Time Life to Release Hank Williams: The Legend Begins
Time Life and the Hank Williams estate have announced the release of another collection of rare recordings from the Hillbilly Shakespeare, Hank Williams: The Legend Begins due out September 13th on a 3-disc set.
The first CD called “Rare & Unreleased” includes the earliest recordings of Hank Williams, from 1938 when he was only 15-year-old, and 4 renditions of classic American songs Williams recorded in 1940: “Freight Train Blues”, “New San Antonio Rose”, “St. Louis Blues”, and “Greenback Dollar”. The second and third CD’s were compiled from Hank’s first syndicated radio show in 1949 called “The Health and Happiness Show” (sponsored by patent medicine Hadacol), and a March of Dimes program from the early 1950’s featuring several songs and “touching monologue” from Williams.
Unlike the Mother’s Best recordings of Hank Williams that circulated for years as bootlegs before they were officially released last year by Time Life, many of the recordings on Hank Williams: The Legend Begins have never been heard before by the public.
“Talk about a discovery!,” exclaims Hank’s daughter, Jett Williams. “The first recording of my dad when he was fifteen was given to me decades ago, and then the 1940 home recordings followed a few years later. My husband Keith and I finally got up the nerve to get with the best sound people in Nashville to see if we could salvage these extraordinary recordings. It worked! We did it! What a special treat for music lovers around the world to listen to the talent of an evolving genius. These recordings are a God send and very special to me and Hank’s fans.”
July 28, 2011 @ 10:09 am
Thats awesome, but its not like they needed any more money.
July 29, 2011 @ 12:09 am
While something like this does have the potential to be a huge cash cow, I don’t think this is really all about money. This is a seriously, historically significant collection of recordings! It’s like unearthing a series of beginning sketches of Picasso’s or a long-forgotten, unpublished Faulkner story.
July 28, 2011 @ 12:58 pm
Good news! Would love to hear this material and when I researched Hank Williams life I found there is just a mountain of wealth in his short time on earth. What he went through, from his painful physical ailments to his emotional pain. The history is rich. How his mama ran a boarding house just to support her family as his father was unable to care for them. How he was taught the blues on the street by a black man. How his natural talent came flowing quickly and got him six standing ovations on his first Opry appearance. He wrote hundreds and hundreds of songs in a very short time frame. His immense love for Audrey. His Texas’sized heart. He has to be one of my favorite biographies of all time, from his shoe-shine days to his battle with the demon alcohol. He knew the Angel of Death was coming. I really pray to the Lord that when I go to heaven, Hank is there too to sing me those lovesick blues and give me a big ole grin.
July 28, 2011 @ 7:03 pm
Amen !!!
July 30, 2011 @ 5:36 pm
Hell Yeah.. you said it.. Hank Williams Sr. is Gods gift to music.. I have him tattooed on my arm. he has been through it all. ups and downs, smiles and frowns. Anything that has anything to do with Sr. is a treasure.. now, im not a big fan of Jett but i am a fan of all three Hanks. but, if jett had anything to do with bringing forth some new Sr. stuff that ive never heard, my hats off to her. september 13th will be a revolutionary day in the world of country music.. at least is should be..
July 29, 2011 @ 7:48 am
With this and the Hank III releases, September’s set up to be quite a month.
July 29, 2011 @ 11:02 am
Cannot Wait
August 3, 2011 @ 3:35 pm
We already have a complete box set but it would be nice to add this one!
August 7, 2011 @ 11:42 am
SAVING COUNTRY MUSIC
THAT WOULD BE A BLAST TO HAVE ALL THESE RECORDINGS, I ALREADY HAVE RARE RECORDINGS OF HANK WILLIAMS SR MUSIC.
TALK TO YOU LATER
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