Hank Williams Jr. to Release New Album “It’s About Time”
This story has been updated.
In peep show fashion over the last few days, Hank Williams Jr. has revealed he’ll be releasing his latest album called It’s About Time on January 15th. The album will be available for pre-order on November 4th—the same day Hank Jr. will open the 49th Annual CMA Awards with Eric Church singing the Waylon Jennings version of “Are You Ready For The Country?” The song is said to be the first single from the new record. The album also includes a cover of the country classic “Mental Revenge,” and a remake of “Born to Boogie” with Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore and Brad Paisley.
It’s About Time will be Hank Jr.’s first album on Big Machine Records’ NASH Icon imprint. He signed to the label meant to give new life to older artists in late April, saying, “Country music singers have always been a real close family and today the Nash Icon family has added me as a new member. I have done shows with Ronnie Dunn, recorded a hit record with Reba and absolutely love Martina McBride,” said Hank Jr. “I am writing songs better than ever and am signed with a label that is already making history ”¦ it’s an exciting time!”
In a recent interview with Billboard, Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta spoke about the strategy with NASH Icon, and what Hank Jr. thinks about his new record.
“Part of the mission of Nash Icon is taking away some of the day-to-day, hand-to-hand combat that you have to do to continue the mainstream country-radio relationship,” Borchetta explained. “These artists have already done it and had the highest highs, and we were able to create a different game board where they don’t have to try to compete with the 20-year-olds. We can say to them, ‘Don’t worry about trying to make a record that’s younger than you are. Go make the record you want to make.’ And if you look at the music that Reba and Ronnie and Hank Jr. [have turned in] — Martina’s still working on stuff. I have an email from Hank Jr. saying, ‘This is my best record ever.'”
However concerns linger about the future of NASH Icon after a management shakeup at Big Machine’s partner in the venture, Cumulus Media. Long-time CEO Lew Dickey was recently demoted in the company, and Lew’s brother John Dickey—one of the biggest proponents of the NASH ventures—left the company entirely. Cumulus is supposed to handle the radio component of revitalizing the careers of country music’s older artists.
READ: 10 Badass Hank Williams Jr. Moments
Track List:
1. “Are You Ready for the Country” featuring Eric Church (Neil Young)
2. “Club U.S.A.” (Tony Stampley, Bonnie Swayze)
3. “God Fearin’ Man” (Chris Janson, Brandon Kinney, Kendell Marvell)
4. “Those Days Are Gone” (Chris Janson, Brice Long, Terry McBride)
5. “Dress Like An Icon” (Hank Williams Jr.)
6. “God and Guns” (Mark Stephen Jones, Travis Meadows, Bud Tower)
7. “Just Call Me Hank” (Hank Williams Jr.)
8. “Mental Revenge” (Mel Tillis)
9. “It’s About Time” (Hank Williams Jr.)
10. “The Party’s On” (Hank Williams Jr., Joe Kent, Tony Stampley)
11. “Wrapped Up, Tangled Up in Jesus (God’s Got It)” (Reverend Charlie Jackson)
12. “Born to Boogie” featuring Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore and Brad Paisley (Hank Williams Jr.)
October 27, 2015 @ 12:05 pm
It might be from watching Nashville too much, but I read that Borchetta quote in the voice of Jeff Fordham and it kind of worked.
Excited for the new Hank album. Can’t wait to hear it.
October 27, 2015 @ 12:41 pm
I will probably pick this up, because I like Bocephus a lot, but I’m not expecting too much.
Sometimes songwriters get way past their primes and should have quit years ago (e.g. Jimmy Buffett).
Maybe Bocephus will produce something decent.
October 28, 2015 @ 4:30 am
Let’s just hope ol’ Rockin’ Randall is still in his Knuckleball Prime!
October 27, 2015 @ 1:24 pm
I read in Rolling Stone that Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore and Brad Paisley will on the last track of the record
October 27, 2015 @ 1:53 pm
Yes, just got confirmation of the track list from Jr.’s peeps, and it’s a remake of “Born to Boogie.”
October 28, 2015 @ 3:44 pm
Why remaking this excellent song but with Justin Moore and Brantley Gilbert? Brad Paisley I could see why. I like the Born to Boogie the way it is back in 1987.
October 28, 2015 @ 8:23 pm
Because Justin Moore and Brantley Gilbert are Big Machine Records artists, and now Hank Jr. is a Big Machine artist. They think that by having these young guys on his album, it will turn some fans on to them, and turn Brantley and Justin fans onto Hank Jr. In truth it will probably just piss off a lot of Hank Jr. fans and everyone will skip the track.
That said, I think if you’re a Hank Jr. fan, you shouldn’t let one verse by a pop country pop tart, or one song deter you. This album should be judged on 10 songs, not one.
October 28, 2015 @ 8:48 pm
Yeah you’re right I should listen to this new version first instead of knocking it. I’m not against Justin and Brantley but I will give this version of the song a listen as well as his other songs on his cd as well. I really like the newer version of Merle’s classic “I just stay here and drink” with Hank Jr. I have almost every Hank Jr’s. cd. Thanks for the feedback. “Are you ready for the country” with Eric Church might be a good one to listen to.
October 27, 2015 @ 1:52 pm
Just updated the story with the track list.
October 27, 2015 @ 2:41 pm
Including Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley is kind of embarassing.
October 27, 2015 @ 4:01 pm
I originally had high hopes for this NASH Icon idea, but after seeing what has actually came from it I think it’s a big ol pile of crud. Every song I’ve heard get radio play from the label stinks. Reba’s latest song especially. Sorry for being off topic, it’s just been bugging me.
