The Ultimate Collection (Dlx Package) [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Hank Williams Sr. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 23, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Mercury Nashville
• ASIN: B00006AO39
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,148 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some #1's Are Live Versions, Not the Studio Hits, August 23, 2002

By 

T. C Lane (Marina, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ultimate Collection (Dlx Package) (Audio CD)

The best Hank Williams compilation is one called "40 Greatest Hits" that is now out- of -print (but easily found used here on Amazon and elsewhere). It had all his essential songs in their Original form. The Ultimate Collection is a good second bet. But BEWARE! Tracks 15-20, which include 3 #1's (Lovesick Blues, Why Don't You Love Me and Moanin' The Blues) are NOT the original versions but live cuts. Nowhere on the back cover of this CD do they mention this, nor does Amazon.com's listings show this. The liner notes are decent but not spectacular and the sound is okay considering the source of most of these songs is acetate discs. So, here's the bottom line. If you just want a quick overview of Hank's hits buy the 20 track Greatest Hits (1990). If you know the songs already and feel like delving further than this is a good bargain.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stellar Collection, February 4, 2004

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ultimate Collection (Dlx Package) (Audio CD)

More than fifty years after his untimely death, Hank Williams' influence is still felt across the landscape of popular music. He is one of the few recording artists to have been inducted into both the COuntry Music Hall of Fame (1961) and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1987). Although regarded principally as a country artist, he was at heart a poet, putting into music and words the heartache, pain and loneliness that ultimately consumed him before his thirtieth birthday.

To not have any Hank Williams in your music collection is to leave a gaping hole. The problem is there are some three dozen anthologies to pick from. Is THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION the best? Maybe not, but it has much to offer. The sound quality is very good. The 28-page booklet has plenty of pictures, serviceable liner notes (written by Kira Florita, co-author of "Hank Williams: Snapshots from the Lost Highway"), and recording dates for all 42 tracks. All the biggest hits are here ("Honky Tonkin'," "Cold, Cold Heart," "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)," et.al.). There are a couple of his songs recorded as Luke the Drifter, including the weeper, "I Dreamed About Mama Last Night." CD-1 is presented chronologically, but CD-2 skips around after the first four tracks. Also, (as noted in other reviews) the last six tracks are radio transcriptions. "Why Don't You Love Me" and "Moanin' the Blues" are from a 1950 Grand Ole Opry Show; the final four tracks are taken from a 1949 WSM "Health & Happiness" radio show. The sound on these final tracks are the equal of his studio recordings and if anything add a more intimate and relaxed feel to these performances in front of a live audience.

Overall, this is an excellent overview of Williams' career, and will more than adequately provide the neophyte fan with an understanding of the legend of Hank Williams. [Running Time: Disc 1-59:29, Disc 2-50:05] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really Good but 40 Greatest and Original Singles are better, April 10, 2004

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D. Ribel "Die Hard Steeler" (Steelers Nation) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ultimate Collection (Dlx Package) (Audio CD)

If you are looking to own a basic two disc set of Hank, order 40 Greatest Hits used. What you really need to do is to buy the three disc set Original Singles Collection. The 10 disc set, Complete Hank Williams is a bit too costly, although great for the die hard fan. Avoid this "Ultimate Collection" if you can get your hands on any of the three I mentioned. The last six songs are live, not the original studio versions, the demos on here, though good, replace many other big hits found on the other sets. This collection is more of a companion to the first two listed above.