During the 1940s and early 1950s Hank Williams music covered everything from heartbreaking ballads to honky-tonk blues defining him as one of the pioneers of popular music.
His compositions Your Cheatin' Heart, I Saw the Light, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry and Cold, Cold Heart have become standards in the years since his untimely passing. However his legacy of honest heartfelt music has been interpreted by some of the greats including Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Johnny Cash, The Mavericks, Emmylou Harris, Ray Charles and Leann Rimes.
Lost Notebooks Form Basis of New Album of Hank Williams Songs
When Hank Williams 29-year-old lifeless body was discovered in the back of his Cadillac on New Year's Day 1953, a scuffed, embroidered brown leather briefcase containing tightly bound notebooks of new songs was found by his side.
For nearly six decades little was known about these compositions, some finished, others only just started, however it is these songs that form the essence of The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams, an album bringing together 13 musicians who have cited Williams as a personal inspiration and influence.
Bob Dylan and a Host of Artists Perform Hank Williams Lost Songs
The multi-artist project evolved after veteran music industry manager/A&R executive Mary Martin approached Bob Dylan to get involved with completing Williams' compositions as full blown recordings.
Following Dylan's involvement other artists came on board including Alan Jackson, Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Jack White, Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell, Patty Loveless, Levon Helm, Jakob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Merle Haggard and Hank's granddaughter Holly Williams.
Jakob Dylan and Jack White Contribute to Hank Williams Album
On listening to the collection it is not to difficult to imagine that had Williams' lived and recorded these tracks himself, several of them would be standards in their own right by now.
Despite remaining dormant in Williams' notebooks for nearly 60 years, the songs sound very contemporary combining a collection of moods including love, pain, hope and spirituality
Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell's version of I Hope You Shed a Million Tears and Jakob Dylan's beautiful rendition of Oh Mama Come Home stand out as strong songs with a contemporary feel, while Jack White's playful version of You Know That I Know rocks up the pace following on from Norah Jones' gentle take of How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart?
Hank Williams' influence reaches out to another music legend when Bob Dylan adds his own twist of the blues to Williams' The Love That Faded. On hearing this track Bob seems to be having great fun performing a song written by one of his heroes, as does Sheryl Crow whose rendition of the lullaby love song Angel Mine allows her to shed her more familiar pop persona in favour of playing light and easy country music.
Hank Williams and Holly Williams Creative Talents Brought Together
Holly Williams' version of Blue Is My Heart is the most moving song featured on the album. Bringing together Hank's lyrics and Holly's vocal talents. A generation gap tarnished by eternal separation closes when the pair's creative talents are brought together in an almost spiritual way.
Finally, Merle Haggard delivers a powerful conclusion to the collection with his rendition of the spiritual The Sermon on the Mount.
The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams is an essential tribute album to a much loved artist bringing the essence of Williams' songwriting skills to the forefront. Released by Egyptian Records through Sony Commercial Music on 3rd October 2011 The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams will be available on Compact Disc and audio download formats.
Sources:
- Various Artists - The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams CD, Sony Music, 2011
- LD Communications Press Release, September, 2011
