*** ORQUESTRA WAS, “Forever’s a Long, Long Time,” Verve Forecast

Former Was (Not Was) partner and Grammy-winning producer Don Was conceived this enhanced CD, in which he and a huge musical cast fuse country legend Hank Williams’ lyrics with a modern blend of R&B; and jazz. (The “enhanced” part is a fairly pretentious, if compellingly strange, 15-minute film directed by Was.)

It’s an interesting experiment. Williams’ words hold up well under shambling percussion, smooth grooves and discordant, Miles Davis-esque horns. The sound is moody and dark, yet doesn’t fully capture Williams’ piercing melancholy and pain-wracked weariness. Indeed, the most affecting track is the previously unrecorded “I’m So Tired of It All,” sung by Merle Haggard in traditional country style.

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* Excerpts from these albums and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: https:/ /www.latimes.com/soundclips