Hank Snow's singing and song-writing is hallmarked by a sentimental and sometimes melancholic style, a reflection of his earliest musical influences and the circumstances of his upbringing. This collection focuses on that reflective, 'bluesy' side of Hank, significantly with a number of Jimmie Rodgers' songs like "My Good Gal's Gone" and "Mississippi River Blues". There is also 'blue-eyes' theme, including "I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes" (from The Carter Family and a 1944 hit for Gene Autry), and the beautiful "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain". This latter song, from the pen of Fred Rose, was to become a massive hit for Willie Nelson in 1975, and it is easy to suppose that Nelson drew inspiration from an earlier Snow interpretation. Incidentally, the two artists are also linked by their proficiency on, and preference for, the acoustic guitar. Hank's agility abounds on this set, not least on the instrumental "Wabash Blues", although he is content to play rhythm behind his band on "Bye Bye Blues". Two other tracks worth mentioning. Hank gives a strictly Country interpretation of the classic Blues "Trouble In Mind", and the same on Ivory Joe Hunter's 1950 R&B hit "I Almost Lost". Although Hank Snow can be ranked alongside Ernest Tubb and Red Foley in the development of Country Music following Jimmie Rodgers, his route was more tortuous that most. Canadian born and bred, Snow had to endure a harsh upbringing before pursuing his dream of emulating Rodgers. He then spent years proving himself to Canadian audiences but not so successfully to Americans until finally , in 1950, he got a break on the 'Grand Ole Opry'. in the same year, he penned his smash hit "I'm Moving On" and snow had finally arrived. This fresh, 23 track thematic Jasmine collection finds Snow in a bluesy, sometimes tearful mood, and features a number of Jimmie Rodgers' songs.
