If it was 25 pages longer, I would have given "Snapshots" five stars! It's a wonderful treasure trove of fascinating, previously unseen photos, interviews, first person narratives and long-lost song lyrics. If you're a Hank Williams fan, you know what an impressive researcher is Colin Escott. His earlier bio of Hank stands as the most complete picture we're likely to have of a singer who, almost without fail, gave complete heart and soul in the recording studio. Finally, we have a book that attempts far more than a grim post-mortem on Hank's well-documented personal miseries. This is a celebration of Hank Williams: musician and performer. Wait until you see all the incredible photos of Hank and the Drifting Cowboys on stage, playing to excited, packed houses in places as far flung as San Jose and Ottawa. By all accounts, Hank was the most charismatic live performer of his time. Many of the hand-written scraps of unpublished song lyrics are very moving, especially "I Wish I Had A Dad." If only Hank had been given enough time to put the words to music and record them, his string of classic hits would have, without doubt, continued. I am not a starry-eyed admirer. I realize that Hank was abusive to his wives, often cruel and secretive. (By the way, photos here show what a teenaged knock-out was Hank's second wife, Billie Jean.) The "hillbilly Shakespeare" lived most of his brief adult life as a tortured, late-stage alcoholic. But "Snapshots" takes care to balance the picture, too. It depicts Hank Williams as millions of record-buying fans saw him: an enomorously gifted singer/songwriter and electrifying showman. I hope that Colin Escott and Kira Florita keep searching for hidden treasures: "More Snapshots From The Lost Highway" would be welcomed by this reader! Also needed is a single volume that details (as much as possible) all of Hank's live perfomances, TV and radio appearances, such as Mark Lewisohn's "Complete Beatles Chronicle" and the book on Elvis' live perfomances, "King On The Road." Please buy "Hank Williams: The Original Singles Collection...Plus" (CD), Escott's biography and "Snapshots From The Lost Highway." Escott and Florita are "settin' the woods on fire"!

Although he never made it to 30 and died nearly a half-century ago, singer/songwriter Hank Williams continues to exert tremendous influence on all spheres of popular music. The country crooner also continues to invite biographical treatment. In 1998, music historian Escott (Hank Williams: A Biography) and Florita, former marketer of the Hank Williams catalog for Mercury Records Nashville, produced the Grammy-winning, ten-CD set The Complete Hank Williams. While working on that project, they amassed a huge number of photographs, documents, and published and unpublished song lyrics. That iconography forms the basis of Hank Williams: Snapshots from the Lost Highway, an appealing coffee-table book that is being cross-promoted with the tribute album, Timeless. Composed of captions by the authors and excerpts of interviews with Williams and his family and friends, the text is somewhat sparse but to the point and well written. Rick Bragg also contributes an elegant foreword. Koon's Hank Williams, So Lonesome was first published as Hank Williams: A Bio-Bibliography (Greenwood, 1993). This second take features expanded biographical coverage and important discussions of Williams's songs. Also significant are the author's attempts to separate the facts of Williams's life and work from the mythology of the musician and his thoughtful assessment of sources. In eliminating the reference-book qualities of the earlier Greenwood volume, Koons has made a significant contribution to Williams literature for fans and scholars. As a pair, these books nearly perfectly complement each other, but, unfortunately, neither contains a discography. In addition, the Escott and Florita volume lacks a bibliography (perfectly acceptable for a work of this kind), and the Koons book contains only a scaled-back one. Despite these shortcomings, both books avoid sensationalizing their complex subject and are highly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with a popular culture focus

In assembling 1998's 10-CD The Complete Hank Williams, Kira Florita and Colin Escott found far more material than their box set's book could contain. As a result, they put together this book, a behind-the-scenes look to hold his devotees spell-bound.

Fans who've read Escott's biography Hank Williams will treasure the new material: an extensive collection of informal photos, long-sealed court depositions, the accounting ledger with the $30,000 payoff to his naïve teenaged bride Billie Jean to abandon her claim to his estate, etc.

Among the handwritten copies of 30 unpublished songs and song fragments ("I Wish I Had A Dad," "The Broken Marriage") is "Then Came That Fatal Day" found on the floor of the Cadillac where he died en route to a December 31, 1952, concert. The newly revealed lyrics capture his love-hate relationship with his first wife, Audrey. Meanwhile, a draft of "Cold Cold Heart" accompanies Hank's and Audrey's conflicting accounts as to whether it was "inspired" by an abortion.

Numerous details emerge in the book, like Billie Jean's humor, and Hank's problems with excess measures in song lines. Letters from his publisher/co-author/editor Fred Rose (a recovered alcoholic who tried to curb Hank's substance abuse) find Rose trying to help the volatile marriage to Audrey while - like many others - harshly assessing her.

