Sings Hank Williams

AMG Review of Sings Hank Williams

Steve Leggett
All Music Guide

Del Shannon released this magnificent tribute to Hank Williams in 1965, at the very height of the British Invasion, and since he played it straight on his interpretations of Williams' songs, trying to capture the sound and feel of the Drifting Cowboys, the album was essentially ignored by Shannon's pop following and given not much more than a glance by the country crowd, which is a shame, because Shannon sang his heart out on these classic tracks. Among the highlights on this remarkably consistent and coherent album are Shannon's takes on "I Can't Help It" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," plus a wonderful and haunting version of "Ramblin' Man" that features Shannon's trademark minor key approach to arrangements. In retrospect, this project doesn't seem as drastically different from Shannon's more pop-oriented work as it did in 1965, and in many ways it prefigures the country-rock sound that bands like the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and the Flying Burrito Brothers would develop a couple of years down the road.