You don’t have to listen long to any country music with an
ounce of heritage in it to come across a tune played in the old three-four
time. The waltz has been an integral part of country music for as long as
couples have been heading down to the honky tonk to dance away the troubles and
woes of a rural life. So in an age where there are a significant number of
performers still keeping the traditions alive, UK country legend Hank Wangford
has raised the preservation stakes higher by dedicating a whole double album to
the sound which he proudly implies as always been a differentiation marker
between country and rock n’ roll.
To keep within a choice of moods, Hank has neatly packaged
this mixture of originals and standards into, whether you’re up for a dose of melancholy
or need a little ‘end of the day’ pick up. There is a school of thought which suggests
only the former exists in true country music but occasionally we all deserve
the optimism of ‘Save Me the Waltz’
or a trip to ‘Sin City’. It is
fitting that Hank includes a version of the latter as Gram Parsons was credited
as one of the artists to lead him into the arms of country music. For this album
Hank chose a duet with Billy Bragg that was initially recorded a number of
years ago and included on the B side of Bragg’s ‘Waiting for the Great Leap Forward.’
Of course enjoyment of this album will depend on your
feelings towards the waltz but with covers of Willie Nelson, Louvin Brothers
and George Jones songs, it defies country fans of any persuasion not to have a
soft spot for this classic slowed down sound. In addition to timeless songs
such as ‘Say It’s Not You’ by George Jones
or the Willie Nelson penned ‘Permanently
Lonely’, Hank, who has acquired cult alt-country status in his time, pays
tribute to a more contemporary performer in Lucinda Williams with a fantastic
version of ‘Concrete and Barbed Wire.’
Hank has contributed around half of this twenty-five track
set with originals and for me there are three with particular stand out
qualities. From ‘The Light’ disc ‘Sunk
Without Trace’ and the album’s title track ‘Save Me The Waltz’ have a special quality about them to take their
warranted place amongst the classics. Perhaps the finest of all Hank’s
compositions included is the ultimate ‘giving up’ song ‘Lonely Together’ which proved a great sing along live number when
Hank previewed this album with a duo show in Birmingham in February. This track
anchors the final segment on ‘The Dark’ disc which also includes a
Lennon/McCartney song ‘Baby’s In Black’
and another old Billy Bragg duet, this time on the Woody Guthrie song ‘Deportees’.
Hank’s long time band, The Lost Cowboys, make their presence
felt on the record which was recorded in several locations, one including an
old Telefunken microphone bought from the Abbey Road studios. Amongst the Lost
Cowboys line up are UK pedal steel luminary BJ Cole and Martin Belmont who has
recently been doing some stellar work with My Darling Clementine. However all
tracks have benefitted from a lengthy list of contributors with Anna Robinson
significantly stepping in with the Lucinda Williams vocal piece.
www.hankwangford.co.uk
Review of Hank Wangford Birmingham show in February