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Reviews
And Comments: HANK A LOT
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HANKS-A-LOT-excepts
from MAVERICK MAGAZINE-London Uk-March 2010-Larry Kelly. (3 1/2 STARS) Those who have followed
traditional country music for a very long time are likely to tell you that Durwood Haddock has been on the music scene as
far back as they can remember, and they wouldn't be wrong. Born in Texas and becoming a talented multi-instrumentalist
he formed his own band when he was still in high school and played honky tonks in Texas and Oklahoma. He soon was heard
hosting his own radio show, was a welcomed guest on the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, took up jobs as a DJ and later teamed with
Eddie Miller in l954 and co-wrote the country classic There She Goes which he first released on 4Star Records.
Later he headed up a successful publishing company in Nashville, a booking agency and branched out into record promotion and
distribution, so there is little that HADDOCK does not know about the music business. Now,
with just the fifth album of his lengthy career Haddock salutes the four "HANKS" whose music influenced him early
in his career, Hank Williams, Thompson, Snow and Locklin. He could have taken the easy route simply by regurgitating
the best known songs by these four artists, but apart from the three Hank Locklin selections his choice is interesting.
Wisely,at no point does Haddock attempt to sound like any of these artists, although he does manage to capture the spirit
of the music that influenced him in the late forties. Part of his ability to succeed in achieving this can be put down
to the fact that he his solely responsible for the entire instrumentation including, fiddle, viola, pedal and lap steel, electric
and acoustic lead guitar, keyboard, bass and percussion as well as the vocal harmony. Lovers of well presented traditional
music, particularly from those whom Haddock paid tribute to here, will find much to commend in this welcome release.
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HANKS A LOT Good name for an album.
Good idea too. Songs by the four Hanks and three from their song books. What's nice is that Durwood Haddock has
chosen his favorites rather than going with the most obvious, but sometimes the two are one in the same. Hank Locklin's
SEND ME THE PILLOW YOU DREAM ON, PLEASE HELP ME I'M FALLING, less obvious, despite being a # 1 hit in l953. Haddock
says in the liner notes that he "didn't try to imitate any of the artists", and it is the Hank Thompson songs
on which he sounds more like the original than the other HANKS. Maybe it's the wah, wah, wah steel riffs, or the
construction of the songs but there's no mistaking their origins. At times the rhythm suffers from a slight
hiccup if you listen hard, and the production is not the best in the world, but Durwood gets respect from me purely for having
written CARL SMITH'S, THERE SHE GOES, back in the day. Then there is his time with D Records and his ROCK-A-BILLY
HALL OF FAME induction(for THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES under the name DURWOOD DALY) He's been around, paid his dues, and
resumed his recording career in l995. 3 Stars, Excerpt from Duncan Warwick-Country
Music People Magazine, London UK, November 2009
Durwood Haddock,
whose career dates back to the Golden Age of Country Music, releases his fifth album with the unique title Hanks A Lot. In
this release, Durwood performs 12 of his favorite Hank songs by Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Hank Thompson and Hank Locklin with
fiddles, pedal steel, lap steel, electric lead, bass & drums. Durwood is probably best known as the writer of the country
standard There She Goes with Eddie Miller (Release Me) which he first recorded in l954. In l980 the song
was featured in the Oscar winning movie, Coal Miner's Daughter. In 1991 Patsy Cline's version sold several million
in The Patsy Cline Box Set Collection. Be assured, when you put Hanks A Lot on the player, Durwood will take you on a musical
trip back to real Country Music. Amazon Review Oct 2009.
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