Description
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• On the occasion of Hank Williams’ 100th birthday (September 17, 2023), Bear Family Records® dedicates a CD album to one of the greatest icons of U.S. music history, featuring recordings of his idols and some of the best cover versions of his immortal songs.
• • 33 tunes from 1939 – 1969 show what Hank Williams was inspired by – later recordings prove his enormous influence on the international music scene.
• • Famous country music colleagues include Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Faron Young and Hank’s son Hank Williams, Jr.
• • Stars like Damita Jo, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, The Delta Rhythm Boys and others are witnesses to the great impact of Hank Williams’ music across genre boundaries.
• • Rarities in fantastic sound quality, including a live recording by Bobby Helms released on CD for the first time.
• • The 36-page color booklet tells the story on the subject, written by renowned music journalist Bill Dahl, plus many photos and memorabilia, at times rare!
King of Country
Along with Johnny Cash, Hank Williams is considered the most influential artist in country music. With
few exceptions, he wrote his own songs during a career that lasted only six years, songs full of poetry,
emotion and (self-)experience. His songs not only became classics, they are cult! Almost every
important country musician has covered his songs. The selection was difficult. But we are sure that
with this compilation in his anniversary year 2023 we will make visible the incredible impact of Hank
Williams in the history of popular music.
Honky Tonkin
Opening the compilation is Hank Williams, Jr. with Calling You, a track Hank Senior recorded in 1946. The list of classics that Hank Williams recorded during his short career is long. Whether it’s Jambalaya, Your Cheatin’ Heart, I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, Move It On Over or Honky Tonkin’, you know them all because they became indelible earworms. It is especially interesting that Hank Williams also influenced musicians working in other styles. This is proven here with recordings of great artists like Bill Darnel, Richard Hayes, Ray Charles, Damita Jo, Louis Armstrong, Ronnie Hawkins, a.m.o. of the genres jazz, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Hank Williams was often heralded as the ‘Lovesick Blues Boy’ in his day, so the original Lovesick Blues (one of the few songs
Hank covered) by Rex Griffin is not to be missed! The CD comes with a 36-page color booklet that includes the background story, written by Chicago music journalist Bill Dahl, and a wealth of illustrations.
CD:
Hank Williams, Jr: Calling You Bill Darnell: Alone And Forsaken Audrey Williams: Honky Tonkin’ Richard Hayes: Move It On Over Rose Maddox: I Saw The Light Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys: Rootie Tootie Bobby Helms: I’m A Long Gone Daddy (live at Tex Ritter’s ‘Ranch Party) Delbert Barker: I Can’t Get You Off My Mind Rex Griffin: Lovesick Blues Skeets McDonald: Lost Highway Ted Daigle: Mind Your Own Business (live – Radio Broadcast, Banff, Alberta, Canada) Steve Bledsoe: You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave) Johnny Cash: I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry Johnny Horton: I Just Don’t Like This Kind Of Livin’ T. Texas Tyler: My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It Marty Robbins: Long Gone Lonesome Blues Rusty & Doug Kershaw: Why Don’t You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)
Delbert Barker: Nobody’s Lonesome For Me Marvin Rainwater: Moanin’ The Blues Louis Armstrong: Cold, Cold Heart Skeets McDonald: Dear John (I’ve Sent Your Saddle Home) Johnny Tillotson: I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) The Spotnicks: Hey Good Lookin’ Ronnie Hawkins: Ramblin’ Man Hank Snow: I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Don Gibson: Baby, We’re Really In Love Tennessee Ernie Ford: Half As Much Damita Jo: Jambalaya Jo Stafford & Frankie Laine: Settin’ The Woods On Fire
The Delta Rhythm Boys: I’ll never Get Out Of This World Alive Faron Young: Your Cheatin’ Heart Rusty & Doug Kershaw with Wiley Barkdull: Kaw-Liga Ray Charles: Take These Chains From My Heart
GENRE: Country
BARCODE: 4000127177063
RELEASE DATE: 17/11/2023