Memorial Album (Hank Williams album)

Memorial Album is the first Hank Williams LP issued by MGM Records after the singer's death on New Year's Day 1953.

Background

Memorial Album is significant for being the first MGM retrospective of Hank Williams' career. Only two LPs had been released under Williams' name during his lifetime, largely because singles were most valued in the country music business, but in the wake of his passing demand for his work increased. As Colin Escott observed in his 2004 book Hank Williams: The Biography, "The emerging LP market was a godsend. MGM could endlessly repackage Hank's recordings, and [publishing company] Acuff-Rose could pitch his songs to other artists as LP filler."^[1] While Hank Williams Sings (1951) and Moanin' the Blues (1952) had contained several non-charting B-sides dating back to Hank's earliest recordings with the label, Memorial Album featured many of his most recent hits singles. Several versions of the album were released by MGM.

All songs written by Hank Williams unless otherwise indicated:

Track listing

1. "Cold, Cold Heart"
2. "Your Cheatin' Heart"
3. "Settin' the Woods on Fire" (Fred Rose, Eddie Nelson)
4. "Kaw-Liga" (Hank Williams/Fred Rose)
5. "You Win Again"
6. "I Could Never Be Ashamed of You"
7. "Hey Good Lookin'"
8. "Half as Much" (Curley Williams)

References