Hank Williams - 40 Greatest Hits POLL

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Not at all what I expected!

Indexed, Monday, 13 May 2024 14:45 (two weeks ago) link

Both songs tied at #1 are probably the ones I've heard covered most, so not surprising, but "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle" getting zero votes is a huge surprise - I would've predicted it for the top three.

birdistheword, Monday, 13 May 2024 17:12 (two weeks ago) link

the lyrics cancel it these days, but Kaw-liga was the first song that drew me in as a kid listening to my parents copy of the greatest hits. I now realize it's because it's the rare early country song built around drums.

Bertold Brak (bendy), Monday, 13 May 2024 17:18 (two weeks ago) link

xp any of those covers worth sharing?

Indexed, Wednesday, 15 May 2024 14:27 (two weeks ago) link

There's so many, it's hard to pick one. "Lost Highway" sticks out because Hank didn't write that, it's a Leon Payne song. Here's the "original" version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6P6_nwnZ-c

Per Colin Escott: "In recent years, 'Lost Highway' has been the title of several books, a stage show, a record label, and a television series. In 1997, director David Lynch used it as a film title. It's seen as one of Hank's defining records, if not a defining moment in country music, which makes it ironic that it barely dented the charts on release and doubly ironic that it's not even one of Hank's songs."

The Mekons also did it for my favorite Mekons album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMzszayth1k

Jason & The Scorchers also did it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F67Jzc0cB-4

Jeff Buckley recorded it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLg0YzIZ1W4

Many, many more...

birdistheword, Wednesday, 15 May 2024 19:22 (two weeks ago) link

And "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" probably has a wider breadth of singers covering it: many jazz and pop singers have covered it, like Helen Merrill and Connie Stevens, lots of rock n' rollers like Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Tommy James and The Shondells, Del Shannon, The Everly Brothers, etc...but Alfred posted my favorite already, from Al Green on what's probably the greatest of his '70s masterpieces, Call Me.

birdistheword, Wednesday, 15 May 2024 19:25 (two weeks ago) link

Here's another famous cover besides Al Green's - Cassandra Wilson did it for New Moon Daughter which is her biggest (and possibly best) album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBvVwgEjRsM

birdistheword, Wednesday, 15 May 2024 19:29 (two weeks ago) link

I'm mistaken, Alfred didn't post a link, so here it is!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WxrKOh3ZkI

birdistheword, Wednesday, 15 May 2024 19:36 (two weeks ago) link

This song isn't on the compilation, but Haggard's version is my favorite version of any Hank Williams song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwTxVaB1vVc

Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Wednesday, 15 May 2024 19:40 (two weeks ago) link

I think the number one track I would have gone for is called May You Be Alone. I thought I knew it from that 40 Greatest Hits set. The Godz cover it on Contact High.
Failing that I went for I Saw The Light.

Stevo, Wednesday, 15 May 2024 19:57 (two weeks ago) link


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