Hank Williams Turns 100: Long Gone, and Lonesome Blues

A man of the century hits the century mark. Tributes here from Dylan, the Beatles and Stones, Emmylou, Waylon, Sheryl Crow, Linda Ronstadt, Tim Hardin, and James Brown (!).

Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books and now writer/director of award-winning films. He was also the longtime executive editor of the legendary Crawdaddy. And see his popular new newsletter devoted to The Bomb in the wake of “Oppenheimer.” His two newsletters remain free when you subscribe. His film “Atomic Cover-up” became free via Kanopy this month.

Meant to post yesterday marking the 100th birthday of my man, Hank Williams, one of the most important artists of the past century, but Jann Wenner inspired me to post a dozen great rock tunes by women. When I did mention Hank’s 100th on Twitter, one wag noted that if he was living today he would still be younger than Henry Kissinger. I’d add: without have done as much damage, and probably not dating Barbara Walters and Jill St. John.

Anyway: Ol’ Hank died at the age 29, in the iconic “back seat of a Cadillac,” paving the way for future rockers not just with his music, attitude, and knee-shaking (and sadly a dramatic way to “go out” if you are indeed doomed to die young). Imagine the songs he might have written for another forty or fifty years.

The “Hank Williams Syndrome,” according to Waylon Jennings (see below) , who penned a song with that title: “Come to Nashville, write some good songs, cut some hit records, make money, take all the drugs you can and drink all you can, become a wild man and all of a sudden die.”

So to mark the day (but first please subscribe, it’s still free).

Hank introduced by, yes, June Carter, in her early goofy stage persona, long before she met Johnny Cash. Note the knee wobbles, pre-Elvis, on “Hey, Good Lookin’.”

And another classic, “Cold Cold Heart”—the first adult 78 given to me as a wee lad, in the hit Tony Bennett version.

Dylan has always called Hank one of his biggest influences. Here he sings some Hank with Joan Baez from Don’t Look Back, and then an outtake (which I just discovered) from his Freewheelin album, “I Hear That Lonesome Whistle Blow.”

Lennon with a snippet of “Hey Good Lookin’” during the “Get Back” sessions. Yes, the boys covered Hank’s first hit, “Lovesick Blues,” back in Hamburg.

An amazing, genre blasting, “Your Cheatin’ Heart” by James Brown.

Terrific tribute to Hank’s final hours: Emmylou Harris with “Rollin’ and Ramblin.”

There have been hundreds of other tribute songs, some swell, many weak or tacky. Here’s a great one from another terrific songwriter who threw it all away, Tim Hardin.

Elvis Costello takes a speedball and then tries to catch up with Hank’s “Why Don’t You Love Me”— with two guitar legends, Jerry Garcia and James Burton.

Linda Ronstadt joined by Emmylou on “I Can’t Help It.”

Waylon captured the spirit here with his classic “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”:

And back to the master himself, as he was surely “Alone and Forsaken.” Perhaps the most haunting song ever. Featured as a theme in “The Last of Us” HBO series and popular video game:

Sheryl Crow, “Long Gone Lonesome Blues”

Jerry Lee joined by Keith Richards on “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” Jerry, of course, had a very early hit with “You Win Again.”

And here is “You Win Again” by the Stones with Mick’s country honk voice.

Al Green, on his greatest album, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

And finally, Hank dropping in on Anita Carter, who appears to be a bit frightened or just in awe as he tells her “I Can’t Help It.”