There are several things that can be said to be true of human beings as a species. For instance, we are all born of a mother’s womb (except of course McDuff), a smile is an expression of happiness in every culture throughout all of time, and every single one of us is a fan of Hank Williams. To prove this last fact Mercury Records has released a 2 disc set entitled “Hank Williams The Ultimate Collection.” The album invokes a similar experience as listening to Robert Johnson’s “The Complete Recordings,” however the actual recording quality is better (though, not much) and the knowledge that Williams saw commercial success in his life means there are other albums and material available to us. This success ironically bestows Williams with a troubled life not unlike Johnson’s, both of whom died at the age of 27.
The “Ultimate collection” is full of 42 tracks of what at first glance appear to be a list of country standards, however flip through the beautifully packaged liner notes and you come across the startling revelation that Williams wrote every single one of them. “I Saw the Light” the opening track on the first disc can find the spiritual side of any atheist as Williams croons over the now legendary lyrics. If that’s a bit too much for you, the collection also includes several tracks Williams recorded as his darker persona “Luke the Drifter.” Other tracks like “You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave),” “There’s A Tear In My Beer” and “You’re Cheatin’ Heart” almost seem to invent the genre of country music as you listen to them. There is something amazingly pure about each song, which at times seems odd as so many of them are familiar to us. Countless musicians have paid tribute to Williams by covering his songs, and his tunes have been sung around campfires and in the backgrounds of commercials for decades. Even those who insist that country music is…well, country music, can’t deny his influence. Almost every genre of music has seen a top 10 hit with a cover of a Williams tune. “Move It On Over” was a hit for both Bo Diddley and George Thorogood, and if you don’t remember any of the country covers of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” you might recall the Al Green version. The The released a whole album of Williams covers, cleverly titled “Hanky Panky.” “Jambalaya (On The Bayou)” will forever be a staple of Cajun music and the great Buckwheat Zydeco gives a crowed stirring version of “Hey, Good Lookin’” at his performances. Jeff Buckley recorded a breathtakingly beautiful version of “Lost Highway” during his all too brief career and Tony Bennett had a #1 hit for 6 weeks in 1951 with “Cold, Cold Heart.” It is this wide range of performers that encourages me to believe that at some point Kronos Quartet will record a 45 minute version of “Please Don’t Let Me Love You” and Busta Rhymes will remix “Mind Your Own Business” allowing Hank Williams to officially cross over into every musical genre.
To listen to all of these songs stripped down and heard in the original form from the original writer is a true gift. They show us an amazingly soulful look into the life of the humble everyday man dealing with all of the joys and troubles that affect all of us. It is this underlying pulse that Williams captured so well, and through his music connects to all of humanity on some deep genetic level. If you are willing to open your mind and looking to expand your CD collection a bit, biologically speaking you can’t go wrong with “Hank Williams The Ultimate Collection.”
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