Customer Reviews

The Pressure Is On: Original Classic Hits, Vol. 7

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is definitely my all-time favorite Hank album. When I was a kid my dad had this on vinyl and I remember listening to it the night before going fishing in Gettysburg, PA. The memories this album conjures up for me are amazing. My favorite song is probably 'Tennessee Stud' with its "Johnny Cash-like" vocal delivery. Of course the classic 'Country Boy Can Survive' is on this one which is very fun to perform at karaoke by the way. Other highlights include 'Ramblin' In My Shoes' featuring the late great Boxcar Willie, 'Mr Weatherman' which reminds one a bit of Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight', and the title track 'The Pressure Is On' where Hank's Greg Allman influence just shines. In my opinion this CD is a must-have for all country fans. It sounds just as good today as when it was first released and will sound good until we're all gone. It is timeless!!

"A Country Boy Can Survive" is worth the price of the album alone, but the rest of the material is classic Bocephus.

The standard of this album is set by the opening track, the classic A country boy can survive. The coalition to ban coalitions is one those political songs that Hank is so good, but this is one that a lot of people can empathize with to some extent, whatever their own political beliefs. Of course, everybody feels like joining one of those coalitions at some time or other, when things or values they treasure are threatened. Tennessee stud is a cover of the classic horse song by Jimmy Driftwood. Rambling in my shoes is a duet with Boxcar Willie, a singer who achieved fame in the UK but, as I understand, remained virtually unknown in his homeland. Boxcar also contributed the train whistle effects. The title track is a smoldering bluesy song.

All my rowdy friends have settled down, lamenting how his friends no longer spend as much time enjoying themselves drinking, was one of the biggest hits of Hank's hugely successful career. I don't care if tomorrow never comes, a great duet with George Jones, is about having a good time - so perhaps Hank found one rowdy friend he could still drink with. Weatherman is another great bluesy song, in which Hank begs for a change in the weather. Every time I hear that song is another lament, this time remembering someone he misses. The controversial Ballad of Hank Williams, in which Hank makes his views on his father clear to the tune of Battle of New Orleans, completes an outstanding album.

This is, by Hank's standards, quite a mellow album, proving that he can be brilliant even when he's not being rowdy. Although I normally prefer him when he's rowdy, I enjoy both aspects of his music and the strength of the material here ensures that this is one of my favorite albums of his.

Every element of this album is absolutely perfect. Hank reaches back to the previous generation of Country Music superstars to remake himself and revitalize his career. "A Country Boy can Survive" and "All my Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" are certainly pure Bocephus, but "Tennessee Stud", a Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs staple is wonderfully re-recorded by Hank Jr. The duets on this album with George Jones ("I Don't Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)") and Boxcar Willy ("Ramblin' in My Shoes") combine elements of the past with Jr.'s unique style and are just what the doctor ordered. Reaching back the furthest is "The Ballad of Hank Williams", which uses the tune to Johnny Horton's "Battle of New Orleans" to tell of the raucous lifestyle of Bocephus' legendary father and the travails of his band. In my mind, all ten of these songs are pure country gold!!!

Well the songs "country boy" and "all my rowdy friends (have settled down)" are worth buying it for alone but you also get a duet of hank and george jones on "if tomorrow never comes". I have played this Tape in my van for a long time over and over till i seen the price on this CD and i jumped on it, the price was amazing because i would have payed double that for such classix hank songs, songs that show why hank is one of the best around. This is a must buy for any hank fan.

IF you liked Hank 20 years ago, this disc will take you right back to the 1980's! A decidedly invaluable addition to my Hank collection!

WELL, You gotta LOVE Hank Jr. Don't have a lot of his stuff yet. All the songs are "great ones". I had never heard this one though, thought it was hilllllarious!!! "THE BALLAD OF HANK WILLIAMS"...

I find it incredibly ironic that many other reviewers state how their father turned them onto this album (Hank Jr.'s best in my opinion), as my first memory of hearing it is with my own father. It was a rainy day in Georgia that I'll never forget-the music seemed to quietly reflect the weather (and was enhanced by it). My favorite is no doubt the hard-to-find version of "Tennessee Stud". I love the mournful song that shares it's title with the album, "The Pressure Is On" and "Mr. Weatherman" has a permanent place in my heart. I'm about to order this, as I've lost my copy and need to hear some *good* country music. Great album for any Hank Jr. fan.

Hank in his prime. Good old country.

The pressure is on when you have a 120 ton freight train on your tail, cool album cover with Hank singing all the way down the railroad line, if you don't like this album you don't like Hank Williams Jr. - "A Country Boy Can Survive" is the prime intro, "Tennessee Stud" is a rock version of a Doc Watson standard, "I Don't Care If Tommorrow Never Comes" is the only recording of Hank and George Jones on a duet, "The Pressure Is On", "Mr Weatherman", Jr. is pouring out the blues, "Ramblin' In My Shoes" is Boxcar Willie and Hank with Boxcar's train whistle impression, nobody could sound off a train whistle like Boxcar Willie, "All My Rowdy Friends(Have Settled Down)" tells the story of some old friends and highwaymen. "Ballad Of Hank" features Hank Sr.'s late steel player Don Helms, Hank Jr. recently wrote "The Last Driftin' Cowboy" as a tribute to Helms featured on Hank's new 2009 album "127 Rose Avenue", his best recording in over twenty years. The Pressure Is On, 1981, Hank Williams Jr. is on top of his game.