and pop-tinged ballads seem at odds with each other." Music critic Robert Christgau wrote "Last time it was good to hear him go contemporary again. This time one of the two contemporary standouts sounds mysteriously like Bob Wills. The Lefty Frizzell and Floyd Tillman remakes come across fresh and clean. The Ink Spots remake doesn't." Track listing "If We Make It Through December" (Merle Haggard) – 2:42 "Love and Honor Never Crossed Your Mind" (Haggard) – 2:48 "To Each His Own" (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) – 2:35 "You're the Only Girl in the Game" (Hank Cochran, Glenn Martin) – 2:55 "I'm an Old Old Man (Tryin' to Live While I Can)" (Lefty Frizzell) – 2:34 "Come on into My Arms" (Marcia Nichols) – 2:48 "Better Off When I Was Hungry" (Dave Kirby) – 2:24 "I'll Break Out Again Tonight" (Arthur Leo Owens, Sanger D. Shafer) – 2:50 "This Cold War With You" (Floyd Tillman) – 2:54 "Uncle Lem" (Glenn Martin) – 2:54 "There's Just One Way" (Haggard, Kenny Seratt) – 2:49 Personnel Merle Haggard– vocals, guitar The Strangers: Roy Nichols – lead guitar Norman Hamlet – steel guitar, Dobro Bobby Wayne – guitar Marcia Nichols – guitar Dennis Hromek – bass, background vocals Biff Adam – drums with Tommy Collins– guitar Dave Kirby – guitar Ronnie Reno – guitar Mark Yeary – piano Johnny Meeks – bass Johnny Gimble – fiddle and Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano, organ Billy Liebert – piano Joe Zinkan – bass Bill Woods – fiddle Bill Puett – horns Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts References 1974 albums Merle Haggard albums Capitol Records albums Albums produced by Ken Nelson (United States record producer)