Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – Best Troubador

With Best Troubador, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy pays homage to a long-time and forever hero, the late Merle Haggard. A singer who, some 25 years previously, first performed in public by playing a Merle Haggard song, Bonny has often cited Merle's work in performance, on records and in conversation with anyone who was around. Merle's body of work was considered by Bonny for a record such as this for some time, but his passing in April of 2016 almost put a stop to it. The songs sung on Best Troubador are pulled from all over – from Haggard's 3rd album in 1967 through to his 47th in 2011 – but this is no simple hits compilation.