Hank Williams - 40 Greatest Hits [IMPORT]

Hank Williams Sr.

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1978
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram UK
• ASIN: B000001F76
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,117 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

With a legend like Hank, than man who largely dragged country music into the modern age, the question is how do you pick just 40 of his songs? There were the immediately obvious biggies like "Hey Good Lookin'," "Jambalaya," and "Move It On Over," but almost everything was a gem in one way or another. Whether this collection is the greatest hits or not will depend on the listener, but for anyone with even the slightest curiosity about country music, it's essential listening. Hank was a landmark of the genre, and to hear him is to understand how country could change from rural to urban. Essential listening for everyone. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Songs that live forever, September 23, 2003

By	Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Hank was a fine singer who ensured his place in popular music history by the exceptional quality of his songwriting. His songs were often recorded by pop singers of the time and this practice has continued ever since. He rarely recorded covers - so rarely that the ones he did record are often thought of as his own songs anyway.

This compilation was originally released on vinyl and later re-issued on CD. As far as song selection goes, this is the ultimate double CD of his music. The sound quality is plenty good enough for me, though it might be interesting to hear it digitally re-mastered with the latest technology.

Virtually every famous song associated with Hank can be found here, including all his own hits on the American country and pop charts. You can also find all the songs that have become popular via cover versions, some of which were only B-sides for Hank. The most significant omission (and it took me a while to notice that it was missing) is Honky tonkin', a great song but not absolutely essential.

Tribute albums and other cover versions continue to be recorded, not just in country and pop music, but also Cajun, jazz, rock and other genres, so each new generation gets reminded of Hank's legacy.

There have been many compilations of Hank's music but this is the only one that contains all the essentials and no more. As such, it is the ideal compilation for most people. I thought that the more recent British 4 CD budget box (Hillbilly hero) might include all the songs from this set but it does not cover his whole career and therefore omits several obvious songs including Jambalaya, You win again, Kaw-liga, Your cheating heart and Take these chains from my heart although it does include Honky tonkin'.

So if you only want one collection of Hank's music, make it this one.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grab hold of this collection before it disappears forever, November 21, 2005

By	Paul Tognetti "The real world is so much more... (Cranston, RI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Believe it or not I purchased my copy of "Hank Williams: 40 Greatest Hits" when it was first released as a 2 LP set way back in 1978. I was not a big fan of country music in those days but I had heard and read enough about the man to know that he had played an important role in the history of American popular music. Even then I was sure that this was a collection worth owning.
Hank Williams meteoric rise to stardom began in Montgomery, Alabama as a high school student in the late 1930's. Known as "The Singing Kid" Hank hosted his very own radio show on radio station WSFA. Before long he would put together a backup band known as the Drifting Cowboys and the group began showing up in roadhouses, auditoriums and juke joints all over the region. From a very early age it was quite apparent that this young man had an awful lot of talent. However, Hank Williams' personal life was a mess. His father Lon virtually abandoned the family when Hank was very young. Hank's mom was extremely overbearing and by the age of 11 or 12 Hank had developed a taste for liquor. The scourge of alcoholism would plague him for the rest of his days. He would marry Audrey in 1944 and in many ways the marriage would become yet another source of unhappiness in young Hank's life. But in spite of it all this extremely gifted singer-songwriter was bound and determined to make his mark in country music.
The man who would come to be known as "the father of country music" signed on with the fledgling M-G-M label in 1947. After a couple of near misses "Lovesick Blues" was the surprise hit of 1949. Despite objections from all of his handlers Hank insisted on releasing it as a single. He obviously knew what he was doing because the song spent an amazing 16 weeks at the top of the country charts. The monumental success of "Lovesick Blues" would earn Hank a spot on the brand new radio program "Louisiana Hayride". Could the Grand Ole Opry be far behind? Later on in 1949 Hank would have two more huge hits with "Wedding Bells" and "Mind Your Own Business". Now there was just no question about it. Hank Williams was invited to join the Grand Old Opry. Hank Williams was now more popular than ever. He seemed to strike a chord with the record buying public. And the hits just kept on coming. In spite of the overwhelming personal problems that would eventually cost him his health, his marriage and his spot on the Opry, Hank would remain a fixture on the country charts with fabulous tunes like "Cold Cold Heart", "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" and of course "Your Cheatin' Heart". You could hear all of that pain in his voice. During his relatively brief recording career Hank Williams would record just 66 sides. He wrote 50 of them. Unfortunately the life of Hank Williams was all too brief. He passed away in the back seat of a car on New Years Day 1953 at the age of 29.
"Hank Williams: 40 Greatest Hits" is a celebration of the music of this true American original. His lyrics will move you and his vocals will haunt you. Listen carefully to these tunes and you will come to appreciate what a truly remarkable talent this man was. These are all the original M-G-M studio recordings. Beware of some collections that include some inferior "live" recordings. For my money, "40 Greatest Hits" remains to this day the finest Hank Williams collection ever issued. Highly recommended!!!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the best, January 5, 2000

By	"rjgrib" (Deltona, FL United States) - See all my reviews

I never was a big fan of country music until I heard Hank Williams in the background of "The Last Picture Show". This prompted me to buy this double CD and once I listened I was hooked. I never heard such honesty, happiness, sorrow, and real life drama layed out so beautifully in any music genre. Hank sang from experience and the heart. He was a true cowboy and I can listen to his wonderful music all day. No matter who you are, there is a Hank Williams song that you can relate to and will touch your heart. I can't recommend this highly enough, Hank deserves every star in the universe for these masterpieces.