Best of Hank Wilson

Leon Russell is one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most unsung heroes, having played as a session musician with a virtual “Who’s Who,” from Jerry Lee Lewis and Phil Spector to the Byrds and the Rolling Stones. His solo work rarely gathered the same attention. In 1973, Russell decided to cut an album that would now be classified as “Americana,” with its roots in country and bluegrass that back in the early ‘70s had no comfortable audience niche. Russell released the album as “Hank Wilson,” a nod to country star Hank Williams, and a cult legend was born. Throughout the years, Russell has returned to the persona, releasing albums in 1984, 1998 and 2001 that bore the Wilson imprint. This 22-track collection assembles the highlights from those four albums — with three bonus cuts — and serves as a varied and well-executed look at an unusual talent with a brilliant nose for classic country material. Many of the tunes retain a bluegrass flavor (“Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” “Mystery Train”) while others hit to the heart of country (“He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Heartaches By the Number”).