Buzz Cason Hats Off to Hank Produced by Buzz Cason (but two tracks, produced by Parker Cason) on Palo Duro Records.

Hats Off to Hank is the next best thing to a photo album of Cason’s experiences from a life in music, it is the sound version of a lifetime of influences. For those not familiar with Cason, he is a Nashville-native and a music veteran since the 1960s. He backed vocals for Elvis and Kenny Rogers; he also recorded his own material with two members of the Jordanaires. The Creative Workshop he operated 1970s-80s had the likes Dolly, Emmylou, Haggard, The Doobies, and Olivia Newton-John in its studios, recording albums.

Hats title track pays homage to Hank Williams, it has perfect backing by high pitched slide-guitar and rumbling bass guitar. “Black Man in Mississippi” and “Barbeque” are classic rockabilly type tunes. “Black” describes a man who dreams of a music career; “Barbeque”, as you might guess, was inspired by a hallmark of Southern cuisine. Two other songs’ themes wander below the Mason-Dixon: “I Love the South” is slower and more gospel in tone, while “Texas Wildflower” is a great traveling song (like Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere”). “Wondering” contemplates love that might have been; like “Texas” it has that perfect summer road trip beat too. “Ain’t Nobody” is the strongest Blues- influenced track, its theme is isolation and knowing that oneself is the one responsible for that state; “Hooked Up With the Man” is also bluesy, it alludes to getting life in balance with a higher Divine plan, while “Oddly Enough” is inspired by the eternal acceptance and forgiveness of a romantic partner.

On the cover, Cason is turned to look at the image of Hank, and his arm is extended, holding a freshly removed straw hat. When you’re inspired by truth and love, you often hit gold. www.buzzcason.com -Kathleen Wehle