Hank Williams: The Essential Hank Williams

Reviewed by GRAHAM REID

Herald rating: * * * * *

There are more than a few collections of this country legend who died a rock'n'roll death in the back of a white Cadillac on New Year's Day 1953, but this double disc compiled by former Aucklander Garth Cartwright (who delivered the similarly excellent Americana Country Outlaws collection) is certainly thorough.

Over 52 tracks -- complemented by a biographical essay -- Williams' most famous tracks are re-aired (Honky Tonkin', Lost Highway, Cold Cold Heart, Hey Good Lookin', Your Cheatin' Heart and so on) but are given breadth and context by other heart-aching -- and admittedly sometimes maudlin -- material which was his forte.

Some find his voice an annoying sub-yodel yip-yelp but few would dispute that his serious lyrics speak of universal truths and have influenced generations of songwriters. Heck, even sophisticated Norah Jones covered a Hank tune. Yes, essential.

Label: Union