Movin' On (Merle Haggard song)

"Movin' On" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in May 1975 as the third single and partial title track from the album Keep Movin' On. Originally, it was the theme song to the 1974-1976 NBC-TV series of the same name and references the lead characters of the series, Sonny Pruitt and Will Chandler, by name. A full-length version of the song was released as a single in 1975, and it topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that July.[1]

"Movin' On"
Single by Merle Haggard and The Strangers
from the album Keep Movin' On
B-side"Here in Frisco"
ReleasedMay 12, 1975
Recorded1975
GenreCountry, truck-driving country
Length2:16
LabelCapitol 3746
Songwriter(s)Merle Haggard
Producer(s)Fuzzy Owen
Merle Haggard and The Strangers singles chronology
"Always Wanting You"
(1975)
"Movin' On"
(1975)
"It's All in the Movies"
(1975)

In addition to serving as the main theme to Movin' On, the song was among many in country music to pay homage to the American over-the-road truck driver. It should not be confused with the country standard "I'm Moving On" by Hank Snow.

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1975) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[2] 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 15

Year-end charts

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Chart (1975) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 36

Personnel

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The Strangers:

  • Roy Nichols – lead guitar
  • Norman Hamlet – steel guitar, dobro
  • Tiny Moore – mandolin
  • Ronnie Reno – guitar
  • Mark Yeary – piano
  • Johnny Meeks - bass
  • Biff Adam – drums
  • Don Markham – saxophone

Sources

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  • Roland, Tom, The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits (Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1991 (ISBN 0-82-307553-2)

References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 147.
  2. ^ "Merle Haggard Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  3. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1975". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2021.