Bottom Line:
When you bring together one of the greatest voices in country music and one of the greatest songwriters of all time, you can't help but come up with something extra special. That's what we have here with this collection of songs. All you have to say is "Waylon sings Hank" and you know immediately who is being talked about - the singer and the songwriter. They are each iconic, country music giants, the names both absolutely synonymous with the genre; there was no one like Hank; there will never be anyone like Waylon. Bringing the two together was practically compulsory.
I didn't have to listen to this disc to know I'd like it. As I noted already, I tend to think of
Waylon Jennings as one of the finest voices that country music ever produced. His crisp,
powerful baritone is one of those that is absolutely, automatically identifiable; no one sings like
Waylon. Many can imitate, but no one sounds like him, no one delivers a song like him, and
very few have his uncanny ear and spectacular style. He was a country bluesman like no other.
And there are few who would or could argue that Hank Williams was not the greatest songwriter
to ever grace country music. It boggles the mind to consider the masterpieces he churned out in
his all too brief time on Earth; it makes one wonder what he could have accomplished had he
been given a few more years. Hank Williams was an enormous influence on the young Waylon;
as a DJ Waylon played Hank's songs - once he formed his first band, he wouldn't do a show
without at least one Hank tune. He wrote several songs about Hank Williams, including one
which became one of his biggest hits ( "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"). So you
bring together some of Hank's greatest songs, including the absolutely penultimate country song,
"Cold Cold Heart," along with "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Be Careful of
Stones That You Throw," and "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)," along with Waylon's
voice, and there really isn't any way you can go wrong. So there it is. I'm already sold on the
project. That only leaves the listening - and, of course, wow.
I didn't have to listen to this disc to know I'd like it. As I noted already, I tend to think of
Waylon Jennings as one of the finest voices that country music ever produced. His crisp,
powerful baritone is one of those that is absolutely, automatically identifiable; no one sings like
Waylon. Many can imitate, but no one sounds like him, no one delivers a song like him, and
very few have his uncanny ear and spectacular style. He was a country bluesman like no other.
And there are few who would or could argue that Hank Williams was not the greatest songwriter
to ever grace country music. It boggles the mind to consider the masterpieces he churned out in
his all too brief time on Earth; it makes one wonder what he could have accomplished had he
been given a few more years. Hank Williams was an enormous influence on the young Waylon;
as a DJ Waylon played Hank's songs - once he formed his first band, he wouldn't do a show
without at least one Hank tune. He wrote several songs about Hank Williams, including one
which became one of his biggest hits ( "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"). So you
bring together some of Hank's greatest songs, including the absolutely penultimate country song,
"Cold Cold Heart," along with "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Be Careful of
Stones That You Throw," and "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)," along with Waylon's
voice, and there really isn't any way you can go wrong. So there it is. I'm already sold on the
project. That only leaves the listening - and, of course, wow.
Song List:
- Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
- Hey Good Lookin'
- Honky Tonkin'
- I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
- Half As Much
- Blues Come Around
- Why Should We Try Anymore
- Be Careful Of Stones That You Throw
- I Won't Be Home No More
- Mansion On The Hill
- Cold Cold Heart
- They'll Never Take Her Love From Me
- Bonus Material: Waylon Speaks
