It's All in the Movies

It's All in the Movies is the nineteenth studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1976.

History
The album's title track became Haggard's eighth consecutive #1 country single and features the same pop-oriented sound that producer Ken Nelson had employed on the singer's recent chart topper "Always Wanting You." Two songs, "Stingeree" and "Hag's Dixie Blues, No. 2," had been recorded for a 1973 studio album I Love Dixie Blues, a project Haggard scrapped after deciding to record a live album in New Orleans. Haggard also returns to Bob Wills and western swing on "Living With the Shades Pulled Down" and Wills own "Cotton Patch Blues." The album closes with the Dolly Parton-penned gospel song "The Seeker."

Reception
It's All in the Movies would become Haggard's third consecutive collection to top the Billboard country albums chart. AllMusic: "While the title track is a gentle, affecting ballad, It's All in the Movies doesn't contain enough similarly engaging material to make the record successful. The album is at its best when Haggard delves into western swing, such as 'Living with the Shades Pulled Down,' or when he delivers straightforward ballads like 'Nothing's Worse Than Losing' and 'I Know An Ending When It Comes,' but too many of the songs on the LP are pleasant, but inconsequential, filler."

Track listing
All tracks composed by Merle Haggard; except where indicated

Personnel

 * Merle Haggard– vocals, guitar

The Strangers:
 * Roy Nichols – lead guitar
 * Norman Hamlet – steel guitar, dobro
 * Tiny Moore – mandolin
 * Eldon Shamblin– guitar
 * Ronnie Reno – guitar
 * Mark Yeary – piano
 * James Tittle – bass
 * Biff Adam – drums
 * Don Markham – saxophone

with
 * Bobby Wayne – guitar
 * Marcia Nichols – guitar
 * Dave Kirby – guitar
 * Dennis Hromek – bass
 * Johnny Gimble – fiddle
 * Bonnie Owens – harmony vocals

and
 * Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano, organ
 * Glen D. Hardin – piano
 * Chuck Berghofer – bass
 * Bob Moore – bass
 * Joseph Zinkan – bass
 * Bill Puett – horns