Review
'Family Tradition' is where Hank Williams Jr. finally told the world he wasn't just living in his daddy's shadow anymore. Released in '79, this album slams together country roots with southern rock swagger and even tosses in some R&B grooves for good measure. The title track became Bocephus's battle cry - a middle finger to critics and a toast to his hard-living ways that still gets beer bottles raised in bars across America today. Williams took covers like 'I Fought the Law' and made them his own, though they didn't all set the charts on fire.
This record marked Hank Jr.'s commercial resurrection, landing him his first Top 5 album spot in a decade and scoring him a Grammy nod. 'Family Tradition' only hit #4 on the country charts, but damn if it didn't become his signature anthem for decades to come. I caught Hank playing this live in '87, and the crowd nearly tore the roof off when those first notes hit - that's the kind of staying power most artists would kill for. Williams wasn't just honoring his bloodline with this album; he was establishing his own legend, blending outlaw attitude with undeniable musical chops that would influence every country rocker that followed. - Jude
