Hank Williams Album: “I Saw the Light”

Description :

Compilation producers: Colin Escott, Kira Florita. Recorded between 1946 & 1951. Includes liner notes by Colin Escott. Digitally remastered by Suha Gur (Universal Mastering Studios East). Website: www.hankwilliams.com Like all the best sinners, Hank really just wanted be a saint. I SAW THE LIGHT focuses on that important spiritual side of his life and work. This compilation represents the other side of the coin from Hank Williams's heartbroken laments and barroom ballads. I SAW THE LIGHT focuses on Hank's spiritual side, which was a major element of his work. No matter what kind of situation Williams found himself in, in art or life, his faith in Jesus was never far from his mind. Many of the hymn-like tunes here came about when Hank found himself painted into an emotional corner, with no one to turn to except God. At those moments, he wrote some of the most poignant spiritual songs ever composed. The title cut is the best example, as its narrator details his worldly tribulations in detail before describing his eventual salvation. It's no wonder that the song eventually became a gospel staple on a par with anything else in the hymn book. I SAW THE LIGHT is country gospel at its most vital. To ignore this side of his work is to deny oneself a complete picture of Wiliams's songwriting genius.

wonderful old music. brought back many great memories. many words we should all think of everyday. People today have lost their love of one another. We need to get back the old standards or how we treat out neighbors. We have the 33 rpm record and now enjoy having the CD to play while traveling.

The producers of this CD did a terrific job reproducing Hank's music to make it sound even better than when it was issued on the original 78 RPM phonograph records. Many of the selections on this release were entirely new to me. I knew that Hank had written "I Saw The Light", which is a gospel masterpiece in itself, but as for the other selections on the CD, I was completely caught by surprise and extremely delighted. For those who want to know what old fashion gospel music sounded like 60 years ago, these recordings are the right choice to make.