Don Williams
Album: Visions * Expressions * Portrait
Label: BGO
Tracks: 11 * 10 * 10
Website: http://www.don-williams.com

Don Williams, the 'Gentle Giant' of country music, who for years I thought existed only on various country compilations or his Greatest Hits did actually release proper albums. BGO Records have re-mastered 1977's Visions, 1978's Expressions and 1979's Portrait and it is quite delightful to be able to listen to his material as you would have done thirty years ago.

What is apparent is that Williams was very much from the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of music making. All three albums here (and, I dare say, the others that have been recently re-issued) highlight his gentle bass-baritone voice (Williams has one of the defining voices of country music), simple songs, simple melodies and lush strings. It is a beguiling, faultless combination and one that has had me hooked for more years than I care to remember.

Whilst the music is little short of perfect - people may think that this is why they do not like country but it is not, what they dislike is those that try to be as simple, as laid back, as effortlessly cool as Williams and miss by a mile - the packaging does not ooze the same class. The three albums are bundled onto two CD's, there is no original artwork and I suspect that the bulk of the sleeve notes will be suitable for all of his re-issues. That said, three albums for a penny less than a tenner is not terrible value.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes