Why You Shouldn’t Buy This New Hank Williams III Greatest Hits Album
As first reported by Saving Country Music in February, Curb Records is planning to release a Hank Williams III Greatest Hits album. Originally scheduled for release on August 18th, it was later moved to September 15th. Consisting of 15 tracks, it is just the latest regurgitation of previously-released Hank3 material that looks to continue to make money off the 3rd generation performer who was one of the first of many more modern era artists to get crossways with the label and leave on bad terms.
Normally the release of a Greatest Hits album would not be a reason for consternation, but Curb Records has a long history of re-releasing songs under different titles for various purposes that only serve the label’s best interests instead of the public or the artists. Tim McGraw saw Curb Records release a total of seven Greatest Hits packages during his stint on the label for the sole purpose of keeping the country music star on the label indefinitely, while not allowing him to release any new material to fulfill his contract.
Hank3 entered into a six album contract with Curb Records in the late 90’s. The Nashville-based label was able to stretch Hank3’s album count to seven by releasing Hillbilly Joker in 2011—a “Hellbilly” album Curb initially rejected, but later released after Hank3 had fulfilled his contract at the end of 2010. Then Curb released an outtakes album in 2012 called Long Gone Daddy that brought the total of Curb releases on Hank3’s six album contract to eight. Ramblin’ Man released in April of 2014—another album of previously-released material cobbled together—made it nine. Hank3 also had agreed to the release of one heavy metal album as part of his Curb deal. An album of mostly previously-released tribute songs called Take As Needed For Pain brought that count to two.
Hank3’s usual response to his fans on these post-contract Curb releases is to “Burn it, and give it away.” He also insists that the only officially sanctioned merch and music comes from his own 3Bay store.
It has been nearly three years since Hank3 toured, and nearly four years since he released a new album. After winning the Outlaw Male award at the Ameripolitan Awards in February, Hank3 said, “I’ll be seeing y’all on down the road real soon.”
For those curious, the track list for Hank Williams III Greatest Hits is:
1. Straight To Hell”/”Satan Is Real”- Medley
2. Country Heroes
3. Crazed Country Rebel
4. Mississippi Mud
5. Pills I Took
6. Cocaine Blues
7. 3 Shades Of Black
8. Low Down
9. D Ray White
10. My Drinkin’ Problem
11. Six Pack Of Beer
12. Thrown Out Of The Bar
13. I Don’t Know
14. Cecil Brown
15. Smoke & Wine
August 18, 2017 @ 7:47 am
Hank3 might soon go the way of a lot of great artists whose record labels got in the way.
we see what they did to Jamey Johnson.
and it’s hard for these artists to regain the momentum they lose between releases.
The moving finger hath writ, and having written, moves on.
and sadly a lot of great artists with potential lose their momentum and their spotlight and fall by the wayside as fans move on.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:21 am
Agree.
I also would add just IMO, that there is something psychological going on with some of these artists.
August 18, 2017 @ 9:09 am
Wait. What? Shelton left Curb 7 years ago. He released two good albums since then and was a viable force on the road until 2014.
I’m happy for the break. The bar will be raised and the competition is fierce, but I’m sure his next album will be great.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:03 am
Great collection of songs.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:08 am
Yes, indeed.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:05 am
I hate throwing any sort of $$ Curb’s way.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:13 am
From what I understand of curb records is that they held him back, only wanting him to do country music and nothing heavier, fuck curb records.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:26 am
I do see Randy Howard’s 2 songs on there which is great BUT it’s a shame Curb hasn’t treated Hank3 right ????
August 18, 2017 @ 8:31 am
Listen to this or Straight To Hell in its entirety? Hmm…
August 18, 2017 @ 8:40 am
Poor Mo Pitney…
August 18, 2017 @ 11:13 am
Well I already have all these songs, no need for a record that has not the support of the artist himself.
August 18, 2017 @ 12:26 pm
Still is no concert like a Hank 3 concert
August 18, 2017 @ 2:50 pm
Curb is a sucky label that takes advantages of artist it seems, but looks like they do know how to put a hits compilation together. Missed some cool cuts from ghost to a ghost like Outlaw Convention and Guttertown. Plus Rebel Within was a cool Damn Right Rebel Proud track. This must focus mainly on first 3 or so albums. Ill givem a listen for old times sake. Im still fine with crankin Brothers of 4×4 til some new stuff comes along, i thought the musicianship on that record was excellent.
