A Hank Williams collection that claims the title, “The Ultimate,” is making a pretty strong assertion, especially in a marketplace that offers an anthology as comprehensive as the 10-disc box set, The Complete Hank Williams. But if you’re looking for an overview that is more complete than the typical truck-stop “best-of,” but less expensive than the box set, this mid-price twofer is the perfect choice. All the expected classics are here: “Honky Tonkin’,” “Jambalaya,” “Lovesick Blues” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” but the 42-track program also includes great songs that you won’t find on the standard collections, including several solo acoustic performances (among them a great version of the cowboy classic “Cool Water”) and a couple of live Grand Ole Opry performances (among them a dynamite version of “Why Don’t You Love Me”). Highly recommended.
Hank Williams
