Merle Haggard"s determination and dedication is of legendary proportions. For example, he obsessively learned to play the fiddle in order to record his Bob Wills tribute. So, whereas most country artists would spend a couple of hours in a studio to pump out a gospel record, Merle Haggard recorded his gospel record in four different churches--two in Tennessee and two in California (including the San Quentin Chapel)--in front of live congregations at the "worship hour" and including the words of various chaplains. The material ranges from age-old standards to more recent compositions by Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, and Red Foley. Merle"s Strangers and the Carter Family lend support behind Haggard"s eminently sincere readings. --Marc Greilsamer