Audrey, who died in 1975, was an ambitious woman who attempted plenty of spin on her exhusband's legend, but she was probably right in saying, "If some woman, equally as strong as I am, had not come along, there never would have been a Hank Williams. He did not want to live when I met him."

It's an intriguing cast of characters, which build upon the already colorful Hank Williams legend. Check it out today!

I enjoyed the book; it was entertaining, insightful, scholarly, and included a few insightful surprises! However, I was most disappointed to note the biographical omission of Mr. Simmie Knox; he is too talented and humble a person to be overlooked in such a fashion. So, for the sake of posterity, the book should be recalled and corrected as soon as possible. Surely, we wouldn't want it said this is the way we regard an African American Presidential Artist! Correction please.

Great book. Very useful for new collectors.

What a beautiful explanation of art that has been ignored for so many years. Not only is the book well illustrated, it is informative. Not having much understanding of art at all, I have now begun to understand the artist, the art and the expression of information that is creative and informative of people and events. This is a book not only for the scholar and informed art collector but for those of us who enjoy beauty. We can now understand creativity in a new way.

I just finished reading this biography of Mr. Williams, and came away feeling very sad for Hank and his son Hank, Jr. Although the book chronicles the real contributions that Hank's mother and wife Audrey made in starting his career, the two women seemed to use Hank as a gravy train, with little love shown for this sad, lonely man. Particularly disgusting was the vulture like behavior exhibited immediately following his tragic death. Thank heaven he had Billie Jean, if even for a short while. She seems to be the only woman in his life that really loved him. Between his back pain and loneliness, it's no wonder he drank.

There was a lot of interesting detail in the book, sometimes too much info for my taste. Mr. Escott went into exhausting detail giving the background of practically every soul Hank ever met. It also seemed Mr. Escott disliked Roy Acuff, which I found interesting, since he has always been portrayed as a virtual saint. Also, Mr. Escott's descriptions of what would have become of Hank and his career had he lived were very interesting, and probably true.

I wish Hank, Jr. could have known his father, it was obvious that Hank loved him, but addictions and circumstance kept them apart.

I'll listen to Hank's music with a much deeper knowledge of the pain that influenced his songs.

Wonderful biography of ole Hank! Not to harsh and not to patronizing. Editors notes were great. I couldn't wait to get to the next page. Even if your not a big reader, this book will hook you, and you won't put it down until its finished, then you'll read it again. Great pictures. The history of "ole Hank's" family, really explains why he was so great and had such a tragic departure from life. Great book. FIVE STARS to the author!!! Highly recommended reading.

There are a few passages in the book where Colin Escott explains the dilemma of writing a book on Hank Williams: Even the people who were close to him said that they didn't know him very well (and a lot of people claimed to know him). And, a good majority of the people in the book have passed away, so Escott is left to interpret the facts.

The obvious problem with that is that you never feel like you know what Hank was going through or how he felt. So what happens is that there's a lot of "Hank did this" or "Hank did that." He never let anyone know what he was thinking or how he felt. He left that for his songs.

The book doesn't paint Hank as a saint, but nor does it trash him (most biographers would be tempted to go either way). Escott mostly stuck with the facts, and for the most part leaves it up to you to form your own opinion.

I enjoyed reading this book and it only took me two days. I'm a relatively new listener of Hank Williams, but when I saw that Colin Escott wrote this book, I didn't hesitate to buy it. I presumed, and correctly, that Escott would give an authoritative biography. I also knew that Escott was an avid fan of the music, so it would be loaded with the type of stuff that fans want to know, such as first recording dates, sessions, important concerts, last appearances, etc. Recommended.

Horace Logan was the emcee and program director for the famed "Louisiana Hayride," a nationally broadcast weekly radio show that for the better part of the 1950s was the main competitor of the "Grand Ole Opry." Known as "the cradle of the stars," the Hayride had a reputation for developing hot new talent, and has long been an object of fascination for me since it was here that Webb Pierce got his start. As the main creative director of the Hayride, Logan's path intersected those of many top-flight hick musicians, including Webb, Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, Kitty Wells, Jim Reeves and a slew of others whose careers took off when they became regulars on the show. This book concentrates the bulk of its effort towards two oft-mythologized stars whose lives are amply documented elsewhere - Hank Williams and Elvis Presley -- and while it's cool to get insights from a person who helped start both their careers, in a sense the book feels like a missed opportunity, since Logan must have had plenty more to say about the "early" days when country music made the transition from rinky-dink local operations into a major industry with a nationwide scope. He broke into the business at the tail end of a period when all the action was on local radio stations, and helped usher in the era when things became increasingly professionalized and big-league. While the book is very readable, it's unfortunate that Logan and his ghost-writer, Bill Sloan, didn't see fit to explore "the old days" a little bit more, and bring out more of the flavor of what the hick music business was like back when. It's understandable that they would emphasize the bankable big boys like Elvis and Hank, but considering how much has already been written about them, the "witness to history" approach doesn't add as much to the historical lore as more under-the-radar observations might have. In short, it would've been cool if the story had been more about Logan himself, and the world he saw, and not simply about the stars that lived in it. Still, Hayride enthusiasts should definitely check this one out!

