Hank Thompson, one of few living treasures from country music's golden age in the 1950s, is set to enter the studio at the end of this month to record a new album for Hightone Records. The album will be the latest kick from the honky-tonk-western-swing legend, who refuses to slow down, despite the fact that he's now seventy-four years old and has played music for nearly that many years.

"I had no idea he was still making records," admits Hightone's owner Larry Sloven. "He's one of the few giant figures from the early days of country music that's still around. And he's still in his prime."

Thompson certainly doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Along with his Brazos Valley Boys, the Texan performs over 100 concerts each year and the new album comes after just a three-year layoff. The Country Music Hall of Famer recorded Hank Thompson and Friends in 1997, an album which paired him with contemporary country luminaries like Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett for a run through his vast catalogue, including "Six Pack to Go" and "Wild Side of Life." For the new project, he has penned a new batch of tracks and also promises three or four "classic standards," to be determined closer to the recording date.

Thompson admits disappointment that the critically acclaimed Hank Thompson and Friends didn't break out to an audience larger than his own fan base, but he's eager to drop into a Dallas studio on March 28 with first-rate knob-twiddler and steel-guitarist Lloyd Maines producing. Also onboard is guitarist Thom Bresh, son of the late-great Merle Travis, who played guitar on the majority of Thompson's early hits. The album is tentatively slated for release in July.

"I'm glad to be working with Lloyd," Thompson says. "His thinking and mine are parallel. We have the same roots. I'm looking forward to getting into the studio and making these things sound good -- and I know they're going to sound good."

Don't look for Thompson to craft an album for Nashville's current pop-centric brass. "Anyway it comes out, it's gonna come out Hank Thompson," he says. "I keep my musical background with its characteristics, the twin fiddle sound, the steel guitar, the Merle Travis guitar sound. I think it's a good sound."

ANDREW DANSBY
(March 9, 2000)