Customer Reviews

In the Hank Williams Tradition

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I expected this tape to have several "videos" of Hank Williams performing, based on the box's listing of songs performed. I was disappointed, however, to find only one actual performance, and that was cut into by Hank, Jr., describing how his father danced. I'm sure there's not a lot of film or kinescope of Hank actually playing, but I imagined there would be more than this one clip. The three or four other songs listed as being performed by Hank are just audio performances, with still pictures, a la Ken Burns. The rest of the video consists of various stars of country music (Hank, Jr., Randy Travis, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Minnie Pearl, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Roy Acuff, Kris Kristofferson) reminiscing about Hank and singing his songs. The performances are excellent, and the interviews, especially with Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl, are very revealing. All in all, I liked the video quite a bit; it's probably more essential to fans of Hank than the "Show He Never Gave" video is. I just wish we could see more of Hank performing. END

To gain a proper understanding of Hank's influence on country music, this is a must have video. Hosted by Dwight Yoakam, this documentary gives an inside glimpse into Hank's personal life and his last days. Of particular interest are the Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff interviews as both knew Hank personally. The Hank, Jr. interruption of "Hey, Good Lookin'" was a bit distracting, but all in all it is a good video featuring a who's who of country music including Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam, Randy Travis, Chet Atkins, Hank, Jr., Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson & others.

I first saw this program on television about 10 or 12 years ago. It was the beginning of an interest/passion for the music of Hank Williams, SR. He was an astounding songwriter and a "pure original"! My favorite part of this program is Ricky Skaggs singing the Hank Williams classic "Alone and Forsaken". He (Skaggs) renders an absolutely haunting verison of that tune that literally gives me goosebumps when I (re)listen to it. I would recommend anyone getting this DVD for that alone if not for anything else. There are many of Williams's songs performed by various country artists throughout this hour-long celebration of the country music legend. I am glad I bought this DVD.

In a May 2009 review of a Hank Williams 50th Anniversary of his death tribute album, "Timeless", and in a review of the informative and balanced, "Honky-Tonk Blues", a PBS "American Masters" production of the life and times of one of the legends of American roots music -country and western branch I made the following comments most of which are germane to this 2002 tribute album to him from various artists who worked with him or were influenced by his music:

"A musical performer knows that he or she has arrived when they have accumulated enough laurels and created enough songs to be worthy, at least in some record producer's eyes, of a tribute album. When they are also alive to accept the accolades as two out of the four of the artists under review are, which in these cases is only proper, that is all to the good. That said, not all tribute albums are created equally. Some are full of star-studded covers, others are filled with lesser lights that have been influenced by the artist that they are paying tribute to. As a general proposition though I find it a fairly rare occurrence, as I have noted in a review of the "Timeless" tribute album to Hank Williams, that the cover artist outdoes the work of the original recording artist. With that point in mind I will give my "skinny" on the cover artists here......

And that is the essential point that separates the musical greats like Hank Williams from the transitory stars of the day. Over fifty years after his death his songs, heartfelt, tragic, depressive, and on a few occasions whimsical still "speak" to musicians and modern listeners alike. His life`s story, as told here through commentary by those who knew and worked with him, including various members of his "Drifting Cowboys" back-up bands, his widow, his son and grandson Hank II and III respectively, his stepdaughter and various other hometown folks, musical collaborators and music historians unrolls very much like a....Hank Williams ballad. And that again is the point-here is a case where life and art are not far apart...."

I also mentioned the following which also applies here as the various performers, including son Hank Williams, Jr., give their takes on the meaning of his music, some of the specifics of the ups and downs of his too short and troubled life and his permanent place in the American Songbook:

"Since the music is what is eternal in this troubled man's life let me finish up here with a reposting of that "Timeless" tribute album review mentioned above. It is that simple yet profound music that gives the essence of the man, his seemingly eternal marriage troubles (and some joys too, I think), his losing battle against drugs and alcohol and his search back for the happier days of his poor boy roots in Alabama after fame and fortune proved too narrow to satisfy whatever was eating at him inside."

With all that build-up all that is left to do is mention some of the performers that give their comments and cover his songs here. Let me mention that I am not generally a country and western aficionado but from what I can tell this line-up is something of a who's who of the last fifty years or so of this genre. That statement kind of says it all. Chet Atkins does an instrumental version of "So Lonesome I Could Die". Roy Acuff sings and talks about Hank. Grand Ole Opry fixture Minnie Pearl just talks. Randy Travis and Ricky Skaggs sing out a couple of nice covers. Willie Nelson does a nice version of "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It". Waylon Jennings ("The News Is Out All Over Town") and Kris Kristofferson (doing one of Hank's recitation pieces) represent the "country outlaw" tradition (as does Willie) that is the catch that has always drawn this reviewer to Hank Williams. Emmylou Harris, as always, sparkles in a couple of songs. Hank Williams, Jr. does his own song about his take on the relationship between his mother and father and leads the all-cast finale. In short, this hour presentation crams in covers of virtually every well-known Williams song. Nice stuff, Hank Williams aficionado or not.

This was absolutely wonderful, I would have liked a little more music, but it was very well done.

This video is appriciated by all who see it, and hear it. These songs are
well known to all of us who live in Nashville, "Music City". Many folks here feel Country has developed away from the Original. Yet this video seems to capture the simple singing from the heart which is the essence
of the tradtion. This is not a 'Hollywood' video with all the glamour,
glitz, and hype. These are the simple songs from the gut, which todays country sometimes forgets. While making this comment, Hank Williams Jr
is well known but does not serve to represent his father's style in this traditon . Hank Jr is Mr Monday Nite Football, not necessarily a Music City Original.