HANK WILLIAMS “Montgomery”
Format: 180 gram LP
Cat. No.: DOY631LP / B. G97119
Barcode: 8013252886317
A collection of rare early private recordings, radio airchecks and demos by the
man who single-handedly penned many of today's country music standards.
The first recording featured here, “Happy Rovin' Cowboy”, is from 1939, when
Hank was just 16 years old. He began making his own private recordings in
recording booths, often simulating radio show performances in an attempt to
impress a real station. Hank got his first gig at a real station, however, by
playing outside the entrance WFSA in Montgomery until they finally invited
him to play inside. Soon “The Singin' Kid”, as he was then known, became so popular with local audiences that he got
his own show, dropped out of high school, formed his own band and began touring all over the South. Hank was
soon fired from WFSA, however, for “habitual drunkenness”, but this did little to stall his career. If anything, it was
WWII that slowed the entire recording industry down, but nonetheless Hank still managed to get some demos out
during this time, many of which are included here. By 1948, Hank had his first massive country hit and was off to
greener pastures, namely Shreveport, Louisiana and the legendary Louisiana Hayride.
Tracks - Side A: 1. Happy Rovin’ Cowboy (1939-1940) 2. Freight Train Blues (late 1940) 3. San Antonio Rose (late 1940) 4. I’m Not
Coming Home Any More (4/07/1942) 5. I Ain’t Gonna Love You Any More (circa 1942) 6. Won’t You Sometimes Think Of Me
(1947-1948) 7. Why Should I Cry (1947-1948) 8. I Watched My Dream World Crumble Like Clay (1947-1948) 9. I Told A Lie To My
Heart (1947-1948) 10. Mother Is Gone (1947-1948) Side B: 1. In My Dreams You Still Belong To Me (1947-1948) 2. We’re Getting
Closer To The Grave Each Day (1949) 3. (I’m) Going Home (1949) 4. Calling You (1947-1948) 5. Pan American (Dec. 1946) 6.
Wealth Won’t Save Your Soul (Dec 1946) 7. Honky Tonk Blues (1947-1948) 8. A Home in Heaven (1947-1948) 9. You Broke Your
Own Heart (with band – 1947) 10. I’m So Tired Of It All (1947)
HANK WILLIAMS “Shreveport Sessions (August 1948- May 1949)”
Format: 180 gram 2LP
Cat. No.: DOY632DLP / B. G97120
Barcode: 8013252886324
When Hank arrived in Shreveport in August 1948, KWKH's now legendary Louisiana
Hayride (but at the time just one of many popular radio barn dance's being broadcast
across the South) had yet to attract a major act (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Faron Young, Webb
Pierce, Jim Reeves, and Slim Whitman all came after), and Hank himself was barely
known outside of Montgomery. Hank managed nonetheless to get a spot on the
Hayride (sponsored by the Johnnie Fair syrup company), which he held down until May
of the following year, when the success of “Lovesick Blues” meant that Hank was on to
the bright lights of Nashville. During this period (Aug. 1948-May 1949) Hank made a number of recordings, including several
acetates that were recorded for KWKH to broadcast when Hank was away on other engagements. This material, almost entirely
comprised of Hank singing other artists' songs, gives fans an enlightening glimpse of Hank's many influences and how his style
developed over the years. However, Hank also recorded acetates of his own material while he was with the Hayride, mostly with
Curley Williams, which he sent over to Acuff-Rose in Nashville, and these are also included here.
Tracks - Side A: 1. You Caused It All By Telling Lies 2. Faded Love And Winter Roses 3. Please Don’t Let Me Love You 4. There’s No
Room In My Heart For The Blues 5. I Wish I Had A Nickel 6. The Waltz Of The Wind 7. At The First Fall Of Snow 8. Leave Me Alone
With The Blues 9. I’m Free At Last 10. Blue Love (In My Heart) 11. It Just Don’t Matter Now Side B: 1. Little Paper Boy 2. Someday
You’ll Call My Name 3. The Battle Of Armageddon 4. No One Will Ever Know 5. With Tears In My Eyes 6. Thank God 7. Rock My
Cradle Once Again 8. Don’t Do It Darling 9. Rockin’Chair Money 10. Cool Water Side C: 1. Tennessee Border 2. First Year Blues 3.
