Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Collection (Dlx Package)

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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.

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

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.

I have spent almost an hour reading all the reviews on Hank. I remember Hank -- I saw him at the Grand Ole Opry, when he appeared in Chicago, and anytime he was close enough to Chicago for me to get to the theater.

When I heard of Hank's death I sat down and cried.
(Guess that gives my age away -- 75 yrs.)

I guess I can't be called a completest. I purchased the Ultimate Collection and 20 Greatest Hits because they have all the songs I really like -- no, love -- on them. Hank had a way of telling the story in his songs. I sometimes thought he was telling my story in some of his songs.

However, since the completest sets have been mentioned think I'll look them up and check them over.

One thing about Hank's songs -- he has been dead for a long time now and his songs are still being played and sung. That in itself is a tribute to Hank Williams.

No matter which albumn you get you will not be disappointed. They are all timeless. You will not be disappointed.
Dorothy W. Rossa
Chicago, Illinois

At last, an affordable collection of Hank Williams' best pristine material presented with terrific liner notes and a great cover photo. This collection contains all of Hank's major hits (before and after his death) and one might quibble here and there (sequencing the songs in chronological order would render this set perfect) but as an introduction to one of the most important half dozen musicians of the twentieth century, this superb set does the job like no other Hank collection. Essential.

This is the 21st Century update of the once-definitive "40 Greatest Hits" collection (which first came out in 1978...) This fine 2-CD set has a lot of overlap with the old best-of, but also veers off in new directions, taking advantage of all the Hank Williams rarities that have come out of the vaults in the past couple of decades. This has 42 tracks total, including a bunch of radio performances and demos, as well as a couple of "Luke The Drifter" recitation tunes. This makes for a nicely balanced Hank collection, highlighting him in a variety of settings, but also of necessity means that some of the more canonical Williams hits (which were on the earlier best-of) had to be nudged out to make room for the new material. Still, it's Hank. How could you go wrong?? A great introduction to one of the towering figures of 20th Century popular music.

First of all, I'd just like to say that I PRAY that the reviewer who compared Toby Keith and Garth Brooks to Hank Sr was simply being sarcastic. I really do. No disrespect to either of those guys, I am sure they are great guys, but to say they even approach Hank's level is insane.

I am a 22 year old English major. I am not a fan of country music. I always liked Johnny Cash okay, and the O Brother soundtrack was good too, but that was about it. Then about a year ago, I got into Hank Williams pretty much by accident and I have been hooked ever since. I've always loved the great songwriters (Dylan, Guthrie, Springsteen, Lennon/McCartney, and more recently, Cobain) and good lyrics, but I honestly believe Hank outshines them all. He may not have all of the poetic skills as a Bob Dylan or the ability to create abstract images and stories, but what sets Hank apart from the rest is his ability to emotionally move the listener, especially in his songs of heartache and depression. He'll literally tear your heart out and hold it in front of you. And he has something for everybody. Whether you like his hits or his darker, more morbid demos, he's sure to please open minded listeners.

That's what makes this collection so great! Sure the 40 Greatest Hits package has more of his hits, but this collection gives the beginner Hank listener a better idea of what he was all about. It's also a nice option for those who are Hank fans, but don't want to shell out the money for the Complete Hank Williams box set like I did. Most of his greatest hits are included here, as well as a great selection of some of his best demos. Alone and Forsaken, Ready to Go Home, and Angel of Death are as good as anything Hank ever recorded in the studio. I also like how they decided to include the live version of Lovesick Blues. Hank was a great live performer and this live recording of Lovesick Blues is far better than the hurried studio version (those who know the story behind Lovesick Blues will know what I am talking about.)

In short, if you are just starting to get interested in Hank, this is a perfect collection for you. In a world of fake pop stars that can't even write their own songs and are only making it because of their good looks, one will almost certainly have to look back into the past to find REAL music, whatever the genre. And Hank Sr is as REAL as it gets.

Hank Willaims was a key inspiration for most of the music that we have grown up with. Listen to Hank - then Carl Perkins ("Sure To Fall", for example) and then the early Beatles doing "Sure To Fall" and George Harrison's rock-a-billy guitar work on "Live At The BBC". The connection is obvious. By the time Hank was taken from us, "Settin' The Woods On Fire" had set the stage for rock 'n' roll.
However, forget that. The man was a poet and the best white vocalist ever recorded. This is the REAL DEAL folks - buy this CD if you can't afford the Complete Hank Williams Boxed Set.
Unfortunately, today's country music has become prepackaged commercial sound-alikes that are totally devoid of the soul that comes from living the blues. But fear not, those of you who are looking for authentic music that was born in the hardscrabble honky tonks of the deep south, rather than it's office buildings - just buy this CD! You will treasure it for the rest of your days and it will never fail to reach your heart and soul and keep your toes tapping. Yes, absolutely, Hank was THAT good.

I could have sworn I had already reviewed this CD set. Something is amiss with Amazon.com's software, I guess.

Buy this set folks. I listen to these two CDs almost every day. This set is for folks that want the high priced "Complete Hank" set but can't see putting that kind of money on the table all at one whack. Tailor made for the penny pincher. Buy it.

Back in the 60's a nice two record set of Hank's top hits came out and I had a friend that owned the set. I borrowed it and made a good recording on 7 in. reels with my then Akia-reel to reel recording deck. This CD set carries most of the songs that were on that double LP set. I think that this CD set is "Great" for the person who wants to get some of Hank's basic stuff, but after visiting a music store and seeing a set that I didn't know existed called "The Complete Hank Williams/10 CD box set" I made up my mind that for a true Old Time Collector of "REAL" Country music like myself this set is the only way to go! The 2CD set that this review is about is exceptional and has a lot of Hank's Favorites and if you are looking for some good basic stuff from Hank -buy it- But I have my sites set on the Big Box and as soon as I pick it up I'll be sure and give you all an honest review on that set also ! "ENJOY"