Hank Williams Album: “20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: T”

Description :

Includes liner notes by Colin Escott. Digitally remastered by Gary Mayo (Polygram Studios). Includes liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo. All tracks have been digitally remastered. This is part of MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series. Those seeking a thorough overview of country legend Hank Williams's career can seek out one of the impressive box sets devoted to the singer. Other interested parties might examine 20 GREATEST HITS or its two-disc cousin 40 GREATEST HITS. The more frugal-minded newcomer, who wants only to dip a tentative, inexpensive toe into the Williams waters, will be well suited by this budget-priced compilation. It does a fine job of encapsulating the career of an American genius in just a dozen songs. All the sides of the artist are represented here, from the hard-living honky-tonker ("Move it on Over"), to the woebegone wastrel ("Lost Highway"), and the repentant sinner ("I Saw the Light"). While this disc only gives the listener a brief taste of the treasures waiting in the Williams catalog, that taste is undeniably tantalizing.

I bought this CD after it caught my eye in the record store. I didn't know much about Hank Williams, aside from the fact that he was important to the early days of country music. As a newcomer to Hank Williams, I'm happy with the CD, but surprised that they could only find 33 minutes of material for this "twentieth century master." (the name of the series). IMHO, if an artist is dead or from the way distant past, a greatest hits should include as much material as possible. I'm sure Hank Williams has more than 12 memorable songs.

Buying a 12-song "Best of Hank Williams" c.d. is as pointless as buying one on Frank Sinatra or The Beatles. It's like eating a small bite of a sandwich and being satisfied that you ate the entire sandwich.

Williams was one of the giants of 20th Century popular music and the greatest of all country singers. Even the out-of-print "40 Greatest Hits" double set doesn't do him justice. Go ahead and buy the "Complete Hank Williams." Hank's WORTH it! Besides, prices are firming up on the set, it won't always be available, and you can pass it down to your descendents.