When Hank Williams died at the age of 29, American music lost one of its greatest songwriters. Many great songwriters have come and gone, but few have ever been able to reach the pure poetry that characterized so much of Williams’ music. When he died there was a notebook full of lyrics that he never recorded. The notebooks lingered in obscurity and were even lost for a time. They were finally returned to Sony and were given to Bob Dylan to finish. Dylan finished one song and asked for the help of other artists. This album is the result. The reverence for the original material is readily apparent. The artists involved on the project have done an amazing job. In some places they may have tweaked a lyrics. They added the music. The end result is a true diamond. Below I discuss each track.
The album begins with Alan Jackson singing “You’ve Been Lonesome.” This is a Williams song in the vein of “I’m So Lonesome.” It is a beautiful, heartbreaking number that should have been a #1 hit on any true country station.
Bob Dylan sings “The Love That Faded.” With the classic 3/4 time it sounds like the kind of song that people would have waltzed to in a honky tonk. Dylan’s voice has become more grating over the years, but it works at some level here.
Norah Jones brings her great voice and melodic writing to “How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart.” The lyrics are pure Hank. Jones did a good job in adding the melody. It sounds more like a Norah JOnes cover of a Hank Williams tune. This isn’t a bad thing. Jones’ style doesn’t lend itself to the classic honky tonk sound and would sound out of place.
“You Know That I Know” is a classic song about catching the cheating partner. Jack White does a great job with this. Once again a great old fashioned honky tonk number. Even though he in known for alternative rock White does a great job with the classic country sound.
Lucinda Williams’ “I’m So Happy I Found You” is a good track, but it doesn’t have that great Hank Williams feel. It is a good track and I would love to hear a different arrangement.
Old buddies Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell team up to perform “I Hope You Shed A Million Tears.” Another classic broken hearted cheating song. This is classic country at its most classic. Gill sings the chorus and Crowell talks the verses. Another classic in 3/4 time.
Patty Loveless picks up the tempo with a rockabilly flavored number “You’re Through Fooling Me.” This is a great track. If this had come out in 1988 or 1989 it would have been a hit. It sounds like Hank Williams and Patty Loveless wrote a song together, which I guess they did.
Levon Helm brings that great voice of his to another heartbreak in 3/4 time. “You’ll Never Again Be Mine” is a classic Williams song of heartbreak.
The next track may well be the best on the album. Williams’ granddaughter Holly, a great songwriter in her own right, tackles the lovely, heartbreaking “Blue As The Sky.” Williams was known for his use of the blues in his works. This is a great tribute to that strain of his work. Adding to the pleasure here is her father Hank Jr. adding backing vocals.
Jakob Dylan gives a good performance in the longing number “Oh Mama Come Home.” It sounds like a Jakob Dylan cover of a Hank Williams song. The arrangement is not bad at all, the lyrics are once again pure Hank.
Sheryl Crow does a decent job with “Angel Mine.” It’s one of the few love songs on this project. Of course Williams was going through a dark period at this time and so that can explain the heartbreak songs.
Merle Haggard ends the album with a classic Hank Williams spiritual. Williams, like so many of the great country singers have always mixed the sacred and the secular. This sounds like music and words I remember visiting my grandparents Baptist church when I was a kid. I can see the “Special Singer” singing this one. Great finale to this project.
