When I was recording the "Sons of the Golden West" project with the Flying Burrito Brothers in 1999 for Grateful Dead records, I had the freedom to record anything I wanted. This song was suggested but I said only if we could get Merle to sing it with me. He graciously said yes and fulfilled one of my biggest dreams; I was singing a duet with Merle Haggard on record. It did not matter if it became a hit or if it was even released. I had done it and nothing could take that away from me.

We did the music tracks for this session and my vocal at Magic Tracks Recording Studio in Berry Hill, Tenn. In addition, Merle's vocal was done at his studio in Redding, Ca. I did mine before he did his and then I did mine again after he did his. Mine never did seem good enough to me after he did his. I do thank Merle for allowing me to do what any one that has ever done a duet with him has done and that is, the best I could. The session is recognized on Merle's web site in the duets section as The Flying Burrito Brothers "Hungry Eyes" on Sons of the Golden West.

I also have to mention my good friend Billy Thomas who did the harmony with me on this session. Billy and I have written a few songs together over the years and recorded a few sessions. Billy was the drummer for McBride and the Ride and the current drummer and harmony singer for Vince Gill. I met Billy through John Beland when we were all doing sessions at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studio down in Texas. Billy and John played in the Stone Canyon Band together with legendary rocker Ricky Nelson.