Recommendations of the Editorial team
Hank Williams died on January 1, 1953 on the back seat of a Cadillac on the way to a performance in West Virginia. He was only 29 years old. In less than ten years, Williams shaped the voice of the country with songs such as his first number one hit “Lovesick Blues”, “Why Don’t You Love Me” and “Cold, Cold Heart”. Even if his style in glittering, smoothly polished sound of the modern country scene has come out of fashion, it is still an irrefutable influence. Thanks to his honest texts and his rock star life. Here are five of his most urgent recordings.
“I’ll never get out of this world alive” (1952)
This single, published in 1952 with the clever title, tragically proved to be prophetic: Williams died the following year. After his death, the song reached first and became a symbol of his fate. Although he had already had a hard time falling for alcohol at that time, his singing performance is one of his best here.
“(I Heard That) Lonesome whistle” (1951)
Listen how Williams pulls the word “Lo-O-Onesome” in this 1951 single. Like a train whistle that falls in the distance. The sound is so barren, so disturbing that you immediately feel what Williams wanted to express. Pure heartache. This is exactly why Beck wrote in the Rolling-Stone Eank on the “100 Greatest Artists”: “Hank-Williams songs such as’ Lonesome Whistle ‘and’ Your Cheatin ‘Heart’ are wonderful to sing. Because there is no Bullshit in them.”
“Moanin ‘The Blues” (1950)
Similar to “Lonesome whistle”, Williams also lets his voice run freely in the chorus. Only this time in a faster, more troubled song. The story remains the same. Woman leaves man. Man has the blues. But in this number one hit of 1950, Williams is not limited to remorse. But also warns other men. Treat your women correctly. Or you will also suffer.
“On the Banks of the Old Pontchartrain” (1947)
This song comes from the beginning of Williams’ career, published in 1947. Like the narrator in Merle Haggard’s “I’m a lonesome fugitives” twenty years later, Williams has to leave the “most beautiful young woman he ever saw”. Without saying goodbye.
“Lovesick Blues” (1949)
Williams’ first number one hit is also his most urban performance. With a voice that trembles and fluctuates like the wind in a gorge, he makes “Lovesick Blues” not only one of the saddest songs in his work, but also one of the saddest of the entire country music.