1947
Move it On Over (Hank Williams Sr.)
1948
Honky Tonkin’ (Williams)
I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin
I wouldn’t let my Dear Saviour in
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
Just like a blind man I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord – I saw the light
I Saw the Light (Williams)
1949
Lovesick Blues (Cliff Friend, Iriving Mills)
Published in 1922, Lovesick Blues was first recorded by Jack Shea on Vocalion 14333. This recording contains a verse that no later versions include. Emmett Miller recorded it on Okeh 40465, September 1, 1925. He re-recorded it on June 12 1928, accompanied by his Georgia Crackers (which included Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Eddie Lang, and Leo McConville). On November 26, 1926, blues singer Bertha “Chippie” Hill recorded a different song titled Lovesick Blues (Okeh 8453). The song was a minor hit for her. The first country music version of the song was by Rex Griffin (Decca 5570), September 25, 1939. The song’s most recognizable version did not come until 1948, with Hank Williams’ hit rendition. Though Williams had scored a few hits prior to “Lovesick Blues,” the song was the first of many number one hits on Country radio for the singer. – wikipedia, adapted
Wedding Bells (Claude Boone)
You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave) – w.m. Hank Williams
My Bucket’s Got a Hole In It (Clarence Williams)
1950
I Just Don’t Like This Kind of Living (Hank Williams) – cover by George Jones
Long Gone Lonesome Blues (Hank Williams) – This song was the second of ten #1 hits for Hank. Wikipedia lists 36 top ten hits.
a. the single
b. First, unrehearsed, live performance of the song for radio station WSLI in Jackson, MS
CMT news writes about this live performance:
In one of his most unguarded moments on record, Hank Williams unexpectedly broke into a new, unrehearsed song while visiting Jackson, Mississippi radio station WSLI on the morning of February 21, 1950. The new “hillbilly music” star had just finished singing “Lost Highway” and “I’m A Long Gone Daddy” backed by a local band that disc jockey Farmer Jim had assembled for Hank’s live radio performance. Next, on the spur of the moment, Hank felt like singing a new song and launched into “Long Gone Lonesome Blues.” He had written and recorded the song a few weeks earlier, but hadn’t planned on performing the tune publicly until it was released by MGM Records the following month or so.
“Boys, I don’t know much about this myself,” Hank warned the band over the airwaves. “I don’t know where I’m gonna stop myself. So, if I stop, y’all stop, too.” No one knew the song except Hank, and even he wasn’t sure he could remember it all. It could have backfired terribly; instead it turned out pretty well. One way or the other, Hank didn’t care.
Hank’s off-the-cuff performance that day offers a glimpse of what makes him the most powerfully iconic figure in country music, and it sheds some light on why we may never see a singer of his caliber again.
Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used to Do (Hank Williams) – This song was another #1 hit for Hank. The B-side: A House Without Love. The embedding was disabled on this live recording (probably a radio performance — there is a small audience response at the end) of Hank and the Drifting Cowboys, so click on the title to view it.
Moanin’ the Blues (Hank Williams) – live performance at the Grand Ole Opry of his latest single
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