Merle Haggard's Strangers Discography

     There are three albums in The Strangers Discography, plus two instrumental albums from Merle's Discography. The two instrumental albums from Merle's Discography are as much a part of  The Strangers discography as Merle's, so they're repeated here.
    This page will be a little different than the previous pages, in that this page will include the liner notes, below each picture, from the backs of the albums. Several of these albums have photo's on the back which will be included with the liner notes. The Strangers have changed over the years. Of the original Strangers, Norm Hamlet is the only one still touring with Merle as of this writing.

Click on any of the thumbnails below to view larger versions of the pictures.

  Instrumental Sounds Of Merle Haggard's Strangers
 Capitol Records # ST-169 released in 1969

The Strangers for their first LP were, Jerry Ward (bass), George French (piano),
Norm Hamlet (steel guitar), Eddie Burris (drums) and Roy Nichols (guitar).

Liner Notes:
     When Country music fans take to a new performer like a cat takes to his milk, there's bound to be variety of good reasons. Three years ago Merle Haggard was a
newcomer to the Country scene, but with his first hit, Strangers, he made it to the
top and has stayed perched up there ever since. The good reasons for his success
include his own great vocal talent, a knack for picking the right songs and five fun loving, hard working backup men known as The Strangers. In fact, Country music fans hardly ever think of Merle by himself. It's Merle Haggard and The Strangers. Up until now The Strangers have been known only in connection with with Merle, but they've recently decided to follow the path already beaten by some other well known backup groups, and record on their own. So here by popular demand is The Strangers first solo album.
      On this first recording The Strangers have worked very hard at hustling up something to please everyone. There's Mama Tried, a number they rocketed to the top of the charts with some help from Merle. Then there's a whole passel of tunes the boys wrote themselves: Don't Tell Me, Leaving Phoenix, The Waltz Of Enchantment, Whooper Snooper, and a bunch of others that together with Johnny Cash's Tennessee Flat Top Box and a rowdy version of Poppin' Corn all add up to make this one of the most outstanding Country instrumental albums ever recorded! Listen closely and it's a sure bet that you'll be the first expert on your neighborhood on what will soon be a long line of hit recordings by The Strangers.
- Ken Nelson

 Getting To Know The Strangers
 Capitol Records # ST-590 released in 1970

The Strangers for this, The Strangers second LP were, Dennis Hromek (bass), Bobby Wayne (rhythm guitar), Biff Adam (drums), Norm Hamlet (steel guitar) and
Roy Nichols (guitar).

Liner Notes:
      Every place he's invited to play, whether it's on TV's Johnny Cash Show or in a jam packed country club in Burly Idaho, Merle Haggard takes his Strangers. The group is named after his first smash hit Strangers, probably for luck, if not sentiment. There are five of them, Bobby Wayne, Dennis Hromek, Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, and Biff Adam. Eight months a year, these Strangers live and travel together, touring on the road. So as they say themselves, they are more brothers than strangers. This is the third album The Strangers have recorded on their own. Each of the fellows, from Bobby Biff has his own following of fans. Here then by personal request from all those friends of The Strangers is a personal close up on each of them.
NOTE: This is the second album in The Strangers discography. The reference above
about this being their third LP is because K. Vincent is including the Merle Haggard
and Strangers LP titled "Introducing My Friends, The Strangers" into The Strangers
discography. It was released in 1970 also.
- K. Vincent

These pics of The Strangers are from the back of their LP, Getting To Know The Strangers.

 Strangers And Friends, Honky Tonkin'
Capitol Records # ST-796  released in 1971

The Strangers for this, their third LP, were, Dennis Hromek (bass), Bobby Wayne
(rhythm guitar), Biff Adam (drums), Norm Hamlet (steel guitar) and Roy Nichols (guitar).

