifteen weeks. It reflected his real-life experience after time in San Quentin, singing about an ex-convict’s fear of rejection after parole.

Review (AllMusic):Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that while the album was compiled around singles, the strength of the songs made it one of Haggard’s finest. Tracks like “You Don’t Have Very Far to Go” and “Somewhere Between” stood out as powerful co-writes, while outside contributions like “Go Home” and “Long Black Limousine” became classics in their own right.

Tracklist

Side One

1. Branded Man – 3:07

2. Loneliness Is Eating Me Alive – 2:35

3. Don’t Get Married – 2:30

4. Somewhere Between – 3:06

5. You Don’t Have Very Far to Go – 2:19

6. Gone Crazy – 2:03

Side Two

1. I Threw Away the Rose – 3:21

2. My Hands Are Tied – 2:18

3. Some of Us Never Learn – 2:41

4. Long Black Limousine – 3:14

5. Go Home – 2:35

6. I Made the Prison Band – 2:30

   
   

Legacy

With its mix of prison laments, heartbreak ballads, and outlaw grit, Branded Man cemented Merle Haggard’s reputation as one of country music’s defining voices. The album remains a cornerstone of the Bakersfield sound and continues to resonate with fans over five decades later.