Two of the tracks (A place to fall apart, Natural high) are credited as 'with Janie Fricke' but they are not duets although you can hear Janie sounding as good as ever on harmony vocals. Both were country number one hits.

This was a period when Merle found it increasingly difficult to compete with younger singers, despite which there are five country number one hits here. I've mentioned three - the others were Let's chase each other around the room and Twinkle twinkle lucky star - this was the last number one hit he ever had.

The other hits here (I had a beautiful time, A friend in California, Chill factor, 5:01 blues, A better love next time) may have been less successful on country radio but are well worth hearing.

This is not really the place to begin a collection of Merle's music, but it should provide plenty of listening pleasure if you are a fan already and haven't got all these tracks.

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the '80s were a good decade  Mar 19, 2004 By Jerry McDaniel
this is a great collection of Haggard's hits from the '80s as the title suggests. "Yesterday's Wine" with George Jones is on here, since his other hit duet with George "C.C. Waterback" was on the previous hits album "The Epic Hits: First Eleven". i love all the songs on this 1990 CD of '80s hits...but in my opinion the only weak hit is "A Friend in California". i already said i liked them all...my favorites, however are: "Yesterday's Wine"; "A Better Love Next Time"; "Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room"; "Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star"; "5:01 Blues"; and "Chill Factor". What i find weird is that in 1989 Haggard was able to make the Top-40 and perhaps even crack the Top-20 but in 1990 onward nothing he's issued has came close to denting the Top-40...he did an album in 1990 called BLUE JUNGLE for Curb. Then he never did another album until "1994" which was followed by "1996". that 1990-1994 gap cost him much of his durability {even George Jones, despite reduced airplay, continued to crank out the CDs and TOUR all over the country}. This '80s hits collection wraps up that decade perfectly.

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This is a release that is saved by the musical quality.  Sep 24, 2002 By Cory L. Schwent
First off, this cd is a compilation of Merle's latter 80's hits. All are original recordings. The packaging is budget line, but still good.

Next this music just happens to be Haggards last gasp at making a good sounding song. Just a year or so after the latest song (Better Love Next Time) was recorded, Merle decided he needed to start singing like he thought everyone thought he sounded like. All these recordings here feature him just singing, not growling, shaking, or trying to sound and like the greatest singer ever.

Ever heard the statement "The harder you try to accomplish something, the less you accomplish." Well I don't think Merle was trying all that hard here to sound like himself, he was simply trying to sing and make a great song, which he more than accomplished. Now if he would only do it again on his new recordings and concerts.