Suzy Bogguss: Lucky (Proper Records) out February 17

I’VE always classed Suzy Bogguss as one of the best female chanters in the history of country music, and always classed Merle Haggard alongside. So readers will be delighted with an album of Merle Haggard songs sung Bogguss.

“This CD is in no way a tribute album,”

she says “I had been wanting to make a record based in country and blues and I just kept thinking of great Haggard songs, so it made sense to quit denying that what I really wanted was to sing an entire album of his songs.”

From the opening track of the classic Today I Started Loving You Again through to the fading notes on You Don’t Have Very Far To Go, Suzy projects her musical magic on every track. Add to that background vocals from Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg, Jessi Alexander, Beth Neilsen Chapman and Jon Randall Stewart and the whole album emanates class with a capital C. As a taster you can hear three tracks on The American Connection Show from Saturday on americanconnection.euvue.co.uk.

  • Bogguss plays Gateshead Town Hall, on Saturday, April 12th. Box Office: 0191-443-4661.