My Main Trial Is Yet To Come 4. Wait For The Light To Shine 5. We Live In Two Different Worlds 6. Roly Poly 7. Swing Wide Your
Gate Of Love 8. Dixie Cannonball 9. Sundown And Sorrow 10. The Devil’s Train 11. The Old Home Side D: 1. Alone And Forsaken 2.
Heaven Holds All My Treasures 3. Lost On The River 4. A House Of Gold 5. Singing Waterfall 6. Dear Brother With Kitty Wells And
Johnnie Wright 7. ‘Neath A Cold Gray Tomb Of Stone 8. Time Has Proven I Was Wrong With Curley Williams 9. No, Not Now With
Curley Williams 10. When You’re Tired Of Breaking Others Hearts 11. Honey, Do You Love Me, Huh
HANK WILLIAMS “Nashville Sessions”
Format: 180 gram 2LP + insert with liner notes
Cat. No.: DOY633DLP / B. G97122
Barcode: 8013252886331
In 1951 Hank Williams was ready for the big time, and in country music that meant
Nashville, Tennessee, The Grand Ole Opry, and particularly the Acuff-Rose Music
company. Acuff-Rose, run by Grand Ole Opry Star Roy Acuff and professional song
writer Fred Rose, was the first Nashville-based music company and the mainstay of
country music for many years. Here, under Rose’s tutelage, Hank’s true talent
began to shine and his songs just got better and better. This double LP is a
collection of Hank’s work from 1949-1952, with disc one being a collection of
demos recorded during Hank’s brief time in Nashville, including alternate versions
of the three songs—Kaw-Liga,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” and “Jambalaya”—that Hank
took to the top of the charts. The demo version of “Kaw-Liga”, which Hank cowrote
with Fred Rose, is very different from the one he eventually released, a welcome surprise for any fan! It also includes
versions of “I Could Never Be Ashamed of You”, written for his shotgun bride, Billie Jean; an amazing and foreboding version of
“Angel of Death”, suggesting that Hank knew full well that he didn’t have much time left; and “Log Train”, a song written for
Hank’s dad, and chronicling his early boyhood in logging camps. “How To Write Folk And Western Music To Sell”, was a booklet
published in 1951, and while Hank did not actually write the text, he did lend his name to the project and market it on radio
stations across the South. Disc two features a collection of songs Hank sold to other artists during this period (with one example
being “A Tear in My Beer”, which Hank gave to Big Bill Lister, but which just sat around in an attic until it was discovered by
Lister’s son in 1988), and rare radio performances from 1950, including the “Farmer Jim” show in Jackson, Mississippi and the
March of Dimes broadcast. Includes detailed liner notes.
Tracks - Side A: 1. California Zephyr 2. Your Cheatin’ Heart 3. You Better Keep It On Your Mind 4. How Can You Refuse Him Now 5.
Low Down Blues 6. Ten Little Numbers 7. Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine 8. Last Night I Dreamed Of Heaven 9. I Ain’t Got
Nothin’ But Time 10. Message To My Mother Side B: 1. Fool About You 2. I’m Going Home 3. Jambalaya (On The Bayou) 4. Ready
To Go Home 5. Kaw-Liga 6. I Could Never Be Ashamed Of You 7. Angel Of Death 8. All The Love I Ever Had 9. We’re Getting Closer
To The Grave Each Day 10. The Log Train 11. How To Write Folk And Western Music To Sell With Grant Turner Side C: 1. There’s A
Tear In My Beer 2. The Alabama Waltz 3. Jesus Died For Me With Audrey Williams 4. A Teardrop On A Rose 5. Jesus Is Calling 6.
Wearin’ Out Your Walking Shoes 7. When The Book Of Life Is Read 8. There’s Nothing As Sweet As My Baby 9. (I’m Gonna) Sing,
Sing, Sing 10. I Can’t Escape From You 11. Weary Blues >From Waitin’ 12. Are You Walkin’ And A Talkin’ For The Lord Side D: 1. If
You’ll Be A Baby To Me 2. ‘Neath A Cold Gray Tomb Of Stone 3. Lost Highway 4. I’m A Long Gone Daddy 5. Long Gone Lonesome
Blues 6. Help Me Understand 7. When God Dips His Love In My Heart
