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The pairing of Hank Williams, Jr. and Connie Francis seems like a coming together of equals now that Williams has become a big star, but at the time the duo recorded Sing Great Country Favorites, Williams was a 15-year-old boy at the beginning of his recording career and Francis was a very well-established artist. Francis, ten years Williams' senior, was given the task of gazing adoringly at Williams for the photo session, which must have been an awkward shoot. Thankfully, the age disparity isn't reflected in the music, as Williams' mature-sounding vocals take the lead and Francis sings mostly harmonies. The songs are a collection of country standards and recent hits such as "Wolverton Mountain," "Walk on By," and "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On." A few, including "Bye Bye Love" and "Singing the Blues," are new recordings of songs that Francis had already tackled as a solo vocalist a few years earlier. MGM's goal in pairing the two singers may have been to prop up Francis' career and to boost Williams', but the effort was unsuccessful from a commercial standpoint. In retrospect, the album seems even more unusual than it did at the time, since Williams transformed into the wild Bocephus and Francis is sometimes described as the female Pat Boone. The Bear Family reissue appends two alternate takes, including a more spirited rendition of "Mule Skinner Blues" that rivals the album take. ~ Greg Adams
MGM's biggest pop hitmaker, Connie Francis, traveled to Nashville to make an album of duets with the teenaged son of MGM's biggest country hitmaker. Though the result was not a memorable work by either one, it demonstrated Francis's versatility and Williams's promise. (Reissued by Polydor in 1976 and by the German Bear Family label on CD in 1993.) ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Full performer name: Connie Francis and Hank Williams Jr.
Sing Great Country Favorites Music
Sing Great Country Favorites Music Review
Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)   get it today
get it today it is great Connie & Hank
sound great this album is a keep sake
funny they said no one ever herd about
this one
Submitted by jcbhyde (westmoreland tn usa) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No this is a wounderful cd
this is a great album of hank williams jr, and connie francis they make a great pair of singers and sound great
togetter and i have a lp records of this one but the cd sounds better then
the lp.
Submitted by jcbhyde (Westmoreland TN, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Do You Like County Music
I love the music. For me Hank and Connie make a great pair of singers.
It's funny what Connie said about the
albam "It's one no one ever heard of"
(I think I got that correct). Its
funny growing up with Connie's music
I never heard of it but I'am glad I
have now. I want to thank CD Universe
also for the great music selection and
the best prices anywhere.
Submitted by a reviewer (pittsburgh, pennsylvania usa)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Yep I love it
Who would have thought, Connie and Hank. But you know what??? It works! MGM wanted to pair a professional with the newness of Hank only 15 at the time. You have here a voice that can calm a raging storm and his husky untrained voice and the result of very pleasing. Its a fun album, sounds great and she is fantastic on "No Letter Today" and "Make Believe". Price of the CD alone. Connie could do it all. Lets see more of her stuff on CD.
Submitted by bsoule535 (King William VA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Historic Pairing
Perhaps MGM felt their 15 year old prodigy who make a career out of "apeing" his father's tune would reach a wider audience by pairing him with International Superstar Connie Francis. The results are not always consistent. Connie is more comfortable with the ballads and Hank Jr. with the uptempo. Connie holds back on the harmonies (she'd drown Hank out) and it is quite evident what she is doing.
But this record has historic merit and despite this odd coupling, the recording does work on several levels. When the singers are doing their solo parts, the disc works and at times, when they do harmonize well (Connie is not a duet singer, her voice is too strong), then we have some (but not often) beautiful harmonies.
This is a recording that SHOULD have been released on CD for posterity. Bravo Germany's Bear Record Family!
Submitted by Terry (Asheville, NC)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No | Have you heard this album? |  |
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