Hank Williams, Sr

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You know, Hank Williams Sr. has been talked about in various ILM threads at various times. Yet, for an artist as clearly seminal and important as he was, he never got his own thread (it's true, check it out yerself if you don't believe me, especially before creating yet another Sigur Ros- or Strokes- related thread). Let's remedy that hasta pronto!

He's indisputably classic AFAIC, and it would be hard for me to think that anyone would disagree. Or, if one doesn't like country music, one would at least admit that Hank, Sr. is at least ubiquitous. But either way, speak up please!

― Tad (llamasfur), Monday, 11 November 2002 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

One day I'm going to go happily nuts and get that one box set that has everything. You know, ten discs or something.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 11 November 2002 02:52 (twenty-two years ago)

as someone who doesn't feel like buying "that one box set that has everything" from somebody they've yet to really hear, what would people recommend as the best First Purchase of Hank Williams Sr.? The only song I really know is that duet his ghost did with his son on VH1 back in the late '80s, "There's A Tear In My Beer."

― Anthony Miccio, Monday, 11 November 2002 02:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Anthony, for song selection, it's pretty hard to top the 2-CD 40 Greatest Hits on Mercury, the one with the yellow cover decorated with black notes.

― Curt (cgould), Monday, 11 November 2002 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Anthony, for song selection, it's pretty hard to top the 2-CD 40 Greatest Hits on Mercury, the one with the yellow cover decorated with black notes.

I agree. This is a great collection.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 11 November 2002 03:27 (twenty-two years ago)

You can also find the 2-record greatest hits on vinyl used pretty often. I just got a used cd of demos and solo radio appearances that I really like. I think it's called "Hank Williams Alone With His Guitar". Really nice to hear the songs all stripped down. "Cool Water" is my favourite song these days.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 11 November 2002 03:35 (twenty-two years ago)

What I like about Hank Senior is that he wrote some really weird, head-scratching songs. Like "Kaw-liga" about a wooden Indian (the kind that sued to sit in front of tobacco shops) who falls in love with an Indian maid at the antique store accross the street -- Hank chides him for being too stubborn to speak to her, but really the main problem is that, well, he's made of wood and can't move ("His heart was made of knotty pine.") Then at the end the Indian maid is purchased and Kaw-liga's heart is broken, and he sits there all sad wishing he was still a tree. Then there are the pounding Hollywood-style Indian drums, and Hanks's dramatic delivery. Morphine had to play a role in the creation of that one.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 11 November 2002 04:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Anthony: you can walk into any Wal-Mart (many are open 24/7) and find the latest 2-disc collection. Hank comps are like Charley Patton comps - people might have a particular favorite, but it's pretty much impossible to go wrong. Even if you pick one of the comps that focuses on a particular area - blues, spiritual songs - you'll still get much more than your money's worth.

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 11 November 2002 04:45 (twenty-two years ago)

HW Sr is responsible for the greatest pop verse ever written. It goes like this:

Why don't you spark me like you used to do?
Whisper sweet nothins like you used to coo?
I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through
So why don't you love me like you used to do?

Wait, I changed my mind. It goes like this:

I got a hot-rod Ford and a two-dollar bill
And I know a spot right over the hill
There's soda pop and the dancin's free
So if you want to have fun, some along with me!

I messed up again. That's not the right one either. I think it goes something like this:

Thibideaux, Fontaineau, the place is buzzin
Kinfold come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Dress in style, go hog-wild, me oh my-oh
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the Bayou!!

I should have known not to be impulsive. I should have listened all the way through without rushing to judgement (the tape inside my head, I mean). I should have put this first. He's clear and unfollowable, or at least inconsolable, no matter how Yvonne gets dressed.

The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 11 November 2002 06:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"come" "Kinfolk"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 11 November 2002 07:36 (twenty-two years ago)

One day I'm going to go happily nuts and get that one box set that has everything. You know, ten discs or something.

I've downloaded the boxset. I think it's well worth buying if you can afford the $170 price tag.

― Jeff (Jeff), Monday, 11 November 2002 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I can. Sometimes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 11 November 2002 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Tracer Hand that was a great post. (I kind of half-heartedly collect different versions of "I'm So Lonely I Could Cry" btw, I have seven or eight I think).

