European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Portrait of an artist new set chronicles Hank Williams music by Robert Hilburn los Angeles times i f 1990 was the year of rediscovery of Robert Johnson in Rock 1991 might be the year . Introduction to Hank Williams a Columbia album featuring the Complete recordings of Johnson a the Mississippi blues Man who died in 1938 at the age of 26 a became an unexpected. Best seller last year and caused such a stir among pop critics that Johnson  being the cover Story in this months musician Magazine. A the musician cover proclaims Johnson the father of. Rock n Roll and features a drawing of the Singer and. A guitarist surrounded by  As Eric Clapton Vernon Reid and Keith Richards. A. Now poly ram has released a retrospective of Hank Williams that is worthy of equal attention the album titled the original singles collection plus features. 84 recordings including both sides of every single that. Williams released for Mem records plus some earlier singles on Sterling records and some previously a unreleased material. A a Quot. Ftp san essential musical portrait of one of the giants of american music. Where Johnson dealt in the blues Williams a though influenced by gospel music and the. Blues a operated in the commercial world of Honky Tonk styled country music. A but both artists have been saluted by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame As forefathers Quot along with such other Perock influences As Woody Guthrie Leadbelly and Tbone Walker. A ,. A ironically Williams is probably better known to today s contemporary pop audience than Johnson because of Williams role As the most important figure in Post world War ii country music though his role in the development of Rock May be less understood. A a Here a one of the easiest Vays to picture Williams influence if musician Magazine put a drawing of him on the cover it would be entirely reasonable to surround him with such Rock artists As Bob Dylan John Fogerty Bruce Springsteen Jerry Lee Lewis Don Henley John Cougar Mellencamp Van Morrison and Elvis costello. / there was a simplicity and an unfiltered passion in his Best songs a and sometimes overlooked his vocals a that reflected life s deepest fears and desires with As soulful purity that has rarely been matched. A. Cold cold heart one of several Williams songs a including. Tour cheating heart and. A  a that. A a was a huge pop hit in. The Early 60s alter being re. Recorded by pop artists. Is typical of she intensity of feeling in Williams material. A. / a. A a tragic figure who died of a heart attack at age 29 in a the Back seat of a limousine in route to a new year s Day concert in Canton Ohio. Williams was born in 1923 on a tenant farm in mount Olive Ala. His father Quot drifted away from Home a and Hank was raised by his Mother in nearby a Montgomery according to the liner notes in the illustrated a Booklet that is included in the  he shined shoes and sold peanuts As a youngster to help support his Mother and sister. Williams father of country Star Hank Williams jr.,. Sang in the Church choir and fell in love with music. He was featured on radio broadcasts by the time he was 13. And often picked up some change by passing the hat after entertaining at Honky tonks. Schooth buses and a Medicine shows a a / \. One of the treats of the new set is a demo recording Williams made in 1942 of a song called i m not coming Home anymore. A a a Quot. Though he  have a country hit until he signed with Mem records and released move it on Overlive years later the demo shows a As Colin Escott observes. In his liner notes a that the main characteristics of the Quot Williams sound Quot were in place by the time of that record. Williams was just 19. Despite the Success of move it on Over Williams a whose life was complicated by a Stormy marriage and alcoholism a did t really begin electrifying country. Audiences until he recorded Lovesick blues which a strangely a was a 1922 show tune. A but the record highlighted by a masterfully affecting . Vocal spent a staggering 16 weeks at no. 1 on the country charts. He followed it with almost. Three dozen More top 10 country hits mostly his own songs. A. A / a a a a a a though the Skinny Singer was adored by audiences the personal problems a including a chronic Back. Problem that resulted in a dependence on painkillers a caused him to frequently miss shows. A a four months before his death Williams was apparently so undependable that he was fired by the grand Ole opry country music s most celebrated forum at the time. Escott writes that Williams life was almost a . In yet another irony the title of the last single released by Mem during Williams life was ill never get out of this world alive. It too went to no. 1. 1990 readers poll a i a Quot a. A a Quot a i a a a a i a a a a a a i a a a a a. I a v a a a a a Quot i the ballot below is for the third annual stars and stripes readers poll. Let us know your favorite artists albums and i  1990 a whether it s country soul jazz or Rock n Roll. Just fill  ballot Cut it out and or Iii it to readers a i poll stars and stripes apo.09211�?o or to the German address readers poll stars and stripes Rost Fach 11 14 37, i 6.100 Darmstadt 11, Germany. Entries must be. Postmarked no later than Jan. 20, 1991. Results Witt be announced in i february. A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a. A i a. A a. A a a a v i a a a / Quot a. A a a t a a a. A a a it 1 a a a a a a. I ,. A a a. A a a. I by Ltd fist new and. A a a a a a a Quot a a a a i male performer. Best comeback. I a a a a a a a. A a. Female performer. Favorite live performance. J favorite album.,least favorite  a. A. A a a a a a a a a i a a Quot. A a. A a a a a a a a. A i Best artist. Favorite single \ a a / a. A a a a mgt country music Star Hank Wlliams or. Has been dead 38 years but his music is Stolti in demand. Char to Tor a singles. 1. Love will never do without you Janot Jackson. 2 justify my love Madonna 3 High enough Damn Yankees 4. The first time surface. 5 sensitivity Ralph Tresvant. A a 6. Gonna make you sweat a amp a music factory fall Jim Freedom a Williams. A a. A 7. Play that Funky music Vanilla ice 8 because i love you Stoviak o 9. After the rain Nelson 10. From a distance Bone Midler v top a lpns a 1.to the extreme Vanilla ice a. / a 2. Please Hammer done to Hurt pm  Hammer 3. The immaculate collection a Madonna 4. The Simpsons sing the blues 1 he Simpsons a. 5 Mariah Carey Marlah Carey 8 i m your baby tonight Whitney Houston 7. Wilson Phillips Wilson Phillips. ,. 6 some people s lives Bette mid of 9. The razors Edge acc 10 rhythm of the saints Paul Simon country a singles 1 unanswered prayers Garth Brooks 2. Forever s As far As i la go a Alabama 3. I be come to expect it from you George Strait a a 4 Rumor has it Reba Mcnure 5. Come on Back in Rene Carton 6. Daddy s come around Paul overstreet7. Life s Little ups and Downs Ricky Van Shelton 0 it won t be me Tanya Tucker a 9-brother Jukebox Mark Chesnutt. A to. Never knew lonely Vince Gill. A a. A or amp by singles 1. The first time surface. A 2. Love makes things happen Pebles. A 3. Only human Jeffrey Osborne. Quot a. 4. Love will never do Janet Jackson a a. A.5 love me Down Freddie Jackson / a a 6. T never Rains in Southern California Totsy turn to .u1. 7. You Don t have to worry in Vogue. -. 8 around the Way Gihl  Mooij. 9 Gonna make you sweat t a amp a music Zadory Tea Runng Tom / Williams. A a a a. 10 Don t be a fool Loose  a albums 1. Roots revisited Macao Parker. 2 we Are in love Harry Conick or. 3. Dropping things Betty Carter a. A. A a 4. Freddie Freeloader Jon Hon Jencks. 5 african Exchange student Kon Nyga ren.6, the May iks Man Mark wharf Ald a \. 7. Extensions  Holland. ,. 8 big Boss band  court Basie orchestra. Oof a a Benson a  a 9 Standard time. Vol 3 Ulici res Diatian of ror Varice by it to it i  Vins. 10 music from my better blues , Quarter. T Blanchard a. A a. Wednesday january 16, 1991 the stars and stripes Pago 17