The opening track, Country state of mind, is actually a bluesy song despite its title - very moody. Montana café is a very reflective song. The tempo picks up on the next song. My girl don't like my cowboy hat, which really rocks. The tempo slows again for When something is good why does it change. Next comes a medley of two very old songs - Shine on harvest moon (from 1909) and St Louis blues (only a few years younger). Hank's bluesy covers of these classics may not please everybody but they suit his style and I'm glad he included them. Another cover follows, this time it's the blues rocker, You can't judge a book, from the songbook of Willie Dixon.

Hank sings about himself in My name is Bocephus - a moody blues rocker. Loving instructor is another great blues rocker. Fat friends also rocks but is more light-hearted. Perhaps the best track of all is the last (and the only one that sounds country) - a cover of his father's Mind your own business, in which Reba McEntire, Tom Petty, Willie Nelson and Reverend Ike each sing a few lines.

This album has little to do with country music but it is a high quality album that demonstrates Hank at his best.


Montana Cafe   August 2, 2000
Bill Rodriguez (Middleville,MI. USA)
2 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is some Hank Jr. best work. It got it all, from ballads, to western swing.