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 11 November 2002 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

The best stuff is only found on the Complete... Some of his best versions are those from the "Opry" and other radio transcriptions; and when i say "best" i mean most heartfelt.

I myself haven't bought the thing, but i did have it on loan from my local library for six weeks. Even though difficult, i was able to get the necessities onto a 90 minute cassette, and i wouldn't trade it for even a brand new copy of his (no offense) 40 Greatest.

Dub?

― christoff (christoff), Monday, 11 November 2002 18:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn Tracer, I'm sold just with those lyrics. I forgot he did "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (now I won't have to think about the Cowboy Junkies craptake anymore).

― Anthony Miccio, Tuesday, 12 November 2002 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

luke the drifter!

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I bought a greatest hits tape at a gas station. It works for me!

― Kris (aqueduct), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 06:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Someone I used to trade tapes with included a couple Hank Williams songs on his tapes. At the time it seemed like a joke to me, and I guess my first enjoyment of listening to him was ironic. Eventually, I came to realize what a brilliant song writer and powerful singer he is. Unfortunately, there's still a lot about the music that I have to struggle to get past, so I don't listen to him all that much. (Also he doesn't fit in well with most of what I do listen to regularly.) But I definitely think he's great.

You clap hands and I'll start bowing

We'll do all the laws allowin'

Tomorrow I'll be right back plowing

Setting the woods on fire

― Rockist Scientist, Tuesday, 12 November 2002 23:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I also have eight versions of I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, and have often cited the verse Tracer quotes as the greatest ever written. Very classic indeed - one of the top contenders for Greatest Songwriter Ever, as far as I'm concerned.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 18 November 2002 22:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I also have & like "Hank Williams With Strings" (strings dubbed in post-mortem) -- I'm sure it's sacrilege to many, but I like the songs w/ the lush arrangements, give them a Hollywood quality.

― Mark (MarkR), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 04:11 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

Hmmm!
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003855599
This has been floating around on bootleg for a while, but seems like a pretty hefty addition to Hank's official catalogue. I haven't heard every last thing, but there's some great stuff. not to mention maybe the greatest songwriter of the 20th century doing ad spots for flour.

― tylerw, Friday, 26 September 2008 16:21 (sixteen years ago)

WFMU just recently posted an incredible live recording from 1952 up here:

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/09/hank-wiliams.html

He looks so strange in that "Cold Cold Heart" performance, a living scarecrow. This guy wasn't your typical 50s country star, he was real backwoods, and obviously on some other level. If I could write anything as good as the worst Hank Williams song I would be happy for life.

Hank's just one of those musicians who stops time whenever I hear them. My favorite memory is one time I was dating a girl from Alabama and she took me to see his grave and it was such a beautiful moment; it's just on the top of some pretty hill with two absolutely huge tombstones, his mom right next to him. I recommend reading that "Your Cheatin' Heart" book and listening to every and any Hank EVER.

― Adam Bruneau, Friday, 26 September 2008 19:45 (sixteen years ago)

It really makes me happy that Hank Williams is on youtube

― Adam Bruneau, Friday, 26 September 2008 19:47 (sixteen years ago)

"Settin the Woods on Fire" has some of the funniest, realest, dumb-ass lyrics ever thought up

BIG thanks for the links!

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 26 September 2008 23:06 (sixteen years ago)

four years pass...

60 years ago today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5DGTCbZL7U&feature=youtu.be

― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 1 January 2013 19:23 (twelve years ago)

Hmm, did that not show up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5DGTCbZL7U

― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 1 January 2013 19:33 (twelve years ago)

Never saw this thread before---these two items made my Nash Scene ballot for 2011 releases. From comments:

Jack White's Barney Fife bravura helps The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams to represent Hank’s range, as does Hank’s own The Legend Begins (speedy exuberance of very early tracks, and the finally unscrewed-with, appropriately edited Health and Happiness Show broadcasts)

I found The Legend Begins on Hank's MySpace, with a bunch of his others (Johnny Cash's MySpace had his totally cool Sun box, also in my Best Reissues)

― dow, Thursday, 3 January 2013 02:14 (twelve years ago)

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