Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute | Various Artists | Some great, some good, all interesting

Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute | Various Artists | Truly, A "Timeless" Album!!

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Timeless: Hank Wil...

	Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute Various Artists Lost Highway, 2001 average customer review:based on 32 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Like 1999's tribute to Gram Parsons, Return of the Grievous Angel, this successful collection revives the tired "tribute" concept and applies it in homage to a key figure in country music. Interpreting songs from across Hank Williams's short and troubled career, a range of high-profile artists use different approaches with equally gratifying results. Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, and Hank Williams III play familiar songs with traditional arrangements (Ms. Crow's yodel is an eye opener); Beck, Mark Knopfler, and Keb' Mo' stay closer to their own idioms. Keith Richards's reedy vocal makes "You Win Again" all his own, and Bob Dylan, who has only rarely lent his services to these sorts of projects, leads his touring band through a blues shuffle on "I Can't Get You Off of My Mind." The estimable Lost Highway label has assembled an illustrious cast to sing the praises of the artist who inspired its name, and in doing so it has created a far better testament to its musical mindset than can ever be captured in the term Americana. --Rob Stewart

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Some great, some good, all interesting

Hank Williams is arguably the all-time best American singer-songwriter and he sings his songs better than anybody else. That being said, it's interesting to see what several modern singers do with a collection of Hank's songs.

I think two of the interpretations are outstanding. Emmylou Harris is splendid on "Alone and Forsaken." She turns the song into a folk tune from Merrie Olde England with the tasty and tuneful backing of Mike Henderson on mandolin and Mark Knopfler on guitar. I also thought Keith Richards' tortured and eccentric interpretation of "You Win Again" was better than good -- although I concede the point to another reviewer that Jerry Lee Lewis did the song even better. Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, and Lucinda Williams also sing songs well. Hell, Hank's songs are so good that about anyone could sing them and sound pretty good.

Smallchief

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Truly, A "Timeless" Album!!

Boy,when I first listened to this tribute to the famous Hank Williams Sr., I thought, "Wow, how different this is!".
I gotta tell ya, all the artist's on there do a fatastic job!
Tom Petty's version of "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave) to my estimation is about the best cut on the album. Emmylou Harris' version's of "Lost on the River" and "Alone and Forsaken" are just wonderfull and Emmylou's version of "Alone and Forsaken" is about the best version I have heard of that song by another artist.
I do have to say that the worst of all takes on the album is Johnny Cash's "I Dreamed About Mama Last Night". Thank goodness it's the last song on the album. Maybe it is because I never liked the song in the first place. I do like Johnny though.
The true Hank Sr. fan will love this ablum. Especially if your a music fan.

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not country, not supposed to be

I think you country fans are being a little hard on this one. I think the point of this album is to, not only pay tribute to THE greatest singer songwriter of all time, but to introduce him to people who may not otherwise have heard his music. Who wants to hear Bocephus sing more of his daddys songs? He's done that already. When Hank Sr. Was alive and making music , there were only really 2 types of popular music (as opposed to the virtually limitless styles we have now ) being made: country & blues, both styles Hank openly embraced. So this album also pays tribute to that very same spirit of experimenting and cross-pollenation. Every artist on this album is notorious for dipping their respective feathers in many musical inks. Tom Petty, Keith Richards,Lucinda Williams, Ryan Adams & Hank III's contributions are the standouts to me , but there isn't one bad tune here. Anyone with a genuine love for Music, will appreciate 'Timeless'. Maybe modern ''Country'' artists like Toby Keith, Travis Tritt ,Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney etc. should take notice of this one ,organize a stellar and respectful tribute the way Mr.Bob Dylan did here, and pay a little of their own respect to the Long Gone Daddy that made it possible for their music to be heard today.

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TO THE HONKY-TONK MAN

In a review of a Hank Williams anthology in this space I noted that I have been listening to a local weekend folk, rock and contemporary music interview show here in Boston for years. The format of the show is to interview, in depth, contemporary well know singers, songwriters and musicians as well as young unknowns looking to make their mark. One of the questions always asked of each interviewee is about formative influences on their musical development. Although I do not believe that I have ever heard what I would consider a country singer interviewed on the show the name Hank Williams has come up many more times than any other from young and old interviewee alike. Here some of those well-known musicians pay tribute to his influence by covering his songs for a 50th Anniversary of his death edition. The likes of Bob Dylan, Johnnie Cash and Beck do his memory honor with their own interpretations. I would note, however that, unlike a number of other artists such as the above-mentioned Dylan, that cover versions of Hank's songs do not usually measure up to his original renditions. The great exception here is Lucinda Williams (no relation, as far as I know) whose rendition of Cold, Cold Heart captured all the pathos, and more, of that tune. Listen on.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Tracks
I Can't Get You off of My Mind - Williams, Hank [1] | Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Williams, Hank | I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Williams, Hank [1] | Your Cheatin' Heart - Williams, Hank [1] | Lost on the River - Williams, Hank | You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave) - Williams, Hank | You Win Again - Williams, Hank [1] | Alone and Forsaken - Williams, Hank | I'm a Long Gone Daddy - Williams, Hank [1] | Lovesick Blues - Friend, Cliff | Cold, Cold Heart - Williams, Hank [1] | I Dreamed About Mama Last Night - Rose, Fred

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