August 18, 2017 @ 7:12 pm
No need for this. All of his Curb albums are greatest hits albums. And his stuff since going it alone is way too under appreciated . Some of his best songs ever have come since leaving Curb. But I really could use a Hank3 show!
August 19, 2017 @ 6:45 am
I would never buy a Curb release of a Hank3 album, but how can this list not include “5 Shots of Whiskey”???
August 19, 2017 @ 2:40 pm
Probably because the money grubbin’ motherf——s at Curb are saving it for the next Hank3 greatest hits rip-off album they release next year. F–k Curb.
August 21, 2017 @ 5:24 am
I believe Hank III mentioned he was in the middle of moving his home and studio? He has released a few albums on his own label I believe with the help of Megaforce for distribution. Lets not forget he released 2 -3 albums in one year. He deserves a break.
August 21, 2017 @ 2:19 pm
Another reason would be Amazon Cloud, which will invariably be devastating to the recording companies like Curb, MCA, etc.
Less so for the artists, who make most of their income performing, I hope.
August 22, 2017 @ 10:16 am
[opinion] This guy sounds awful. That voice and that punk crap. Curb or not I’m not buying any album. This guy and Shooter Jennings are just too unbearable for me to listen to. It must suck being the musician kid of a famous musician.
August 22, 2017 @ 11:47 am
Hank3 is 1000x the artist his boring white man’s repetitive blues singing daddy ever will be…
His grandpa however, was a great artist in his short time here.
August 24, 2017 @ 10:40 pm
Dusty, I’ll step in and defend Hank Jr. I see how you could call him that because at some point in the mid-eighties that’s sort of what he became. He has some very inspired, wonderful albums in his deeper catalogue where his abilities as a singer songwriter really shined. If you haven’t, look into The New South, Hank Jr. And Friends, and The Pressure is On is believe are required listening before anyone can dismiss Jr.
Not saying you haven’t heard them, but if this is the case then they are absolutely worth checking out.
August 25, 2017 @ 3:54 pm
You know, I apologize for my dismissive statement. Much of his catalogue fits my earlier description, but I openly admit that I enjoy a lot of his early music.
As a kid, I must’ve heard Whiskey Bent & Hell Bound on cassette a million times & that era of his music was great. Still always more blues influenced than the other Hanks IMO, but yes, with a massive discography that contains a lot of great songs, I shouldn’t have brushed him off so quickly in defence of 3.
August 28, 2017 @ 10:46 am
Guess I need to listen to more Hank Jr. as well. Hank Sr. and Hank III get almost nonstop play on my iPod, but Hank Jr. is the guy who sang the Monday Night Football theme and does duets with Van Halen and Kid Rock.
I’ll give the LPs you guys listed a spin, I’m sure there’s some great stuff there.
August 28, 2017 @ 12:37 pm
Jr. Is an interesting cat. He grew up as silver spoon country music royalty in the shadow of a daddy he never knew. Before he was even 10 years old, he was touring around on his dad’s music and bringing out all of his old fans. His mother Audrey pushed him and pushed him to be just like his dad. Years of this wore on him, he got heavy into drugs and booze, and became disillusioned with all of it. His records weren’t selling etc. This is in the 60’s, he’s trying to find his own sound but he doesn’t yet have his own fans.
Hank Jr and friends marked a turning point for him. He had help from guys like toy Caldwell of MTB and Charlie Daniels played on it. After that he released a string of very good albums, often more than one a year, and even survived a mountain fall in 1975 that really should’ve killed him. The signature Beard and glasses look was to cover the scars.
He grew up with all the fame and money that anyone could ask for then bucked the very system he was a prodigal son of.
Then he got older, started believing his own press, and got opinionated and loud about it. I’m not sure where it happened, but he forged this “rockin Randall bocephus” larger-than-life persona which eventually became who he was.
There are even more great albums you should listen to. Family tradition, whiskey bent, major moves, rowdy, one night stands, habits old and new, and even the earlier works like eleven roses and the last love song are records that I will always own.3
September 14, 2017 @ 2:58 pm
The only thing I wish Curb would re-release is “Straight To Hell” on vinyl… I missed the boat on picking that one up, and I don’t want to pay $250 for a nearmint copy onthe secondary market!!
November 17, 2017 @ 12:00 pm
Seriously? You saw the tracklist for this ‘greatest hits’ right?
November 17, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
I mean its basically just that…