I grew up in east Texas, and listening to country music during the late 40's and 50's ,along with rock and roll.We would listen to the radio and the Louisiana Hayride was one of several saturday night music programs that we listened to. this book "Elvis Hank and Me" was a plesant suprise, I found the book to be easy and informative reading. 'Hoss' Logan,gives you a warm and personal glimse into the everyday lives of some of the biggest stars to ever come along. Thanks 'Hoss'. If you start this book , you'll finish it.

Being a country music disc jockey for almost a half-century as well as a song-writer and columnist, I found Horace Logan's "Elvis, Hank and Me" a genuine "refresher", a work of true art that not only informs but captures the attention of the reader by revealing the raw facts pertaining to the entertainment industry and the rough and rowdy trails many of the super-stars blazed in order to make the marquees of big-time show business. Horace mentions in this book the fact we toiled together for awhile at a radio station in the Dallas/Fort Worth market. He always had a most-interesting story to tell on the air. Now, many of those true, interesting and oft-times sad tales have been put into print for true enjoyment. -Bill Mack (Grammy winning songwriter of LeAnn Rimes', "BLUE"; Radio's "Midnight Cowboy", heard nightly on the "Bill Mack Trucking Network", and host on "Country Crossroads", syndicated nationally each week on radio & television.)

This book is kind of an oddity in the world of Hank Williams oriented literature. The earlier chapters (the ones about Hank Williams) are sketchy, in places, and though one senses a real affection for Mr. Williams in Lycretia's narrative, there are few new details to surprise the more than casual reader. Where this book comes to life and becomes a good read is in the second two-thirds, as the focus shifts to Audrey. Audrey has generally gotten a bad deal, both in life and in print, and this is the first book that has even attempted to humanise her. That it succeeds in doing so makes it all the more likeable, although the picture it paints of her final ten years is a bleak and depressing one, and the comment that it makes about Nashville and the music establishment deserves to be expanded to book length. Although only the most "completist" of Hank Williams collectors (or masochists) would want to hear Audrey's "greatest hits collection" (formerly available on Bear Family Records), most would do well to read this book, to get the full story of the oft-maligned "first" Mrs. Williams, and the horrible sad turn her life took.

I am looking for the contributor of this book, Dale Vinicur...Does anyone know how to reach her?

This is an excellent compilation of nostalgia about our twentieth century western movie heroes. It brought back many memories of my youth, when life was more simple and childhood heroes were easier to find.

The Table of Contents you have on this book should read this way!

Chapter 1 The Most Famous Hero of the West Hopalong Cassidy

Chapter 2.Action Hero of the West

Allan "Rocky" Lane

Chapter 3.The All-American Cowboy

Johnny Mack Brown

Chapter 4.Back in the Saddle Again

Gene Autry

Chapter 5.King of the Cowboys

Roy Rogers

Chapter 6.America's Most-Beloved Cowboy

Tex Ritter

Chapter 7.The Peaceable Man

Wild Bill Elliott

Chapter 8.The Gallant Defender

Charles Starrett aka The Durango Kid

Chapter 9.Michelangelo & The Outlaw

Bob Brown & AL Jennings

Chapter 10.Those Other Silver Screen Heroes

Monte Hale-Rex Allen-Don "Red" Barry-Sunset Carson Ray "Crash" Corrigan-Max Terhune-Robert Livingston Buster Crabbe-Eddie Dean-Tim Holt-Buck Jones-Lash LaRue-Tim McCoy-Ken Maynard-Tom Mix-Bob Steele-Whip Wilson-Jimmy Wakely*

Chapter 11.Saddle Queens of the Silver Screen

Jennifer Holt-Anne Gwynne-Lois Hall-Linda Stirling Virginia Mayo-Elaine Riley-June Story-Nell O'Day Peggy Stewart-Anne Jefferys

Chapter 12.The Cowboy and His Horse The Cowboy and The Name of the Horse He Rode!

