Bradley Olson | Bemidji, MN United States | 08/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This new reissue of Hank Williams Jr. & Friends is well done for a budget product. There is hiss on some of the songs, but it is slight, but now that it is finally on CD, I'm happy this landmark album from 1975 is out there. If you have the "Living Proof" boxed set, you don't need this reissue as all 9 songs on this album are on the boxed set, but if you are on a budget and haven't experienced this album yet, you must get this CD of an album originally released in 1975, when he was 26 years old. Although the hits on MGM from this period were not doing as well as the earlier MGM hits, this is his first mature album which the "friends" on the album being the southern rock stars Charlie Daniels, Toy Caldwell (Marshall Tucker Band), and Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers Band) who contribute lots of the instrumentation on the album. This is also the album that laid the groundwork of his hits during the late 1970's-early 1990's that were yet to come, so if you are a Bocephus fan, this is a must listen to. Enjoy listening to Bocephus at his peak."
Hank Jr: Beyond the Shadow
William J. Macek | Texas | 08/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's not really the songs, though they are all great songs, that make this album so extraordinary. This is the ground-breaking album for one of country music's most legendary performers--Five time Entertainer of the Year Hank Williams, Jr. Before these recordings Hank, or a.k.a. Junior back then, cast a shadow a mile long of his famous father. Combined with an elite group of musicians from different musical genres including Waylon Jennings, Toy Calwell, Dickie Bettes, and Charlie Daniels, Hank produces one hell of an album which was voted as one of country musics top albums of all time by Country Music Magazine. My favorite is "I really did", which expresses Hank's true love for his wife. Also, songs like "Living Proof", "Stoned at the Jukebox", "Montana Song", and "Clovis, New Mexico" so a personal side of Hank's experiences while "Can't you see", "Susan's Floor", and "Losing You", show Hank's southern rock flavored style. You can't go wrong with this album!!"
HANK WILLIAMS JR AND FRIENDS
cary blum | DESOTO MO | 08/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THIS IS ONE BEST ALBUMS BOCEPHUS HAS EVER RECORDED WITHOUT THIS MUSIC WE PROBALY WOULD NOT OF HAD FAMILY TRADITION, OLD HABITS, ETC. ALL THE SONGS ON THIS CD ARE GREAT BACK IN 1975 ROLLING STONE CALLED THIS ONE OF THE BEST OF THE YEAR. GO OUT AND BUY THIS CD AND YOU WONT BE DISSAPOINTED. MY FAVS ARE I REALLY DID AND CANT YOU SEE."
Don't Judge A Record By Its Cover
Anthony S. Prowse | Melbourne, Australia | 11/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The cover of the original LP of this record and cover of this CD are both terrible. But we buy music for what's inside, don't we!!!!? And what's inside this little beauty is a man with one of the most burdonsome histories in country music exorcising all his demons in 33 minutes of cathartic release. This is the first album Hank Jr recorded after getting out from under the clutches of his family, manager and, to some extent, the Nashville music (musak) business. Hank got together with a few Southern Rock friends, including one of the greatest and most under-appreciated guitarist who ever lived; Pete Carr. He wrote a clutch of ripper songs and borrowed a couple from the pen of Toy Caldwell (Marshall Tucker Band's driving force). If you only know Hank Jr from his later, stadium rock, "good ol' boy", Bocephus persona, then you may not like the real pain and emotion contained in this album. If you like honest, good rockin', country music with an edge, then this is for you. I have a lot of Hank Jr's albums and enjoy most of them, but this one is the real deal and stands head and shoulders above everything else he ever released. In addition, it is a great pleasure to hear Pete Carr tear it up on most of the songs. It is hard enough to find Pete's albums so when one comes along where he shines, and he definitely shines here, then snap it up. So, forget the cover and get this album, it's the bargain of the century at the price.
"
Excellence
Levi Taylor | Dallas, Tx USA | 07/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first bought this as an LP sometime around 1981 (I got hooked on Hank, Jr after Family Tradition came out). I was thrilled to find it released on CD. "I Really Did", "Montana Song", "Brothers of the Road", and "Can't You See" really stand out but ALL of the cuts are superb IMHO. This album is a great complement to the "New South" album (which all Hank, Jr fans should own!). ...just wished the CD had the original album artwork - kinda wild to see Hank, Jr sans beard!"