Merle Haggard, 'Okie From Muskogee' Live

Merle Haggard is preparing to re-release one of his most classic albums, and he's letting readers of The Boot hear an exclusive live version of one of his best-known songs.

Haggard's classic live album, 'Okie From Muskogee,' is getting a facelift for its 45th anniversary. Originally released in December of 1969, the album came out shortly after Haggard's career-defining single of the same name reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart. The song refuted the counter-culture movement of the '60s with its praise of small-town, conservative American values.

Re-mastered from the original reel-to-reel tapes, the 'Okie From Muskogee' anniversary edition also includes Haggard's 1970 live album, 'The Fightin' Side of Me,' that's long been out of print. The album has been a prized item among collectors for years. This release marks the first time fans have been able to own a fully re-mastered CD and digital version of all of this material, capturing a country music legend and one of the genre's greatest live performers at his peak.

Check out the live version of 'Okie From Muskogee' below. The 45th anniversary edition of 'Okie From Muskogee' is set for release on March 25 via Capitol Nashville. It is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.

Listen to Merle Haggard, 'Okie From Muskogee' Live

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