The title of this record says it all, it's the essential Hank Snow. Essential to one extent cos what you get is the best stuff he's done, but also cos a Hank Snow record is essential to any country music lover's collection.
Most of the stuff on this one is from the time rockabilly and rock & roll saw the light of day. I'm sure this what the squares could have a ball to in Muskogee, Oklahoma. It's not that it's bad music, it's just that it came out in a time when country music needed a kick up the arse and start to notice what was happening, something Johnny Cash did very well, by the way.
But simply saying that it's bad music, cos it was traditional, it just won't do. Hank Snow was a great singer. He had a great voice and seemed to have been able to pick the right tunes to record. What more can one ask for?
What you get on this album is a few ballads, some waltzy stuff, as well as some more uptempo numbers like the brilliant I've been everywhere, which sound at times a bit like the latest hit of young R&B star Rihanna's.
This a very good record and I would recommend it to any fan of traditional country.
I'll give it 82,5% in rate of satisfaction!
Hey man!!! It's great that you're finally back on track with your blog!!! Keep it going!!!
ReplyDeleteCheers /// Andy