Nothing left at all

L-R: Fuzzy Owen, Merle, Bonnie, Billy Mize
Image from The Kern County Museum in Bakersfield.

Before Merle Haggard had his first solo hit with "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" he recorded this sad tale of faded love and deceptive appearances with his future wife Bonnie Owens. Bonnie, former wife of Buck Owens, had already put "Just Between The Two of Us" out years before with Fuzzy Owen, who suggested that she and Merle re-record it. This puts a whole new spin on what goes on behind closed doors.

Merle Haggard & Bonnie Owens - Just Between the Two of Us [buy]

Don't Go!

The library I work for held a retirement party today for four colleagues. I’ve worked with two of them for over five years now. They will most definitely be missed by our department and the rest of the library. So while I’m sad to see them go, I want to offer up a raucous song of celebration to two absolutely original individuals. Aparna & Steve, this one’s for y’all.

Mingus - E's Flat Ah's Flat Too [buy]