Hank Locklin's tribute to
Hank Williams is a countrypolitan affair with strings and other ornamental production touches foreign to
Williams' original recordings. But
Locklin isn't a pop crooner on the order of
Jim Reeves or
Eddy Arnold -- his voice retains enough rural character to keep his interpretations rooted in country music even when the presentation is especially glossy.
Locklin's choice of songs is also notable in that he shies away from some of the ones that have been frequently covered in the pop realm, such as "Half as Much," in favor of unabashedly country offerings. It is a testament to
Williams' popularity and songwriting ability that even those songs -- like "Hey, Good Lookin'" and "Jambalaya" -- were also pop hits in the '50s.
Locklin is a good yodeler but seems to struggle a little with the voice-break singing in "Long Gone Lonesome Blues."
Sings Hank Williams is a respectful update of
Williams' songs from one of his former confederates.