<P>Here's a rundown of country music-related book titles for the fall quarter and beyond as reported in <I>Publishers Weekly.</I></P><P>For country traditionalists, there are two studies of Hank Williams and one of Merle Haggard. Colin Escott and Kira Florita have compiled and annotated "Hank Williams: Snapshots From the Lost Highway" (October 16, Da Capo Press). The words-and-pictures book is a tie-in with <I>Timeless,</I> the all-star tribute to Williams issued September 25 on Lost Highway Records.</P><P>In January, the University Press of Mississippi will publish Bill Koon's "Hank Williams, So Lonesome," which promises new research and perspectives on the importance of the country/pop legend. Hal Leonard Publications will deliver Don Cusic's "Merle Haggard &#151; The Lyrics" in November. The prolific country chronicler looks at Hag's topsy-turvy life through the prism of his own songs.</P><P>Peter Doggett inspects one of country music's most vigorous subtypes in "Are You Ready for the Country: Elvis, Dylan, Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock" (August 28, Penguin). For the more omnivorous music fan, Da Capo Press has rolled out (October 2) "Da Capo Best Music Writing 2001: The Year's Finest Writing on Rock, Pop, Jazz, Country, and More."</P><P>Two performers on the fringes of country have authored humor books. On Sept. 14, Rutledge Hill Press debuted Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas From the Family" (which contains a CD single). Keen's fellow Texan and perennial hell-raiser takes his turn at America's funny bone with "Kinky Friedman's Guide to Texas Etiquette, or How to Get to Heaven or Hell Without Going Through Dallas-Fort Worth" (October, Cliff Street).</P><P>Actor Dennis Weaver made a valiant run at country music in the early '80s with records that incited more derision than delight. He recounts his otherwise impressive career in "All the World's a Stage" (October, Hampton Roads). While not musicians themselves, the Coen Brothers provided country music one of its most talked-about and best-selling albums of the past two years via their movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Peter Korte and Georg Seesslen offer a study of their work and influence in "Joel and Ethan Coen" (October, Limelight Editions).</P><P>"Danny Boy" didn't make its mark originally as a country song, but plenty of country stars have recorded it. In fact, it gave Ray Price a Top 10 hit in 1967. Malachi McCourt renders a close-up of this sentimental favorite in "Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad" (December, Running Press).</P><P>We aren't sure how many country singers turn up in the pages of Donald F. Reuter's "Songbird: A Visual History of Women in Music" (December, Universe), but we're assured that the luminous Emmylou Harris is one of them. The book has more than 150 portraits, album covers and concert shots.</P><P>Scheduled for next February is an inside history of the record company that helped make stars of Harris, Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Travis Tritt, Faith Hill and hundreds of others. How many of these are mentioned, we don't know. Written by Stan Cornyn and Paul Scanlon, the book is titled "Exploding: The Highs, Hits, Hype, Heroes, and Hustlers of the Warner Music Group" (HarperEntertainment).</P><P>HarperEntertainment is also releasing a reprint edition in December of the Ralph Emery and Patsi Bale Cox tome, "50 Years Down a Country Road."</P><P></p>

• Hank Williams
• Merle Haggard

<P>Gram Parsons, Johnny Cash and George Jones have all inspired such current alt-country renegades as Ryan Adams, the Jayhawks and Old 97's. Original country maverick Hank Williams, however, arguably remains the most influential figure for anyone who's ever picked a twangy guitar and cried in his or her beer about sour love and hard times.</P><P>Several of Williams' more successful descendants &#151; including Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Tom Petty and Beck &#151; have recorded tracks for the tribute album <I>Timeless</I> (see <a href="/news/articles/1438882/stars-pay-tribute-hank-williams.jhtml">"Dylan, Emmylou Harris To Pay Tribute To Hank Williams"</a>), which is scheduled for release September 25, eight days after what would have been Williams' 78th birthday.</P><P>Williams died at age 29 following a short yet highly influential life of excess and indulgence. During the four years prior to his death, however, he virtually wrote the country-music handbook, crafting a long string of hits including "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," which is interpreted by Sheryl Crow on <I>Timeless,</I> and "Cold, Cold Heart," which Lucinda Williams covers on the album.</P><P>Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris team up for "Lost on the River," Beck covers "Your Cheatin' Heart," Keith Richards plays "You Win Again" and Williams' grandson, Hank Williams III, sings "I'm a Long Gone Daddy." <I>Timeless</I> was produced by Luke Lewis, president of Lost Highway Records, which is releasing the album. In addition to the tribute, the coffee-table book "Hank Williams: Snapshots From the Lost Highway," is scheduled for October publication by Da Capo Press.</P><P>The <I>Timeless</I> track list, according to the project's publicist: <UL> <LI>Beck - "Your Cheatin' Heart" <LI>Hank Williams III - "I'm a Long Gone Daddy" <LI>Emmylou Harris - "Alone and Forsaken" <LI>Bob Dylan - "I Can't Get You Off of My Mind" <LI>Lucinda Williams - "Cold, Cold Heart" <LI>Sheryl Crow - "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" <LI>Keb' Mo' - "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" <LI>Keith Richards - "You Win Again" <LI>Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris - "Lost on the River" <LI>Tom Petty - "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" <LI>Johnny Cash - "I Dreamed About Mama Last Night" <LI>Ryan Adams - "Lovesick Blues" </UL></p>

• Hank Williams
• Beck
• Bob Dylan
• Tom Petty
• Johnny Cash

I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)

• Artist: Hank Williams
• Label: 3N
• Director: Steven T. Miller
• Album: The Prince of Tides

Cold Cold Heart

• Artist: Hank Williams
• Label: Mercury Nashville
• Director: Buddy Jackson
• Album: 1999