October 27, 2015 @ 4:38 pm
No, I think that’s on topic. I think there’s a lot of potential here, but you have the same figure heads running NASH Icon as you do the rest of the mainstream industry. They need people in there with passion who understand why so many fans have fled from country music in the last decade. I think Reba did exactly what Scott Borchetta said NASH Icon artists don’t need to do: compete with 20-year-olds.
October 27, 2015 @ 5:41 pm
Exactly. People don’t want to hear Reba, or whoever else is in the label, make today’s music. I believe they want it as the sound was I their prime. Ehhh, I guess it’s too much to ask to get some solid country on the radio though.
October 28, 2015 @ 8:55 am
I know Reba’s a modern legend and all that, but I was never really able to get into her music.
October 27, 2015 @ 4:01 pm
If I can find 4 originals that I like on this album, I’ll consider it a success.
October 28, 2015 @ 7:45 am
It looks like there are only four originals on the album.
October 27, 2015 @ 4:30 pm
Brantley Gilbert is going to be on the album?
Bottom of the barrel, you have been scraped.
October 27, 2015 @ 4:43 pm
The idea of a Hank Jr, song called “God and Guns” makes me cringe.
“I am writing songs better than ever…” Really? Make another “New South” and I’ll buy ten copies.
October 27, 2015 @ 6:55 pm
Hell yeah man, New South and Hank Jr. and Friends are both in my top 5 favorite records.
October 27, 2015 @ 7:45 pm
Finally that album gets some love! I swear that’s the best damn Hank Jr. album ever. Anything from the mid- to late-70s is absolutely killer from Hank. When Waylon and Toy and all them boy’s fiddles and steels made Hank play what he wanted to feel and it sure wont “Lovesick Blues” and it sure as shit ain’t whatever the hell he thinks is good these days either.
In other news, I believe we should go full on Trump and “Make Country Great Again”. Build a wall and kick out all the pseudo-country BS.
October 28, 2015 @ 5:23 am
As a lifelong Hank fan (he is one of my dad’s favorites), New South and Hank Jr. and Friends are definitely his creative peak IMO. Sure there are more hits on other albums, but damn, he was on for those two. Not expecting much from this album, but I’m sure I will buy the album.
October 28, 2015 @ 2:42 am
“God and Guns” has Travis Meadows as a cowriter. Lets hold off and give that one a chance.
December 28, 2015 @ 11:44 am
Ever heard “Don’t Give Us a Reason” from his 1990 compilation America (The Way I See It)? As far as I’m concerned that track alone outweighs the entirety of the manure pile that is Old School New Rules. It actually makes a case that the U.S. is ENTITLED to overseas oil, among other things. Good grief.
In other news, I agree about The New South; one of his best, along with Hank Williams Jr. & Friends (my personal favorite record of his). No pretense, organic name-dropping instead of braggadocio, great tunes. Unfortunately both of these popped up before he got huge and have been mostly forgotten.
October 27, 2015 @ 5:29 pm
I’m actually looking forward to some of these covers. Especially Mental Revenge. I can see him knocking that song out of the park. At the same time though, seeing Chris Janson in the song credits is disheartening.
October 27, 2015 @ 5:39 pm
You wont find a bigger Hank fan than me Ive been to almost 90 live shows of Hanks cause they are the absoulute best……… With that being said its hard to get excited about anything scott brochettea is behind he sure didn’t do reba any favors Im guessing this album will have about 5 good songs and the rest so so and but I think it will be the best album out on nash icon but for it to be the best Hank jr album ever I seriously doubt that…… the Justin moore Brantley gilbert shit definitely turn me way off but Im sure they kiss Hanks ass sohe said why not but he should not have did it cause I promise u Hank don’t listen to there music
October 27, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
My excitement for this album was already quite measured before I heard Brantley Gilbert and Justin Moore would be on it. But all they’ll be doing is singing one verse on the final song of the album, which is the remake of an old song anyway. Brantley and Justin Moore are Big Machine artists and so they’re trying to do the “synergy” thing. I really don’t think the quality of this album hinges on these two’s participation. It has to do with the heart of Hank Jr.
October 28, 2015 @ 6:15 am
Man, ol’ angry Brantley is a terrible fit for “Born to Boogie.” Don’t you have to at least sound like you’re having fun to sing that song?
October 28, 2015 @ 8:59 am
I love Hank Jr so I am really holding my breath on this one, as in, I have no idea what to expect until I hear it.
October 27, 2015 @ 6:44 pm
“Dress Like an ICON?” Really?? Dear God.
Look, ol’ Bocephus doesn’t need Brantley and Justin’s help for him to suck. He’s done that on his own quite a few times. He has definitely got classic albums in his catalog – I.e., Hank Williams, Jr and Friends, New South, Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound, even Montana Cafe, etc. – but man he has done some embarrassing stinkers, too. Seeing a cover of “God’s Got It” is promising however, as is “Are You Ready For The Country” and “Mental Revenge”, but then there’s “They Call Me Hank” – for Pete’s sake, Randall, you brag more than a gangsta rapper – enough already. Besides, only Jerry Lee Lewis is actually allowed to sing about himself. 🙂
Not optimistic, but hopefully he’ll prove me wrong.
October 27, 2015 @ 8:19 pm
Can’t Wait! to buy this cd. Only now he needs to be in the Country Music Hall Of Fame.
October 28, 2015 @ 9:02 am
I’m a bit surprised to hear that he’s not already, I don’t keep up with that stuff. The R&R HOF has made me really cynical since they seem to have a bias against classic prog, and now Chris Squire is dead.
October 29, 2015 @ 8:33 am
So is it too soon to assume that the only song on this album that’ll be made into a music video will be the remake of born to boogie..
November 2, 2015 @ 10:16 pm
Does the preorder of Hank Jr’s new music mean it is a cd or digital download? I want a cd preorder. Can anyone help me?