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HANK WILLIAMS Jr |
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HANK WILLIAMS Jr |
DISC 2 - HITS DISC 3 - HITS DISC 4 - LIVE We should not never neglect a compilation of Hank Williams Junior ! First, because this musician has known how to give way in the business by building up itself an original personality and by exceeding the simple status of the son of a legend of the American music. Then, because it’s the Country music artist who was the most influenced by the Southern Rock. That set includes four discs recounting the enormous career of that unique « Country man ». All his hits are listed (« Family tradition », « All my rowdy friends (have settled down) », « A country boy can survive », « If heaven ain’t a lot like Dixie ») as well as some covers of this glorious Dad (« Kaw-Liga », « Honky tonkin’ »). We appreciate the presence of some very rock’n’roll titles (“Gonna go huntin’ tonight », « Born to boogie », « Early in the morning and late at night ») and of tunes in the influences jazz (“Ain’t misbehavin’”) and blues (“My name is Bocephus”). We can smile in front of the humour (but is this really humour?) of Hank Junior on « If the South woulda won » where he declares that he would have put the portrait of his father on the hundred-dollar notes if he had become the president of the Confederacy. But Hank knows also how to touch the heart of his public with the poignant ballad « Red, white and pink slip blues » that talks about the crisis in the USA. However we are sorry about the absence of Southern Rock covers like the « Come and go blues » of Gregg Allman (in 1979). Neither « Made in the shade » of Lynyrd Skynyrd, or « La Grange » or « Blue jean blues » of ZZ Top (versions released on the famous album of 1983, « Strong stuff », whose sleeve shows Hank together with a puma). We regret even more the omission of the magnificent « Tuesday’s gone » with a solo of Gary Rossington (in 1988) or of « Simple man » released in 1991. However, these oversights are repaired by the fourth CD which proposes a live dating 1987. Even if this show was already commercially available at that time, it enlivens judiciousely this set by testifying of the fury of Hank Williams Junior and the Bama Band on stage with covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd (« Workin’ for MCA », « Sweet home Alabama ») and ZZ Top (an orgiastic version of « La Grange »). Of course, this compilation don’t escape the inconveniences of this kind of product. But, even if the choice of certain titles compared to others can seem debatable, it has the merit to sweep more or less faithfully the repertoire of this immense star of the Country music with, in addition, an awesome concert. The novices can so discover the universe of« Bocephus », mix of different influences (Country, Rock’n’roll, Rockabilly, Bluegrass, Blues, Southern Rock, Jazz). As for us, the seasoned veterans, we shall listen again with pleasure to all these magic titles of Hank Williams Junior, old buddy with whom records accompanied our binge drinking and our youth frenzies and which keeps playing this good old music of the South. « If Heaven ain’t a lot like Dixie, I don’t wanna go!” |
