• Artist: Hank Williams, Jr.
• Flags: Compilation (best of)
• Type: Compilation
• Rating:
• Styles: Outlaw Country, Southern Rock
• Track Picks: "A Country Boy Can Survive," "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight," "That's How They Do It in Dixie"

Review

Released in the summer of 2006, That's How They Do It in Dixie: The Essential Collection isn't the best Hank Williams, Jr. compilation, but it isn't the worst, either. At a mere 12 tracks, it's quite brief, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that there are a lot of hits missing -- particularly since some room had to be made for "That's How They Do It in Dixie," a wannabe rowdy singalong featuring the cartoony rednecks Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Van Zant. It's no great shakes but it's not bad either, and it fits nicely into a collection that emphasizes Hank Jr.'s rough and rowdy ways. Of course, there's "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight," but there's also "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound," "A Country Boy Can Survive," "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie," "Family Tradition," "My Name Is Bocephus," and the in-the-studio duet with his Dad on "There's a Tear in My Beer." There are a bunch of big hits missing, and consequently this isn't necessarily the best introduction to Hank Jr.'s career, but for those who already know that they like him at his rough and rowdy best, this a good collection to have. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
That's How They Do It in Dixie		Chris Tompkins, Mark Irwin, Josh Kear	Hank Williams, Jr., Van Zant, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson	(3:16)
Family Tradition		Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr.	(4:02)
All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight		Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr.	(2:58)
A Country Boy Can Survive		Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr.	(4:17)
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound		Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr.	(3:10)
There's a Tear in My Beer		Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr., Hank Williams	(2:52)
If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie		Bill Maddox	Hank Williams, Jr.	(2:47)
Born to Boogie		Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr.	(2:43)
Women Never Had	...	Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr.	(2:51)
Country State of Mind		Hank Williams, Jr., Roger Alan Wade	Hank Williams, Jr.	(3:58)
My Name Is Bocephus		Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr.	(4:42)
Stirrin' It Up		Hank Williams, Jr.	Hank Williams, Jr.	(3:25)

Credits

Joe Chemay (Guitar (Bass)), Barry Beckett (Producer), Bruce Bouton (Guitar (Steel)), Jimmy Bowen (Producer), Jimmy Bowen (Engineer), Pat Buchanan (Guitar (Electric)), John Jarvis (Piano), Doug Johnson (Producer), Paul Leim (Drums), Chris Leuzinger (Guitar (Electric)), Jim Ed Norman (Producer), Brent Rowan (Guitar (Electric)), Ed Seay (Engineer), Ed Seay (Mixing), Hank Williams, Jr. (Producer), Hank Williams, Jr. (Engineer), Tim Akers (Organ (Hammond)), John Scarpati (Cover Photo), Hank Williams (Mastering), Bryan Sutton (Guitar (Acoustic)), Glenn Sweitzer (Art Direction), Glenn Sweitzer (Design), Wes Hightower (Vocals (Background)), Milly Catignani (Production Coordination), Doug Johnson (Producer), Doug Johnson (Assistant Engineer), Michael "Mick" Wilson (Photography), Scott Kidd (Assistant Engineer), Chip Matthews (Engineer), Brian Gill (Assistant Engineer), John Ozier (Production Coordination)