STYLE: Country RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 165015-25418 LABEL: Not Now Music NOT2CD483 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
Country music legend Hank Williams' back catalogue has been the subject of countless compilations over the years and this no frills 50-song collection from Not Now Music adds yet another to the list. All of Williams' most famous songs are here - "Hey Good Lookin'", "Lovesick Blues", "Honky Tonk Blues" and "Your Cheatin' Heart" - which the everyday listener will recognise from adverts, cover versions or general radio play even if they haven't before come across the man behind the music. During a career that was tragically cut short by his untimely death in 1953, Williams tended to swing between endearingly daft songs like "Rootie Tootie" and "Move It On Over" and genuinely deep compositions that reflected something of his inner torment. Perhaps giving the listener an insight into the real Hank, the likes of "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive", "Cold Cold Heart" and "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy" are genuinely affecting on account of Williams' forlorn and utterly heartfelt vocal delivery whilst a couple of gospel numbers - namely the monster hit "I Saw The Light" and the uncharacteristically turgid "Beyond The Sunset" - reference the faith he learnt about as a child.
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