{"product_id":"merle-haggard-merle-haggards-christmas-present","title":"Merle Haggard's Christmas Present","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst released in 1973, this C\u0026amp;W holiday evergreen has not only held up well but also gained stature with time. The Hag's aching, mellifluous baritone is in as fine a form as it was at any point in his long, prolific career, and his grumpy, blue-collar heart betrays the soft and sentimental core he's battled to hide for years. The showpiece, of course, is Haggard's towering, belt-tightening anthem, \"If We Make It Through December;\" a song that marries familial dedication, Woody Guthrie-esque socio-political relevance, a sublime arrangement, and a crackerjack melody for a rare Christmas song of year-round usefulness. Merle's remaining four originals cite Santa, popcorn, puppy dogs, a missing daddy, and a card from grandma with such unflinching sincerity that only a Grinch could doubt him. The five standards are all first-rate, but Haggard's \"Silver Bells\" is positively definitive. At just over 25 minutes, A CHRISTMAS PRESENT is a bit brief but perfect from front to back.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n","brand":"Merle Haggard","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44581659771113,"sku":"M540YU-GXBA-00","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Merle-Haggard-Merle-Haggards-Christmas-Present_mwDDS.jpg?v=1742430791","url":"https:\/\/www.vibinvinyl.com\/products\/merle-haggard-merle-haggards-christmas-present","provider":"Vibin' Vinyl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}