Disco de Hank Williams Jr.: “20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Hank Williams, Jr.”

Yeah, I know most folks enjoy the so-called "Outlaw" Hank Jr., but here is a superb collection of his early works. I have always felt that Hank Jr has had one of the strongest voices in country music; whether imitating his old-man, or doing southern fried boogie. This collection by 20th Century Masters, covers his pre-rowdy days, and includes: "Cajun Baby", "Eleven Roses", "Living Proof", and "It's All Over but the crying". It is said that Hank Jr was conflicted with imitating his father, and of course, the autobiographical "Living Proof" seems to point that out, but it is also quite apparent that Hank was developing his own smooth style, that was quickly becoming polished. Would Hank have gained the popularity he now has if he would have stayed this route???...probably not, as he'd be competing with folks like Bobby Bare. But, if you put away the bandanas, cowboy boots, and sunglasses, there's a fine voice that can compete with anyone else on the scene. And this album is living proof of that.

hank williams jr. is one talented s.o.b. i bought this remastered pre outlaw and pre rowdy hank album/cd primarily for two songs, "the last love song" and "i'll think of something." if you can listen to these two songs and not think of williams as a great singer then i just don't know? he is in fact a great singer, a great songwriter and a more than capable musician who plays multiple instruments! that is why i'm puzzled and saddened by the change in career path he took about 25 years ago or so? i'm talking about the redneck, extremely loud, boorish, rowdy and foolish and often drunk hank persona he adopted? he in effect has cheapened and cheated himself and his art and his real fans!........sad! i mean just listen to his mid 70's southern rock and outlaw movement influenced albums such as "hank williams jr. and friends" and "habits old and new." whether he's doing a classic toy caldwell song "can't you see" or his own great stuff "dinosaur","the blues man" or "all in alabama" you can't deny the artistry in mr. williams mind! i mean the first time i heard "the blues man" and "all in alabama" knowing a little about his addictions and his near fatal fall on ajax mountain in western montana and my mouth just hung open. you talk about art being influenced by life? there is also a number of other great songs on some other very good albums from the late 70's and early 80's such as "all my rowdy friends", "a country boy can survive" and "the conversation" with waylon jennings that are further evidence of this man's huge talent! a few years ago on the nashville network or something kid rock was on a tv special talking about how hank jr. was a major music influience on him and taught him to detune his guitar strings to get a certain country blusey old southern sound, as a music and hank jr. fan i just ate that up! i just feel like he sold out and sold his soul for the fast easy buck and became a monkey when he didn't have to? just take a look at how some other artist of his era have handled their careers? i.e. mellencamp, seger, petty, jackson browne and charlie daniels are a few who come to mind. .............are you ready for some footballlllll..........yeah right?..... i'll choose to listen to the earlier more artistic version of this near great artist who once upon a time not only had some musical integrity but a little bit of personal integrity to go along with it. ........something else bothers me too, last year during the presidential political campaign he was with sarah palin of all people making some fairly stupid statements? now here is a man who grew up in the deep south in the 1950's, 60's and 70's and who has lived in and traveled the south his whole life and has had to of witnessed all kinds of terrible things including cruel poverty afflicting both white and black? yet he chose to campaign for someone who would have cut to the bone funding for the all important programs such as school lunch programs for poor students, prenatal and children's healthcare, student loans and education grants, let alone programs for the elderly and the disabled ect. not to mention the first chance a mccain/palin administration got they would have appointed neo-conservative, christian moral majority rightwing redneck nutjobs to the supreme court who would have weakened every fair housing, fair employment and every other equal rights law they got their fat little hands on just like the previous administration attempted to do while giving every tax break possible to the wealthy and healthy while starting up the vile disgusting war in iraq that has cost this county trillions of dollars which has led us to the finacial fix we are all in. he really surprised me? the things i heard him say while standing next to sarah palin of all people?...... my god! he lost some major and i do mean major points in my eyes.....the point i'm trying to make here is as a child of the south from the 50's to the 70's he was in a unique position to see the worst of what this country had to offer? he saw the oppressive,immoral and illegal ways of jim crow for himself. i can only conclude he didn't then and doesn't care now? that's a moral short coming of his that he'll have to deal with some day................one last thing, it's also a shame very little if any of his work with curb records is available in 24 bit remastered form? a real shame, as an artist he certainly deserves that much.