Almeria Club Recordings

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Bocephus recorded most of this at an ancient Alabama social club where, legend has it, his mother and dad once played. But like most Hank Jr. albums, quality material coexists with swaggering self-indulgence like "The F-Word" (with Kid Rock) and "The Last Pork Chop" (needlessly reprised acoustically), which is sung under Williams's blues alter ego Thunderhead Hawkins. Less bombast means considerable improvement on the atmospheric "The Cheatin' Hotel" and "Tee Tot Song," an homage to Hank Sr.'s original guitar teacher. "Cross on the Highway," an elegy for Hank Jr.'s friends (football star Derrick Thomas and Mike Tellis) killed in a car crash, effectively revives the Luke the Drifter spirit. "America Will Survive" is his post-September 11 revamping of "A Country Boy Can Survive." Yet "If The Good Lord's Willin'" (written to a set of Hank Sr. lyrics), the trivial "X-Treme Country," and "Big Top Women" are all so musically similar they nearly run together. In all, it's regrettable that an album seemingly conceived as a journey of rediscovery doesn't always pan out that way. --Rich Kienzle

Product Description:
The 'Almeria Club Recordings' is culmination of acoustic, folk, country & blues sounds. Features duet with Kid Rock on 'The F-Word' & Nickel Creek on 'Outdoor Lovin' Man' and includes the bonus track, 'America Will Survive'. Curb Records.

Tracks:

Last Pork Chop
Go Girl Go
The F-Word (w/ Kid Rock)
If The Good Lord's Willin' (and the Creeks Don't Rise)
X-Treme Cuntry
Last Pork Chop (Acoustic)
Big Top Women
The Cheatin' Hotel
Outdoor Lovin' Man 9w/ Nickel Creek)
Almeria Jam
Tee Tot Song
Cross On The Highway
America Will Survive (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

Bocephus recorded most of this at an ancient Alabama social club where, legend has it, his mother and dad once played. But like most Hank Jr. albums, quality material coexists with swaggering self-indulgence like "The F-Word" (with Kid Rock) and "The Last Pork Chop" (needlessly reprised acoustically), which is sung under Williams's blues alter ego Thunderhead Hawkins. Less bombast means considerable improvement on the atmospheric "The Cheatin' Hotel" and "Tee Tot Song," an homage to Hank Sr.'s original guitar teacher. "Cross on the Highway," an elegy for Hank Jr.'s friends (football star Derrick Thomas and Mike Tellis) killed in a car crash, effectively revives the Luke the Drifter spirit. "America Will Survive" is his post-September 11 revamping of "A Country Boy Can Survive." Yet "If The Good Lord's Willin'" (written to a set of Hank Sr. lyrics), the trivial "X-Treme Country," and "Big Top Women" are all so musically similar they nearly run together. In all, it's regrettable that an album seemingly conceived as a journey of rediscovery doesn't always pan out that way. --Rich Kienzle

Album Description

The 'Almeria Club Recordings' is culmination of acoustic, folk, country & blues sounds. Features duet with Kid Rock on 'The F-Word' & Nickel Creek on 'Outdoor Lovin' Man' and includes the bonus track, 'America Will Survive'. Curb Records.

Customer Reviews:

Hank - What can you say other than that.......2006-11-03

It's Hank at his best. I just wished he recorded more!

Bocephus--Doing His Thing.......2006-07-11

Having started as a Rockin'Randall fan and growing into a Hank Jr. fan, I find this cd to be just another turn on the twisting back country road which is the career of Hank Jr. Never one to be afraid to try something new, to experiment, to do things his way regardless of anyone else's opinion, Hank has recorded a fine collection of songs. Never doubt his talent, his sense of humor, his love of friends, or his pride. All these are expressed on this cd. Laugh at "Last Pork Chop" and "Big Top Women," let your jaw drop for "The F--- Word," cry for "Cross on the Highway," and swell with pride for"America Will Survive." This cd has it all.

Eat That Last F'n Pork Chop!.......2003-07-23

I must admit that my country tastes usually range along the lines of Mssrs. Cash and Nelson. (Not bad!) But I saw Hank Jr. and Kid Rock last year on CMT Crossroads and remember 'The F Word'. That song is funny, but Hank was being far too diplomatic when he sang about today's hot new country. It sounds like sh*t to me!

Anyway, being a big blues fan, I really enjoyed the feel that this album left me with. Last Pork Chop and Tee Top are as down-home rootsy as you can get without being named Robert Johnson or Leadbelly. It doesn't hurt that Reese Wynans, Stevie Ray Vaughan's keyboard player, was on most of this album. He also pulls off the acoustic Pork Chop song without sounding like he's poking fun at old-time blues artists! By the way, Big Top Women is hysterical, especially the beginning when he sings about bosoms the way kids used to sing about Apple Jacks cereal. But let's not forget the poignancy of the last two songs.

There must be two reasons Cross on the Highway is not played on country radio: it's too long and it has a gospel choir in it. Too bad! I only knew Derrick Thomas as a great football player (are you sure that wasn't Keith Jackson saying, "He led the Alabama Crimson Tide in all-time total sacks"?) and yet I found myself near tears by the end of the 5th time I heard this song. Imagine what it must've been like for Hank to write it with the memory of his friends Derrick and Mike Tellis' deaths fresh in his mind. Hank, that one song alone may just ticket you to heaven and cancel out your wild and crazy past.

America Will Survive! Damn right! Because I'm somewhat new to Hank Jr., I didn't realize this was a rewrite of A Country Boy Can Survive. Still appropriate. It's been almost two years since the attacks and this country, in spite of its problems, is still perservering. Now we need to find the terrorists and well you know the rest.

Overall, fine piece of work from a legend I should've listened to more. Let's hope that this is not Hank Jr.'s peak.

3.5 stars REALLY..........2002-10-08

This CD is Good and is definitely worth buying IF you are a Hank Williams Jr. fan. The only thing bad about it is (that it sounds like) he changed his style a little. He just does'nt have "it" on this CD. He does'nt have his RAW and strong southern attitude/voice as he usually does. It sounds like he tried to make it sound similar to that new "pop-country" stuff also know as "todays country" which is too bad sounding. BUT if you are a Hank Jr. Fan its worth buyiny with songs like: Cheatin Hotel, Cross on the Highway, The F-word, and some of the others are decent.

This is a song review - not the entire disc.......2002-07-18

The 'F' Word is the dumbest song I have heard in a LONG time. and that is saying a lot, considering how many CD's I listen to. I couldn't believe when I found out that it was recorded by Hank Williams Jr. talk about hitting rock bottom!

Music Album:

Music Album