Hank Williams is an icon of early country music, but he recorded before the LP era really took hold, so his legacy is dominated by posthumously assembled compilations. These sets come in various sizes and levels of quality. The latest, Pictures from Life’s Other Side: The Man and his Music in Rare Photos and Recordings, offers 144 transcriptions from Williams’ Mother’s Best radio program on six CDs, all tucked into a magnificent hardcover book loaded with photos, many of them in color, that serve to broaden the life of the artist beyond the still too common reduction of strife and an early death. It’s out now, but if it’s vinyl you require, the 3LP distillation Only Mother’s Best is also currently available from BMG.
When it comes to concise surveys of Hank Williams’ exceptional musical abilities (by which I mean single or double sets), the gold standard remains Polydor’s 40 Greatest Hits. Released in 1978, it was distinguished at the time for its lack of production meddling, as those four vinyl sides weren’t rechanneled into stereo and they lacked additional posthumous meddling such as overdubs and duet fakery.
40 Greatest Hits was just pure Hank, and for those who favored his work, disappointment in the listening was an impossibility. That’s not the same as being fully satisfied however, which is where the box sets enter the picture. Mercury’s 1998 10CD The Complete Hank Williams is an award winner, but amongst the numerous two- and three-disc collections, there’s an even bigger assemblage, Time Life’s The Complete Mother’s Best Recordings…Plus!, which emerged in 2010 as a 15CD behemoth.
As one might’ve deduced, there is a relationship between that release and the one under review here, with the difference being that Time Life simply rounded up the acetates of the original 15-minute broadcasts, which were sponsored by Mother’s Best flour. This left in all the instrumental bits, the guest musicians and the chatting and joking around.
Kettering, UK | Kettering record fair cancelled for “safeguarding.” Another cancellation amid the coronavirus pandemic. Record fairs planned in Kettering for March and April have been cancelled in light of the current coronavirus crisis. Kettering Vinyl and CD Fairs posted a statement on their Facebook page to announce the decision. They said: “Very sorry to inform you that March and April fairs have been cancelled as a safeguarding measure for record dealers and the public.” The fairs on March 28 and April 25 were due to be held at the Parish Hall in Kettering. The remaining fair dates will be reviewed in mid April. Kettering Vinyl and CD Fairs said they and many record dealers have 
Austin, TX | Coronavirus in Austin: Waterloo Records temporarily closing, will have curbside service: Waterloo Records, winner of the Austin Music Awards’ best record store category every year since it opened in 1982, is closing its doors to the public through March 29 amid the coronavirus pandemic but 
Anderson, GA | The vinyl experience: Anderson business rides wave of hobby’s resurgence. Australian entertainer Peter Allen gained fame in the 1970s with a song called “Everything Old is New Again.” The title of that vinyl classic is an appropriate way to describe the philosophy that Bob Bantz and his son, James, have applied to their business. Elusive Disc, an audiophile company that specializes in hard-to-find titles in a variety of media, is among the hundreds of warehouse retailers capitalizing on a resurgence in the popularity of vinyl records over the past decade. In the first half of last year alone, sales of vinyl records outpaced those of CDs for the first time since 1986, according to data from the Recording Industry Association of America. And vinyl is proliferating online, with approximately 5.7 million such items listed on Discogs, a database of information on audio recordings, and an additional 2.5 million used vinyl recordings available on eBay. “There’s just 
These Wooden Record Dividers Let You Sort Your Collection By Feelings: Anyone who collects records has one main gripe about their collection, and it’s not that some of their LPs skip (that’s just part of their overall charm!). Records are notoriously hard to organize and store in a way where specific albums are easily found. The lack of spine and thin shape often leaves collectors sifting through their stash in search of the perfect LP. So, Kate Koeppel of Koeppel Design decided to do something about it, and her record dividers are the perfect storage solution for any record junkie. Made by a team of “organization-obsessed craftswomen” based in San Francisco, California, Koeppel’s wood divider sets come in an array of different organization options. For example, if you like to sort your record based on genre, there’s a divider set for that. If you prefer an alphabetical organization system a la your favorite record store, there’s also a divider set for that. Koeppel even designed a divider set that will help you 
Why Record Stores Are Being Hit Especially Hard By Coronavirus: When it comes to the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on the music industry, most of the focus so far has understandably been on live concerts, where independent artists are losing a crucial source of income, festivals are being upended, and even corporate leviathans like Live Nation are suspending all touring. But record stores are hurting too…Although visiting an enclosed space to flip through crates that other people might have touched or sneezed on may not sound so appealing right now, shop owners stress that they’re taking every sanitary precaution. The best way record aficionados can support them, many owners say, is by covering their mouths, washing their hands, and buying music from their local stores. Phone and online sales are always an option, and some shops, such as Seattle’s Easy Street Records and Mobius Records in Fairfax, Virginia, tell me they’re also offering a special local delivery service during the pandemic. “We’ve definitely had a couple of people partake in it just because they’re 
Bristol, UK | Idle Hands issues stark warning over impact Coronavirus independent-record-stores: As the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to force a number of event cancellations or postponements and club closures, Bristol record shop Idle Hands has issued a stark warning on how the pandemic might affect small, independent businesses. “This is a worrying time for everyone and a situation none of us are used too,” reads a social media post penned by the shop’s owner, Chris Farrell. “Events are moving fast and we have to accept that major disruption is on its way. If Italy is anything to go by shops like Idle Hands will be forced to close indefinitely.” The post continues: “I’m proud to have survived almost a decade through some of the worst economic challenges we’ve seen in our lifetime. It might look like an easy job because the shop is still here and consistently opening its doors, but there have been times where idle hands has survived by the skin of its teeth – especially with the recent uncertainty of Brexit. “If at any time over the last nine years you’ve enjoyed coming to the shop, I’d ask that you please support us in whatever way you can over the coming weeks or however long we’re still able to be open. 
