Essential Hank Snow

Hank Snow | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 1997)
• Original Release Date: April 29, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000002WZE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,714 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #30 in Music > Country > Cowboy
  • #34 in Music > World Music > North America > Canada
  • #40 in Music > Country > Roadhouse Country

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Tender ballads, urgent travel songs, infectious boogies--Canadian Hank Snow not only handled them all, but he handled them quite well and rode them all to the top of the country charts. His music was a logical extension of his idol Jimmie Rodgers's style, and Snow's letter-perfect, prudently effective vocal delivery and crisp, tasteful acoustic-guitar runs graced countless (actually, 36) top 10 country hits. This 20-song collection provides a nice introduction to his various styles and captures all of his best-known songs. His own compositions "I'm Movin' On" and "Rhumba Boogie" plus covers like "I've Been Everywhere" and "I Don't Hurt Anymore" were not only hugely dominant hits (Shania wasn't the first Canadian country phenom), but they remain cornerstones of country. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: SNOW,HANK
Title: ESSENTIAL
Street Release Date: 04/29/1997
Domestic
Genre: COUNTRY TRADITIONAL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Singing Ranger!, December 20, 2003

By 

Mcgivern Owen L (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Hank Snow (Audio CD)

Hank Snow, the late Singing Ranger from Liverpool, Nova Scotia had 65 Billboard hits from 1949-1974. All were on the RCA label, which must have made it a bit easier to assemble such a worthwhile compilation. "The Essential Hank Snow" spans his golden years from "I'm Movin' On" (1949) to "Hello Love" (1974). EACH of the 20 tracks was a top 10 Billboard selection! All of Hank's 6 # 1 songs are here including the epics, "I Don't Hurt Anymore" (1954) and "I'm Moving On". Both stayed on the charts for over 40 weeks (!).What's not to like here? Personal favorites are highly subjective but this reviewer loved "Would You Mind?" from 1955, "The Wishing Well" from 1965 and the aforementioned "Hello Love". Other reviewers have helpfully noted that short of buying an expensive box set, this CD is the best way of owning a solid, if not completely inclusive selection of Snow's work. On a related note, serious country fans should pay very close attention to the "Essential" series for reliable albums of the best music from our past heroes. The EHS is good, solid classic country as its' best. It is long beyond saying that they are not making any more Hank Snows and never will again. This reviewer would also bet that Mr. Snow was a true gentleman in real life, eh.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent music, great sound, but........., August 31, 2000

By 

Ronald George Reagan (Steele, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Hank Snow (Audio CD)

Hank Snow. One of the most important people in country music history no doubt. I've been a Hank Snow fan for many of my 27 years and while this is a good set and serves as a decent intro to his music, there's a little bit lacking here. First of all, BMG misses all of his early, early hits from Canada that would've made for nice listening. Also, they fail to represent Hank's undying love for the music of Jimmie Rodgers (he released 2 LP's of Jimmie's music) or his love for gospel music. It's not that they didn't have enough room for it either as the CD only runs around 55 minutes and a CD can hold up to around 75-80 minutes of playing time. Yes, this works as a great intro to Hank's music, but BMG could've given a bit more such as "The Next Voice You Hear" or "Merry Go Round of Love" which are minor hits in comparison to "I'm Movin' On", "Hello, Love" and others, but are still first rate cuts.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Far and away the best collection of "The Singing Ranger", February 18, 2005

By 

Paul Tognetti "The real world is so much more... (Cranston, RI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Hank Snow (Audio CD)

He was a star in his native Canada for quite a few years before he exploded onto the American country music scene in early 1950 with his debut single "Marriage Vow". American audiences just loved him and before that incredible year was over Hank Snow would become a member of the Grand Ole Opry and his recording of "I'm Moving On" would top the Billboard "Top Country Singles" chart for a record-setting 21 weeks! Hank Snow would go on to become one of the biggest country acts of the 1950's and would ultimately be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1979.
"The Essential Hank Snow" chronicles his 30 year run at RCA records. This disc features 20 of his all-time best digitally remastered for your enjoyment. There are so many outstanding tunes in this collection that it is difficult to choose a favorite. I have been always partial to Hank's incredible 1962 hit "I've Been Everywhere". I also thoroughly enjoyed the rollicking "The Gal Who Invented Kissin'" from 1952, an odd mix of country and calypso that works just perfectly. Also included is "I Don't Hurt Anymore" which topped the charts for 20 weeks in 1954. Incredibly, every single one of the 20 tracks in this collection were Top Ten country hits. I enjoyed all of them.
After perusing the available options on amazon.com I have come to the conclusion that this is by far the best Hank Snow collection available. The collection comes with extremely interesting liner notes and as I mentioned earlier the remastering job is terrific. If you are a fan or a student of American popular music like I am, this disc is an absolute "must have" for your collection. Highly recommended.