Hank Williams Jr. Album: “20 Hits Special Collection, Vol. 1”

While this release by Curb records encompasses quite a large chunk of Hank Jr's career, the sound is less than perfect (to say the least). The CD begins with Hank Jr's copy of his father's classics "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "You Win Again", then a few of Jr's earlier Nashville Sound numbers "You Win Again" and "Rainin' in My Heart". While these are fairly representative of his early career, the sound quality is poor, and nothing like the originally released albums which contained these songs. But, then we take a a large jump into the rowdier Hank Jr with such hits as "Family Tradition", "Texas Women", and "Dixie On My Mind". I'm not sure where Curb got their master tapes, but there's a world of difference between the first 7 numbers and the last 13. Personally, I think you'd do better purchsing the original "Greatest Hits" CD's that are still available.

HANK WILLIAMS JR.-20 HITS: Although not as expressive a belter or prolific a tunesmith as his legendary father (hell, who WAS?), HANK WILLIAMS JR. was nonetheless one of the most beloved components of country's so-called "outlaw" movement that also embraced WAYLON and WILLIE. 20 HITS is a decent hodgepodge of outspoken classics from HANK JR.'s rebel-rousin' reign, starting with a few syrupy ballads from his pre-kick ass era before jumping abruptly into BOCEPHUS barnburners like MOBILE BOOGIE, the banjo-punctuated DIXIE ON MY MIND, and the delightful lament ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS HAVE SETTLED DOWN. Throughout his career HANK JR. proudly namechecked his long gone daddy in tales like FAMILY TRADITION and WHISKEY BENT AND HELL BOUND, while frequently dipping into his classic songbook. Macho singalongs HONKY TONKIN', THERE'S A TEAR IN MY BEER, and ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS ARE COMIN' OVER TONIGHT are all missing in action here; these spirited soul shots should have gotten the nod over the mellow, string-laden ditties he tackled as a young man, on which he sounds like a completely different artist (and he was).

RATING: THREE BULLETS

this is another great bocephus album. you just cant go wrong when listening to hank williams jr, are any hank williams for that matter. everyone of these songs are great, i have them all on diffrent albums. still need this one though. but ya" boy it sure would have been nice to see little bocephus on this one, maybe next time. we'll see. a happy fan.

anything by Bocephus is a treasure.Hank shines best when he rocks and his attitude comes shining through