‘Orange Blossom Special’ Gets The Hank Jr. Treatment, And It’s Mind-Blowing

Elizabeth Hancock

Hank Williams Jr. was at the height of his career when he released his 1983 album Man of Steel.

On it included a few original tunes, as well as covers of well-known songs including “Lovesick Blues”, the Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider”, and the iconic song “Orange Blossom Special”.

As a fiddle player himself, Hank Jr. most likely learned “Orange Blossom Special” at a very young age since it is considered the fiddle player’s national anthem. Composed in 1938 by Ervin T. Rouse about the passenger train of the same name, the song is often simply called “The Special”.

It became such a staple in bluegrass music that no fiddle player would be hired to play in a band unless he knew how to play it perfectly. Artists including Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, Charlie Daniels, as well as many others have recorded their own versions of the song and each musician made it their own. Cash replaced the famous fiddle with a harmonica to make his version unique. 

Hank Jr. also took a stab at “Orange Blossom Special”, and it may just be the best version yet. He has been known to break it down on the fiddle before, but you’ve never heard him quite like this.

His vocals are incredible and the song is rockin’, but it’s really the fiddle solo that steals the show! Take a listen to his fiery rendition of “Orange Blossom Special” below.

Y’all wanna see Hank Jr. perform live?! Find a show near you and make sure to take the Bocephus fan in your life. Buy tickets here!