Reviewed by Tony Cummings

In anyone's History Of Music Hank would be rated a musical genius who helped put down the template for country music for decades to come. But he was also a tortured figure who, having imbibed the Gospel during his childhood through the prayers and teachings of his beloved mother, never lived out a consistent Christian life turning instead to the transitory consolations of women, booze and drugs. What this fascinating compilation chronicles though is that throughout his career he continued to sing gospel songs and hymns as part of his vast repertoire. The performances here were drawn from radio shows Williams did in 1951 for Mother's Best Flower. He would usually end his segment of the programme with a gospel song and these tracks have a raw and luminous intensity which country music devotees will find compelling. There is a version of "I Saw The Light" (the classic song he claimed to have written even though the Chuck Wagon Gang had recorded a version before Hank) mixed with obscurer songs like "I've Got My One-Way Ticket To The Sky" and "When The Fire Comes Down". One absolute gem here is Hank's rendition of Cleavant Derricks' "When God Dips His Love In My Heart". If you already have the two Time Life CD sets of Hank you will already have the 15 tracks here. If you haven't this is a must-have CD.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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