Long Gone Daddy

This collection of loose ends is a musically rewarding set of classic country songs as they were first imagined by Hank Williams III's legendary grandfather. Though the grandson has since seen fit to explore hellbilly and other extreme forms of music, he's a powerful performer of music that falls under his family's tree. His vocals feature a variation on granddad's resonant cry, and III's takes of "I'm a Long Gone Daddy" and "Neath a Cold Gray Tomb of Stone"—as well as Merle Haggard's "The Bottle Let Me Down" and Waylon Jennings' "Good Hearted Woman"—are true and pure country music. The duet with Joey Allcorn on "This Ain't Montgomery" (featuring the beautiful sawing fiddles of his granddad's best work) appeared on Allcorn's 50 Years Too Late album. Some of these tracks appeared on compilation albums, while others are outtakes from Williams' first two albums for Curb Records, Risin' Outlaw and Lovesick, Broke and Driftin'. Despite its offhand nature, Long Gone Daddy is a solid display of Williams III's immense talents.