A Six Pack to Go

Hank Thompson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bear Family
• ASIN: B0014KWLNO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,377,950 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Hank Thompson created a distinctive and durable approach to Honky Tonk by fusing his vocals with buoyant, Western Swing-flavored accompaniment from his Brazos Valley Boys. On all but one number, Hank’s friend Merle Travis’ electric guitar graces the recordings here. The title song was a Top Ten single for Hank in 1960. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super collection of Thompson's work at Capitol, December 24, 2004

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Six Pack to Go (Audio CD)

By the time of this album's 1966 release, Thompson was already two years removed from his tenure at Capitol. His then-former label pulled this 12-pack from tracks Thompson recorded in the late '50s and early 60's, including the 1961 title smash. Like many of the albums Thompson recorded in the late '50s, Capitol assembled this one along a thematic line, with bars and drinking at the center of every song.

Thompson's Western Swing is equally at home on the two-stepping "Honky Tonk Town" as it is on the polkas "Beer Barrel Polka" and "Bartender's Polka." His voice is warm and surprisingly upbeat given the tenor of the material. His 1952 smash "The Wild Side of Life" is heard here is a 1962 remake (though not the stereo of which the liner notes speak), retaining its pathos even with the undercutting of a choral background. Better yet is Allen Flatt's "A Broken Heart and a Glass of Beer," which manages to swing along even as tears soak the bar.

Besides rounding up a nice collection of drinking-related titles, Capitol also picked sides on which legendary guitarist Merle Travis lent his distinctive leads. Thompson's Brazos Valley Boys add superb support with fine steel and fiddle throughout. Most of Thompson's original theme albums remain out of print (e.g., "Songs for Rounders"), but lucky for us, Capitol did a fine job of assembling this one, and Sundazed has returned it to domestic print.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey, it's Hank Thompson, March 2, 2007

By 

57Johnnie (Montrose, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Six Pack to Go (Audio CD)

Hank does the great Cindy Walker song 'Bubbles in My Beer' on this disc. I think it's the only time he recorded it. A little different take than the Bob Wills/Tommy Duncan version. A lot of other great songs but this one alone makes buying the disc worthwhile.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great mix of honkytonk and western swing, April 9, 2009

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Six Pack to Go (Audio CD)

"Six-Pack To Go" was my radio theme song for over a decade on the air... and it's a doozy of a song! Nice to see it in print along withthe rest of this fun album. Great stuff from one of the biggest and best stars in classic country. Highly recommended! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue Guide To Hick Music)