Hank Williams, III - Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' CD

Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' CD music Johnny Cash's final album, AMERICAN V: A HUNDRED HIGHWAYS, is a moving and fitting swan song for the legendary performer. Like Cash's other recordings with producer Rick Rubin, AMERICAN V is quiet, intense, and minimal; it creates a thrilling intimacy by keeping the focus on Cash's aging voice and increasingly soulful, nuanced phrasing. The album was produced piecemeal, with Cash's vocal tracks recorded mere months before the artist's death in 2003, and the backing tracks added two years later. Yet the album coheres remarkably well, thanks in large part to the fine musicians on hand (including ace session guitarist Smokey Hormel). But this is Cash's show through and through. Whether on covers (Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind"), originals ("Like the 309," the last song Cash ever wrote), or spirituals ("I'm Free From the Chain Gang Now," the album's stirring, heartbreakingly appropriate closer), Cash sounds like no one but himself--weary, wise, and touched, perhaps, by an unseen hand The album is a continuation of the highly popular and critically acclaimed series of American recordings produced by Rick Rubin. The series began with 1994's acclaimedAmerican Recordings, followed by Unchained (1996), American III: Solitary Man (2000) and American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002). AMERICAN V contains 12 tracks and includes one Johnny original, 'Like The 309' (the last song that Johnny wrote and recorded before he died). Personnel: Jonny Polonsky, Matt Sweeney, Mike Campbell , Pat McLaughlin, Randy Scruggs, Smokey Hormel (guitar); Benmont Tench (piano, harpsichord, organ). Additional personnel: Mark Howard, Marty Stuart, Pete Wade.

Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' buy CD music After years of battling his label, Curb Records, Hank Williams III finally saw the release of STRAIGHT TO HELL in 2006. The album is a set of unapologetic outlaw-country tunes that evokes the spirit of Williams's legendary grandfather (whom he resembles in both voice and appearance), while also nodding to other rebellious greats such as David Allan Coe, Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings, most blatantly on the woozy, booze-soaked "Country Heroes." Lyrically, Hank III is still concerned with drinking, smoking, and other sinful pastimes, as best revealed on "Crazed Country Rebel," which serves nicely as the rambunctious artist's motto. However, the self-professed "hellbilly" resists the heavy-metal influence that informs much of his persona (and comes to the forefront with the side-project Assjack) and, instead, plays it affectionately and knowingly straight, as if making sure not to sully the good family name.

Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' songs Principally recorded at Curb Studios and Woodland Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. It's often been said that if Hank Williams himself came back to life today, he couldn't get played on mainstream country radio. With his raw, unabashedly twangy voice and simplistic arrangements, he'd be considered "too country" for a generation raised on Garth and Shania. RISIN' OUTLAW, by Hank Williams' grandson, Shelton Hank Williams (or Hank III, as he bills himself), provides a pretty good test of this theory. Not only is Hank III the spitting image of his late grandaddy, he sings just like him too--and on tracks like "You're the Reason" and "On My Own," the resemblance is downright eerie. But Hank III's also got more than a streak of his dad, Hank Jr. in him--the CD isn't called RISIN' OUTLAW for nothing. He alludes to his propensity for bad behavior in "I Don't Know," and sings openly about snorting cocaine on "Cocaine Blues." Give young Williams credit--having the nerve to bill himself as Hank III invites instant comparisons with his grandfather and his father. On the attitude-filled RISIN' OUTLAW, he manages to do both of them proud, while carving out a niche for himself as a promising alternative country artist. Personnel: Hank Williams III (acoustic guitar); J.T. Corenflos, Brent Rowan (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Michael Spriggs (acoustic guitar); Dan Dugmore, Kayton Roberts, Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Vernon Derrick (mandolin, fiddle); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Jason Brown (upright bass); Dale Crover, Greg Morrow (drums); Curtis Young, Neil Thrasher (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Jeff Watkins; Jim Demaire; Sandy Jenkins; Jeff Wood ; Adam Muñoz; Bob Campbell-Smith. Recording information: Curb Studios, Nashville, TN; KD Studios, Nashville, TN; Woodland Studios, Nashville, TN. Photographer: Jim Herrington. Personnel: Hank Williams III (vocals, acoustic guitar); Brent Rowan, J.T. Corenflos (acoustic & electric guitars); Michael Spriggs (acoustic guitar); Dan Dugmore, Kayton Roberts, Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Vernon Derrick (mandolin, fiddle); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Jason Brown (acoustic bass); Greg Morrow, Dale Crover (drums); Curtis Young, Neil Thrasher (background vocals). Producers: Chuck Howard, Bob Campbell-Smith.

Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' album for sale Country scion Hank Williams III has been involved with projects that reflected his love of punk and heavy metal, such as Superjoint Ritual (with Pantera's Phil Anselmo) and his hillbilly act, Assjack, but on DAMN RIGHT REBEL PROUD Hank keeps it pure country. By country, we're still talking about the rough-edged, true-blue style of Waylon Jennings, David Allan Coe, and Johnny Paycheck. Williams has too much of his grandfather in him to make a crossover arena-country record. Right at the start, he hits Nashville hard with the raucous opener, "The Grand Ole Opry (Ain't So Grand)." Elsewhere, old-fashioned songs of hard living and late night introspection like "Stoned and Alone" and "3 Shades of Black" tell harrowing tales that are as punk rock as anything Black Flag ever did, only with a lean honky-tonk accompaniment instead of mountains of volume. Photographer: Jennifer Tzar. Personnel: Hank Williams III (vocals, guitar, guitars, acoustic guitar, drums); Bob Wayne (vocals, guitar, guitars, bass instrument); Randy Kohrs (acoustic guitar, dobro); Marty Stuart (electric guitar, mandolin); Johnny Hiland (electric guitar); Andy Gibson (steel guitar, dobro); Charlie Cushman (banjo); Adam McOwen (fiddle, accordion); Gary Sommers, Chris Carmichael, Donnie Herron (fiddle); Joe Buck (upright bass); Shaun McWilliams (drums); Walker. Illustrator: Keith Neltner.

Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' CD music There are never any big stylistic surprises with Hancock -- the man knows what works for him musically and never veers outside of his circle of comfort. In the case of Wayne "The Train" Hancock, this means that he is still pounding out the same retro country/honky tonk/Western swing vibe that he has toyed with since his excellent 1995 debut, Thunderstorms and Neon Signs. Hancock's fourth album, A-Town Blues, features more anachronistically pleasing old-time music augmented by warbled Southwestern vocals. On his first release for the insurgent country label Bloodshot Records, the wayward troubadour touches on familiar genre subject matter as well. Tales of road weariness ("Route 23"), warnings about booze and breaking the law ("Miller, Jack, and Mad Dog"), and, of course, heartbreak ("Sands of Time") are all recurring themes. Surprisingly, a production hand by longtime collaborator Lloyd Maines (Wilco, Richard Buckner) doesn't really add much to Hancock's naturally sparse sound, though. If anything, it's Maines' appropriately placed steel guitar licks that actually do more for the album. All in all, A-Town Blues is yet another excellent release from a homely, all-American artist. ~ Bret Booth Recorded at Cedar Creek Recording, Austin, Texas. Personnel: Dave Biller (guitar); Jeremy Wakefield (steel guitar). Liner Note Author: Wayne Hancock. Recording information: Cedar Creek recording, Austin, TX. Personnel: Wayne Hancock (vocals, guitar); Tony Loke, Dave Biller (guitar); Jeremy Wakefield (steel guitar); Ric Ramirez, Shawn Supra (bass).

Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' buy CD music Hank Williams III continues to serve up his pesky brand of honky tonk punk with The Rebel Within, the fourth and undoubtedly final album in his quarrelsome stay at Curb Records. Recording information: Hank 3's Haunted Ranch. Personnel: Hank Williams III (vocals, drums); Tomi Lunsford, Warren Denney (vocals); Johnny Hiland (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Andy Gibson (dobro); Tim Carter, Daniel Mason, Charlie Cushman (banjo); Billy Contreras (fiddle); Shaun McWilliams (drums). Audio Mixer: Tim Carter.