Hank Williams Jr. - Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Vol.1

This is Hank Jr. in his late-'70s/early-'80s version, that brief moment after he'd discovered a sound and persona that wasn't just inherited but before he devolved into a good-old-boy caricature. Not that Bocephus isn't engaging in some posturing here already--the preposterous "Texas Women," for example, could stand unaltered as a Saturday Night Live parody of redneck lechery. More often, though, the 10 hit singles on this disc combine a low-key brand of Southern rock boogie with plenty of twang to fashion a wholly distinctive take on country tradition. Williams's work here is always indelible, and though he likes to drop his daddy's name a bit too often, it's hard to argue with introspective numbers like "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" and "Family Tradition," which each offer a unique and timeless take on the honky-tonk blues. --David Cantwell Amazon.com

Hank Jr.

"Dixie On My Mind", "Texas Women", "A Country Boy Can Survive", and "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down" are my favorites on this CD.

Hank Jr. is one of my favorite country singers. August 13, 2008

best of Hank Williams, Jr.

Hank Williams, Jr. has to be one of my very favorite country stars. All of his songs are always excellent. This CD includes all of his best tracks. My very favorite is his '79 number 1, "Family Tradition." April 23, 2008

DAMN GOOD MUSIC

This CD may not be for everybody; yet, pretty damn close. Fell in love with an American Dream, then All My Rowdy Friends. Still enjoy getting drunk and getting loud(at 54), amazing how many people look down at their noses at rowdiness anymore. Being an outdoor person, Country Boy Can Survive hits home. With the status of life in America, one may want to take lessons from a Country Boy. All songs are worth listening to !! Being a heavy metal/classic rock bass player, I was shocked at how this CD grew on me. One of my favorites. Hell; I am even thinking about looking into a steel guitar. A neighbor of 19 who is into rap, fell in love with this CD as well. For those that truly enjoy great music, for those that enjoy the TRUTH, for those that like to get loud; this CD is a MUST !! March 14, 2008

At last, a man of his own making

I just came into Hank Jr.'s albums looking for Kawliga for a line dancing class I'm taking. This is the CD.
I think that one reason Hank Jr. wasn't accepted by us (now old) folks back then was: My husband and I saw him performing at County Hall in Charleston, SC. He was 11 years old. Miss Audrey had him out there dressed like his dad, trying to sing like his dad, and acting like his dad, and singing his dad's songs.
He made a comment that went something like this: "I'm better than my daddy ever was".
WELLLL!! That didn't sit too well with us. Needless to say he didn't get a standing ovation. I don't remember him ever coming back to Charleston. He might've though, since we went on to a dozen or so different duty stations before deciding to settle down in this area 38 years ago.
He has grown on us. I like a lot of his music now. Most of the ones on this one are on the only other one that I own: That's How They Do It In Dixie". ("Kawliga" isn't on it, but maybe I'll go on and find it on another one that has some different songs.) I especially like that one he did before the football games. Was that All My Rowdy Friends? I think so. I would watch that much of the football games I wasn't interested in and then I was off to my room listening to my music. Of course now we always watch The Panthers. One of these days.........they'll get it right. Before the Panthers, my husband and I rooted for the Washington, DC Baltimore teams. Was the Washington team called the Redskins? I just remember some of the players.
I guess the time that I started listening to Hank Jr. again was after that awful fall he took. I guess I thought I owed it to him - to give him another chance, because God certainly gave him another chance down that mountain. He was such a handsome little guy that last time we saw him. I'll bet if he'd show his face he'd be a mighty nice looking man.
I don't know why so many men have all of that hair all around their faces. I guess you can tell I don't like it, on my man at least. I think it adds 20 more years on to his age.

So, I think I can rate this album a 5 star album. I'm ordering it right now, so that I have it to take back to class with me.
I might add: for a 70 year old nearly broken down old lady, I don't do too badly at the slower line dances, and they get me up and raring to go. They're a lot of fun and the lessons are free at our Senior Center here in town.
Yes I recommend this album to those who don't have these songs already. November 8, 2007

It's One Thing To Love Hank's Singing ...

.... but quite something else to sing the praises of a Curb release. And they are up to their usual with this one, providing just 10 tracks and, with the exception of a brief seven lines on the reverse, no liner notes or discography of the contents.

At least all ten tracks were legitimate hits (they don't always do that with their releases), and they expand a bit on the claim to being his "greatest hits" by saying they span "the years 1979-1981." Even there they're a bit off as both A Country Boy Can Survive (# 2) and The American Dream (# 5) peaked in 1982, the latter some four months after Honky Tonkin' hit # 1 (and is omitted here).

Still, three of the hits here were # 1 (Texas Women, Dixie On My Mind, and All My Rowdy Friends [Have Settled Down], which takes in a third of his nine # 1's among the 98 hit singles he registered from 1964 to 1995.

Not a bad little compilation, but for a few dollars more you can get those same songs along with at least 18 others, as well as some interesting background notes. These 10- to 12-track releases are no longer acceptable. October 2, 2007

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