Hank Williams Jr. and The Grascals – “All The Roads”
Songwriter: Hank Williams Jr.
The Grascals are no strangers to the rowdy side of country music, having covered Waylon Jennings’ “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” on their last album, Keep On Walkin’. Even so, their collaboration with Hank Williams, Jr. on his new single, “All the Roads,” is a pleasant surprise. Not only is it a catchy little number, it–along with several other tracks from Junior’s recent album 127 Rose Avenue–is some of the strongest material the man’s put out in nearly 20 years.
Though banjo and fiddle kick off the song and feature prominently during the next three minutes, “All the Roads” isn’t bluegrassy enough to frighten away the unbelievers–there are no Monrovian high lonesomes, and there are thumping country-rock drums to pound out the beat–but it might lead a few converts over to the Grascals and their irresistible sound. The sextet’s picking is in fine form, with new addition and current IBMA banjo player of the year Kristin Scott Benson delivering some tasty licks on the five string. Singing about waiting for his gal to return to him, Bocephus sounds better than he has in some time: engaged, playful, even downright youthful. Best of all, he’s not rehashing “All My Rowdy Friends” for the millionth time.
The raucous chorus (the best part of the song), on which Hank is joined by the Grascals, details the easy path back to him as the gang sings “I’m gonna keep all the roads open to my heart/Just in case you ever want to come back this way, sweetheart/The gate’ll be open and the door unlocked, so bring your horse and cart.” Where else do these roads lead? Junior’s “cave of love,” in which he is waiting like a hungry grizzly and you, young lady, are his Timothy Treadwell.
“Love caves?” Montana snowstorms? Horses? Dogsleds? At times it’s tempting to wonder just what the hell Bocephus is talking about, but “All the Roads” is so dang catchy that it doesn’t really matter. Turn it up and sing along.
Listen: Hank Williams Jr. and The Grascals – “All The Roads”
Popular Stuff
Sponsor
While the voice of country’s future took home this year’s big honor, a legendary voice from country music’s past scored a win for Album Of The Year. Check out the winners in The 9513's 2nd Annual Country Music Awards now!
Josh Turner's fourth album, Haywire, furthers his reputation as one of the leading men in contemporary country, a true, traditional voice in an ever-changing Nashville scene.
Having played on more than 500 albums and toured with artists that range from Hank III to Dolly Parton, Randy Kohrs has become one of the go-to musicians when there’s a need for a resophonic guitar
Sammy Kershaw – “Better Than I Used To Be”
As the title track off his upcoming album, “Better Than I Used to Be” is a straight-up look back on the career of a country music staple.
Emily West Featuring Keith Urban – “Blue Sky” Emily West turns in a gorgeous performance on “Blue Sky,” hitting notes few of her contemporaries can reach.
What does Alan Jackson like on his eggs?
Cheese and corn; he still likes bologna; a load of salsa; hens? Answers to the questions you'd never dream of asking. (
In each and every instance, the best country albums of the past ten years were built on the backs of songs -- stories about you and me from birth to death and stories that paint landscapes rooted in every region of America and beyond. These are the top country albums of the decade.Tagged In This Article
Bluegrass // Hank Williams Jr. // Kristin Scott Benson // The Grascals // Waylon Jennings
Current Discussion
- sam (sam): Stormy - neither idea may be terribly original. But I see no entertainment value in Gary Allan's gimmick and at ...
- Sheep: For whatever reason, Keith Urban's "Til Summer Comes Around" dropped a spot to #13. If that song doesn't crack the ...
- Stormy: Sam: Except that neither Gary nor Laura Bell came up with anything that hasn't been done since the 1970's.
- richard: Also I have an announcement to make. This same Trish that was on Miranda's fan site a while back that ...
- sam (sam): Laura Bell Bundy's idea of on stage antics seems a lot more interesting than Gary Allan's.
- Noeller: Couple o' notes: -Will probably pick up that label-forced Cagle GH comp just 'cause I dig him... -Gary Allen is COOL. ...
- Michelle: Let's hope that Trish is very young, because then it would make sense. She didn't get her way and who ...
- Brady Vercher: Let's stick to a single name around here, please.
- richard: You are so right Stormy! Just because a lot of true country fans are happy about a good singers' success. ...
- Stormy: Trish: I don't think anyone hates Carrie Underwood except maybe Jessica Simpson. But its a long way from ...
8 Comments
RSS for comments on this post | Trackback URI for this post
November 12, 2009 at 12:11 pm Permalink
Timothy Treadwell reference FTW.
November 12, 2009 at 2:22 pm Permalink
This is one of the songs that I downloaded from his album. Good stuff.
November 12, 2009 at 4:14 pm Permalink
I don’t think the drums are any more prominent here than on any of a few score Jimmy Martin records. And for those wanting to dig a little deeper, the Grascals’ familiarity with the rowdy side of country music is exemplified by their fine cover of Aubrey Holt’s “Tonight’s My Night To Howl” on their Long List Of Heartaches album, a song that makes Waylon & Co. look durn near respectable (“I’m gonna play loud music, gonna drink hard liquor, gonna chase wild women, tonight’s my night to howl”).
November 12, 2009 at 4:22 pm Permalink
Excellent song.
November 12, 2009 at 4:46 pm Permalink
And, also, Hank’s long been a lover of bluegrass. Took banjo lessons with Earl Scruggs years ago, for one thing.
November 12, 2009 at 4:46 pm Permalink
Its encouraging that Hank Jr. is getting back in the game with some quality material to satisfy his long time fans. Unfortunately major market Top 40 country radio couldn’t care less about a dinosaur from the distant past of country music (i.e. anything prior to Carrie Underwood’s triumphal entry). Looks like Jr. will wind up on the Americana charts along with his daughter Holly and nephew Hank III. At least his new videos earn a few airings on GAC and CMT.
Just think if there were terrestrial radio stations that specialized in playing new music from traditional country oriented new artists and all the legacy true country artists that have been off the charts for awhile. Hank Jr., Gene Watson, and The Gatlin Brothers could actually be getting some decent on-air spins right now! Oh well…
November 12, 2009 at 9:37 pm Permalink
This was one of my favorites from the album too. Would love to see it get some airplay.
November 13, 2009 at 1:15 am Permalink
Well I was listening to Eddie Stubbs via WSM online tonight and he played this new Hank Jr. song and not long afterwards spun a track off Gene Watson’s new album. Eddie and I must think alike! (lol) Now if Eddie would have also played “Johnny Cash Is Dead And His House Burned Down” I’d have gotten a bit spooked!
Leave a Comment