Artists
Album Info
Label: Warner Vision Australia
Hosted by Hank Williams Jr. and features many of Country Music's big stars circa 1980. Starring Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee, Faron Young, Teresa Brewer, and Roy Acuff performing Hank Williams' all time greatest hits. A mixture of concert and docu-drama, Hank Williams Jr. was quoted as saying "this was the finest and most accurate portrayal of my Dad." Features a series of filmed vignettes which recreate segments of Hank Sr.'s life. Hank Williams Jr. - Hey Good Lookin' Kris Kristofferson - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Rufus Thomas - My Bucket's Got a Hole in It Kris Kristofferson -Nobody's Lonesome for Me Brenda Lee - Jambalaya Jim Owen - Honky Tonk Blues Jim Owen - Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used to Do? Brenda Lee - I Can't Help it if I'm Still in Love With You Hank Williams Jr. - You Win Again Jim Owen - Move it On Over Johnny Cash - Men With Broken Hearts Johnny Cash & Hank Williams Jr. - Kaw-Liga Jim Owen - Lovesick Blues Waylon Jennings & Hank Williams Jr. - The Conversation Faron Young - Cold, Cold Heart Hank Williams Jr. - You're Gonna Change or I'm Gonna Leave Roy Acuff - Wabash Cannonball Hank Williams Jr. - You Win Again Teresa Brewer - Your Cheating Heart Teresa Brewer - Honky Tonkin'Amazon.com
With its curious blend of tribute performance and biographical vignettes, Hank Williams: The Man and His Music serves up a tasty jambalaya of Grand Ol' Opry atmosphere and reverent appreciation. Taped before a dinner-and-cocktails audience and originally broadcast on American television in 1980, this 88-minute variety special was primarily intended as a cross-generational showcase for Hank Williams Jr. (a.k.a. "Bocephus," as his late father called him), who was then at the height of his country-music success. The father-son affection gives the show its warm glow of nostalgia, and as performed by many of Hank Sr.'s contemporaries and younger admirers, the songs remain timelessly appealing. With due respect to Hank Jr. and Kris Kristofferson, this is an old-timer's celebration, and appearances by the likes of "Sheriff" Faron Young, Roy Acuff, and Johnny Cash offer some memorable highlights of country music history. They mesh agreeably with the filmed vignettes, in which several highlights (and lowlights) of Hank Sr.'s life are recreated by sound-alike performer Jim Owen, who captures Williams's tortured spirit and troubles with alcoholism with uncanny (albeit somewhat melodramatic) authenticity. The original 2-channel stereo recording has been "extrapolated" to Dolby 5.1-channel stereo, and the result is a smooth, upgraded treat for longtime Hank Sr. devotees. --Jeff Shannon