I have just finsihed reading Those Wide Open Spaces and it is a great book. It is a book that the whole family will enjoy. It has been a long, long time since I went to those Saturday matinee movies in Philadelphia and watched by hero on the screen, Roy Rogers. This book brought back such wonderful memories that I had forgotten. The biographies about each star was very interesting with information that I had never known before. You will really enjoy this book and I recommend it for all ages. Looking forward to his next book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It contains a lot of information on Bulldogs ranging from their history to grooming and the breed standard. One little complaint, it is full of tons of advertising. The authors really like Nylabones. It's still a very informative book about Bulldogs. I definitely recommend it if you're a new owner, like me!! (o:

This is a great book for anyone,looking or that has purchased a new Bulldog, great photos, just a complete joy to read...
MY advise is: don't pass this one up.

We are in the process of buying a Bulldog Puppy, this book has EVERYTHING you need to know, LOTS of pictures, and VERY EASY to read. I am not a big reader... but I enjoyed this book and look forward to our new arrival.

Jett Williams' story is the sort of tale for soap opera fodder, only better, because it's based on true life. This book has everything...fame, sex, sabotage, covertness, secrets, lies, legal battles...and all within the same family. It's sad to know that the family of such an inspiring talent as Hank Williams, Sr., could stoop to such cruelty and greed...and even more amazing that Jett was able to rise above it all, claim her heritage and be recognized for her own talent. She should be a spokesperson for open adoption records everywhere! Her struggle is an inspiration to adoptees everywhere who hope for a biological reconnection.

Philip Lee Williams is a fine author who specialises in introspective characters who find themselves somewhat unexpectedly at points of closure in their lives. His novels are flavored with nostalgia and regret, hopes and expectations unattained.

Slow Dance in Autumn is Williams' shot at a detective story--although displayed rather prominently on the cover are the words "A Hank Prince Mystery Novel" as though it were one in a series, it should more accurately say "The Hank Prince Mystery Novel", given that after some 13 years another has not appeared. Prince is a wise-guy almost-was baseball player turned hard-drinking, hard-smoking PI facing hard times; he's intelligent but not overly competent in the dectecting trade. For me, the character was rather too familiar--true, we haven't had many fictional PI's in Atlanta, but that is scarcely unusual. And that in the author's note before the novel begins Williams inadvertently gives an enormous clue to the puzzle Prince faces ruined quite a bit of the suspense.

With these caveats, Slow Dance in Autumn is a perfectly good detective story, but it didn't quite capture my imagination the way Williams' extraordinary other novels have, like All The Western Stars, Crossing Wildcat Ridge, or The Heart of a Distant Forest, all of which I most highly recommend. But Slow Dance in Autumn is not to be written off entirely--Williams has some very good lines, including perhaps the most intriguing line in detective fiction ever written: "The stretch of I-20 between Atlanta and Birmingham is like being stranded somewhere between Murmansk and Vladivostok with a phonetic alphabet book, no rubles and an empty bottle of vodka." Raymond Chandler must be rolling in his grave wishing he'd written that!

I was there. I heard the people around Shreveport talk about the Hayride. Elvis was no big asset to the show. There are to many errors in the book for anyone to take it as truth. If he is going to take credit for anything he should also take credit for causing the show to loose it's place in Country Music.

Mr. Logan says Faron Young had a series of relatively brief marriages. Actually, Faron Young had only one marriage and it ended in divorce after 32 years. If Horace Logan is so wrong there, how can I believe anything else he says?

This volume was originally published under the title, "Elvis, Hank, and Me: Making Musical History on the Louisiana Hayride," and it's a tremendously more accurate title than the abbreviated "Louisiana Hayride Years." Although Logan was the guiding light of the show, serving as its creator and producer during its first ten years, his book focuses more on Elvis and Hank, than on the Hayride itself.

His insights into these two megastars, each at the very beginning of their climb to fame, are interesting, to be sure, but there was so much more to be covered. In addition to the two icons, numerous other country acts began or expanded their stardom on the Hayride, and though Logan provides some interesting anecdotes about Johnny and Jack, Kitty Wells, Faron Young, Slim Whitman, Webb Pierce, Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash and George Jones, he never really delves into the Hayride itself.

His dishing on the Grand Ole Opry, while probably close to the bone, is a poor substitute for a deeper discussion of how the Hayride itself worked. There's some interesting analysis of why the Hayride kept giving up its stars to Nashville, but having been written so long after-the-fact, the of-the-moment accounts focus more on the stars than the show. One never really gets a feel for the Hayride's own arc of fame, nor the nuts-and-bolts of how the show (both stage and radio) operated.

That said, and even with the factual errors noted elsewhere, this is a worthwhile first-hand account of a seminal program that fostered one of the great transitional periods in country music's history.