Suzy Bogguss Recasts Merle Haggard Classics With "Lucky" Feb 4

Suzy Bogguss didn't set out to craft a Merle Haggard tribute record. Some might call that serendipity; she just calls it "Lucky."

An accomplished artist and songwriter in her own right, Bogguss and her husband/co-producer Doug Crider were combing through songs to consider for her next project. Never one to hew to a particular style, having branched out into jazz, folk and swing sounds alongside traditional and modern country, Bogguss kept coming back to a set of songs that spoke to her...and they just happened to be by Haggard.

"He really is the poet of the common man," says Bogguss of her new album titled "Lucky" and who kicked off her career with 1989's "Somewhere Between," her debut album named after one of Haggard's early songs. "Not every artist has music that is as universal as Merle's. It's pretty heavy-duty stuff, and I think that's why to so many of us who sing and write songs, he's such a king among us."

Bogguss dove deeper into Haggard's catalog, taking care to hold on to that original vision of finding songs that resonated with her not just pulling out and recycling the hits. The result is an acoustic record with vibe, featuring classics like "Silver Wings," "The Bottle Let Me Down," "If We Make It Through December," "I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink" and many more.

It's an homage to Merle Haggard that didn't start that way. It's a Suzy Bogguss record that didn't end up that way. It's the best of both situations ... and we're "Lucky" to have it that way. The 12-track album is out February 4, 2014.

"Lucky" track listing:
1. Today I Started Loving You Again
2. Silver Wings
3. The Bottle Let Me Down
4. I Always Get Luck With You
5. If We Make It Through December
6. Let's Chase Each Other Around The Room
7. The Running Kind
8. Going Where The Lonely Go
9. Someday When Things Are Good
10. I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink
11. Sing Me Back Home
12. You Don't Have Very Far To Go