Album Review: Lucky by Suzy Bogguss

One of the most poised and assured female country singers of the late '80s and 1990s, Suzy Bogguss had her turn on the major-label carousel, scoring her first radio hit with a cover of Merle Haggard's "Somewhere Between" in 1987, then really hit big with several chart hits in the '90s, including "Outbound Plane," "Drive South," "Hey Cinderella," "Letting Go," and "Aces," all released by Capitol Records. But Bogguss was always a traditional country artist at heart, and the increasing pop and rock elements necessary for continued commercial country radio airplay as the 21st century approached weren't suited for her interest and strengths, or she chose not to let them be, and she parted ways with Capitol in 1998. Whether leaving a major label is a blessing or a curse depends on one's goals and one's point of view, but in Bogguss' case, it freed the way for her to make an album years later like Lucky, which is her warm, muted, and at times exceedingly beautiful tribute to the songwriting genius of Merle Haggard.

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Those who have followed country singer Suzy Bogguss from the beginning know her fondness for the songs of Merle Haggard. The leadoff track from her 1989 debut album, and her first radio hit, was a heartfelt cover of Hag’s “Somewhere Between. ” So, it’s not such a surprise that Bogguss returns to Haggard’s rich catalog for this dozen song set.

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Suzy Bogguss Lucky (Loyal Dutchess) As if an album of Merle Haggard covers didn't present a brazen enough endeavor, Suzy Bogguss' first LP in three years ups the ante by tackling some of the outlaw legend's most beloved hits. Bogguss handles the tunes with a distinct and endearing reverence, while also offering a feminine spin to Haggard's rough-hewn machismo. Opening pair, "Today I Started Loving You Again" and "Silver Wings," delicately salves heartache, while the shuffling "The Bottle Let Me Down" slows to a more fluid, woozy pace.

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