Merle Haggard & The Strangers - It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) (1972/2021) (Hi-Res)

Despite the presence of the excellent title track, It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) is only a fitfully entertaining album, equally divided between the excellent and the mediocre. A few of the throwaways are entertaining, particularly the rolling "New York City Blues," but songs like "Dad's Old Fiddle" and "My Woman Keeps Lovin' Her Man" fail to make an impression. There are a handful of hidden gems ("I Wonder Where I'll Find You At Tonight, " "I Wonder What She'll Think About Me Leaving, " "Goodbye Comes Hard for Me"), but the record remains a frustrating listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

01 - Merle Haggard - It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) (3:23)
02 - Merle Haggard - Goodbye Comes Hard For Me (2:44)
03 - Merle Haggard - My Woman Keeps Lovin' Her Man (2:45)
04 - Merle Haggard - New York City Blues (2:37)
05 - Merle Haggard - I Wonder What She'll Think About Me Leaving (3:13)
06 - Merle Haggard - The Conversion Of Ronnie Jones (2:47)
07 - Merle Haggard - A Shoulder To Cry On (3:13)
08 - Merle Haggard - I'd Never Told On You (3:02)
09 - Merle Haggard - Dad's Old Fiddle (2:54)
10 - Merle Haggard - Somewhere To Come When It Rains (3:00)
11 - Merle Haggard - I Wonder Where I'll Find You At Tonight (2:08)