Since the mid-1960s, Hank Williams Jr.'s musical output has comprised some 50 studio albums and several career-spanning compilations. But according to Hank, his most recent disc, '127 Rose Avenue,' is also "one of the most special albums I've ever made" -- and one of the easiest to put together."A lot of the songs got written when I was out with my two Labradors and a hickory stick at 7:30 in the morning," says the legendary performer. "I don't think I've ever had a whole album where it came together this well and this quickly. It was, 'Here's the melody, here are the words -- bam! There it is.' There's a lot of magic here."
In addition to the topical single, 'Red, White and Pink-Slip Blues,' the disc features a collaboration with bluegrass band the Grascals on 'All the Roads.' Hank also reflects on his musical heroes and family legacy with songs such as 'Mighty Oak Trees' and 'Last Driftin' Cowboy,' a tune dedicated to the late musician Don Helms, best known as the steel guitar player in Hank Williams Sr.'s Drifting Cowboys band.
The album's ghostly title track is a reference to the boyhood home of Hank Sr., in Georgiana, Ala. -- although it's actually on Rose Street. Open to tourists, there are a number of the country legend's personal items on display. The town also hosts an annual festival at the Hank Williams Music Park, with Hank Sr.'s daughter, Jett Williams among the performers this year.
And speaking of daughters, on the same day Hank Jr. released his album, his daughter, Holly Williams released her latest, titled 'Here with Me.' And in August, Holly's half-brother Hank Williams III will unleash the latest album from his band Assjack.
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
elltaylor4at 6-26-2009
hey is there anyone out there who would like an e.mail pal from ireland i.m in love with all things american my dream is to visit the appalacian mountains. i love bluegrass and americanomusic my favourite singers are townes van zandt r.i.p. steve earle and lucinda williams my hero thee late great hank williams. i.m female middleaged and into motorbikes my partner and i would love to travel route 66 another dream for the bucket list. you can find me on facebook as well under ellie taylor ,northern ireland. i look forward to sharing e.mails with anyone who would like a jrish pen friend. no time wasters please x
John Goodat 6-26-2009
Did not find you on Facebook ? Was in Northern Ireland many mooms ago (Derry)
Meredithat 6-26-2009
HI I AM FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS U.S. (Appalation Chain) am probably older than u, also love all country music and hank sr. was my hero also, and guess what? my second favorite music is Celtic. am life long bike rider. Have a 81 Honda GL 500 I Bike, 2000 Honda CH80 Scooter, and a 88 Honda Ch250 scooter. Motorbike people are a special breed.
elltaylor4at 6-28-2009
hi thanks so much for answering. you are so lucky to live there someday i hope to visit it is my dream as well as wanting to ride on route 66 . we have an xjr 1300 as our road bike and a teniere for rough roads both yamahas and trev my partner is rebuilding a scooter at the minute it.s his summer project but i think he just likes taking things apartwhilst spending the day in his shed surrounded by bikes andlistening to bluegrass lol .are you male or female not that it matters but meridith isnt a name popular in ireland so just curious i.m female by the way. it is road racing season here in northern ireland which means bikers come from all over the world to race on our narrow twisty roads scary biscuts. but addictive. anyways i.m so glad to hear from you and excited to comunicate with someone who lives in kentucky please keep in touch x ellie
elltaylor4at 6-28-2009
hi john thanks for e.mailing but unfortunatly it wouldnt link so just got your name. try ellie taylor again on face book maybe you.ll be lucky this time type in northern ireland. i kived in derry as a child but now live in lurgan co armagh
Meredithat 7-06-2009
hi,ellie
it,s always nice to hear from someone who loves country music. I at one time could not stand Hank Jr. As you may know when he first started singing he sang Hank Sr's stuff, or mabe i should say he tried. as he started his own stuff i gradually began liking him more and more, and now am a big fan. even though i am a big country fan, i like all kinds of music as long as it says something and is not just noise and antics. f
Frank Sanatra was a big was a big favorite, in fact,his song My Way is my all time favorite. that is the main reason a became shuch a big Jr fan he did things his way. i hate carbon copys of anything.
nuff fer now.
meredith
ps i tried to write early, but site would not send it for some reason.By the way i am male (strange huh ?
elltaylor4at 7-08-2009
not really up on hank junior must listen to him more and make judgement. to me hank senior and woody guthrie where everything bluegrass and the american way where about. But i also like a lot of the later ones townes van zandt for instance did.nt fall in love with him until i watched a d,v,d, i got from over there called heartworn highways. shows Steve Earl, Townes. Guy Clarke. Rodney crowell who was married to jonney Cash,s daughter. All when they were just starting out having a real jamm on new years eve sometime during the seventies. I have seen Rodney Crowell. Steve Earle and Stacy Earle here in belfast and in dublin. Could.nt live without bikes and music. lol . it is so good to have a pen friend from the place i dream about. please tell me more about yourself and where you live and the way of life there. we camped at the road racing in dublin last weekend ,rainy but good times biker friends and beers and as we irish say PLENTY OF CRAIC. that fun not cocaine lol. doing it all over again this weekend in Athlone. thanks for writing hope to hear from ya again soon. KEEP ER LIT x you can privatly e,mail me if you like at Elltaylor4@aol.com