     The Strangers were accompanied on this LP by  a few of their friends listed below.
Johnny Gimble (fiddle), Merle Haggard (fiddle), Al Bruno (electric & acoustic guitar), Glen D. Hardin (piano), Hargus Robbins (piano), Earl Ball (piano), Tommy Morgan (harmonica), and Jim Horn (saxophone).
There were no credits given for the liner notes listed below.
Liner Notes:
     At about 10:30 on a mild spring evening, he Hollywood Palladium went wild with
cheering. The Strangers had been named "Touring Band Of The Year" by the Academy Of Country And Western Music and the people there pulled their plugs screaming ... for a moment they forgot their glistening gowns and tailored tuxedos to pay a very special tribute to The Strangers. The reason for all the enthusiasm was that The Strangers to a man deserved their award ... and everybody knew it.
To be given an award by your fellow performers is the highest honor that any entertainer hopes for, and to say the least, that night The Strangers were in a celebrating mood. They've been on a jubilee spree ever since, as you'll hear on this album especially on Honky Tonk, a real fast moving instrumental dressed up with sax and harmonica. Things settle down a bit as Dennis Hromek sings Watchin' Scotty Grow. Kris Kristofferson's contemporary Country classic, Me And Bobby McGee, shines right on too as it gets new upbeat treatment with Bobby Wayne and Dennis' duet. Then Bobby steps into the solo spotlight to sing his own Just Sit down And Cry. And the performance is about as bluesy as anybody's ever going to get. As a matter of fact, the whole feeling of "Honky Tonkin" has that easy understanding and born in naturalness of top musicians feeling good, relaxing and putting things together without hardly trying. So you have a real treat here The Strangers (and their friends) have captured a rarely caught in the recording studio sound and mood that's as open and free as if it was Saturday night and there was nothing to do but have fun honky tonkin'. NOTE: The three albums above are The Strangers Discography. Besides their own albums and the instrumental albums in Merle's discography, The Strangers are credited on many of Merle's albums as well as on some of Bonnie Owens albums.

In the table below, click on the album number to view the track listings of the album.

The two albums below are listed as part of Merle's Discography. They are instrumental albums, and feature Merle Haggard and The Strangers. All of The Strangers albums were released on Capitol Records. We have three pages of Merle's Capitol recordings which can be found at the links below.

Merle Haggard's Capitol Discography 1965-1971
Merle Haggard's Capitol Discography 1972-1977
Merle Haggard's Special Market Releases

We'd like to thank Steve for supplying the picture of the album "Introducing My Friends The Strangers". Steve, like ourselves, is a big Hag fan. Whenever we don't have an album cover in excellent condition, we've been able to rely on him to supply a better one. Thanks again Steve.

 Introducing My Friends The Strangers
Capitol Records # ST-445  released in 1970

The Strangers for this session were, Dennis Hromek (bass), Bobby Wayne (rhythm guitar), Biff Adam (drums),  Norm Hamlet (steel guitar) and Roy Nichols (guitar)

Liner Notes:
      I don't want to seem egotistical and take credit for the completion of this album, but I was present during the recording and enjoyed viewing the creativeness of my great band at work. With the exception of Working Man Blues, they wrote, arranged and produced the entire session. I'm proud to say that it is my feeling that each one of these fellows is a top artist in his own right, Roy Nichols and Norm Hamlet are two fellows that most of the Country Music public is already familiar with. But, there has been a major personnel change in the membership of The Strangers rhythm section. I had an uncle that used to say "Never make a change unless it's for the better" and I believe Dennis Hromek on bass, Bobby Wayne on rhythm guitar, and Biff Adam on drums, are three fine musicians who pull me in that direction. The versatility of sound originality and creativeness is proven ten different times on this album. What I'm trying to point out is that everything doesn't sound the same on every song except in the category of quality. They play Country Music simply because they love Country Music, and it's fortunate that they're able to make a living doing something they like to do ... it's a fun thing for them and I hope it comes across that way. I hope you'll enjoy this album as much as they liked recording it. I take a lot of pride in what I am and I take a lot of pride in my band, The Strangers.
- Merle Haggard

 Totally Instrumental With One Exception
Capitol Records # ST-11141 released in 1973

The Strangers for this session were, Dennis Hromek (bass), Bobby Wayne
(rhythm guitar), Biff Adam (drums), Norm Hamlet (steel guitar), Marcia Nichols (electric guitar) and Roy Nichols (guitar) Marcia Nichols was, the first female Stranger.

Liner Notes:
With great pride, I present to you the group you hear on this album, known as The
Strangers. They supply the music for all my records and have for several years. And,
though they're summed up as a group, they are individuals with unique and individual
talent. I've introduced them many times on my stage shows, but limited time restricts me from saying all the nice things I'd like to, about each and every one of these boys and girls, each time we appear. So here's my chance. Well now that I have it, all I can think of to say is I love 'em all and wouldn't trade 'em for any other band in America.
This talented group has made it very difficult for me to decide which of the selections
on this album I like the best because each one is done so well and with loving care.
At any rate, my opinion doesn't really matter because this album was recorded especially for you, the listener.  

I've written a little poem that I hope will let you know
how proud I am of this album and my group, The Strangers. It goes like this;

When Hag passes on
To the great unknown
They'll find written on the front
Of my headstone
Here lies a man
Who had a hell of a band
and who would not have made it alone

- Hag

These pictures are from their LP Totally Instrumental With One Exception.

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This page was last updated 10/11/02