Merle Haggard recorded his classic track “Workin’ Man’s Blues” on May 16, 1969. The track was included on his album “A Portrait of Merle Haggard” and was released on June 30, 1969. By August of 1969, the track had shot straight to the top of the Billboard country songs chart, bumping "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" by Charley Pride from the number one spot. He eventually handed the top spot over of Johnny Cash’s legendary track “A Boy Named Sue.”The track was released as a single between two of Merle’s biggest hits — “Hungry Eyes” and “Okie from Muskogee.” Country critic Mark Demming commented on the hit streak, saying:"(M)ost country artists would be happy to cut three tunes this strong during the course of their career, let alone as part of one of six albums Hag would release in 1969," Demming wrote for AllMusic.