BMG
HANK WILLIAMS - The Complete Health & Happiness Shows 3LP
$54.95
70th Anniversary First Vinyl Pressing On 3LP Set! Transferred, Restored & Mastered From Original 16" Transcription Discs! In celebration of their 70th Anniversary, THE COMPLETE HEALTH & HAPPINESS SHOWS by The Legendary Hank Williams on 3LP set.
Produced by Hank Williams Grammy-Award Winner Cheryl Pawelski, the audio has been freshly transferred, restored & mastered from the original 16" transcription disc. The album includes new liner notes from Colin Escott.
Featured are performances of timeless hits such as "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "I Saw The Light", "Lost Highway" and "Mind Your Own Business". This was the 1st recorded evidence of Hank's Nashville-era Drifting Cowboys.
"The Health & Happinesss Shows collects eight complete radio shows that Hank Williams recorded in 1949, when his career was just taking off. Throughout the collection, Williams sounds energetic and vibrant, even during his between-song stage patter which is nearly fascinating as the music. It's a set that is designed for collectors, but even casual Williams fans will find much to treasure on the Health & Happiness Shows." - Allmusic
"Consisting of eight separate shows recorded over multiple days to help promote the controversial Hadacol cure-all, the collection includes renditions of many of Hank's most iconic songs and standards, as well as rarities, such as his only known recording of 'The Tramp on the Street,' which he had included in a self-published songbook several years earlier. It was also the first recordings with Hank Williams backed by his Drifting Cowboy band, with fiddler Jerry Rivers featured prominently on multiple tracks. Even though these recording were made for a live show, some of them are of better quality than Hank's better-known studio cuts, both due to the quality of the WSM studio, and Hank's level of sobriety. The collection's version of 'Lost Highway' is considered the definitive one by many Hank Williams aficionados." - Saving Country Music
"Radio was good to Hank Williams in his time. He became a national sensation through his appearances on the Louisiana Hayride program, and in 1951, he recorded dozens of songs for the Mother's Best Flour radio show. In between, Williams and his Drifting Cowboys laid down eight 12 minute long recordings to be distributed to stations throughout the U.S., known collectively as the Health & Happiness Shows. Originally collected and released in 1993 on CD and cassette, BMG has committed these programs to wax in this triple LP set, giving folks another chance to hear Williams ramble through a selection of his original tunes and some choice versions of old favorites. These programs are about as loose as Williams would allow himself to get, even within the tightly scripted and constructed confines of a radio show. Though he knew he was aiming for a mass audience, he plays the whole thing with a wry quality that helps the corporate interests involved in the creation of these programs (in this case, the pharmaceutical company Hadacol) a little easier to stomach. Give some of the credit for that to Joy and Michael Graves at Osiris Studio in L.A. who mastered these 70 year old recordings. I'm not clear on whether they were using the same acetates as the CD issue or not but this new edition is crystal clear and present. Put some headphones on and you can imagine being in the studio with Williams and the gang, hollering after every pinpoint performance of 'A Mansion On The Hill' or 'Lost Highway.'" - Paste Magazine, Record Time: New & Notable Vinyl Releases, June 2019
Side One:
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show One
1. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
2. Wedding Bells
3. Lovesick Blues
4. Old Joe Clark - featuring Jerry Rivers
5. Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies - Hank and Audrey Williams
6. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October1949 - Health & Happiness Show Two
7. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
8. You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)
Side Two:
1. (There's A) Bluebird On Your Windowsill - Audrey Williams
2. Fire On The Mountain - featuring Jerry Rivers
3. The Tramp On The Street
4. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Three
5. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
2. I'm A Long Gone Daddy
3. I'm Telling You - Audrey Williams
4. Bill Cheatham - featuring Jerry Rivers
Side Three:
1. When God Comes And Gathers His Jewels
2. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Four
3. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
4. Lost Highway
5. I Want To Live And Love - Hank & Audrey Williams
6. Bile Them Cabbage Down - featuring Jerry Rivers
7. I'll Have A New Body (I'll Have A New Life)
Side Four:
1. Fingers On Fire - featuring Bob McNett
2. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Five
3. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
4. A Mansion On The Hill
5. There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
6. Wagner - featuring Jerry Rivers
7. The Prodigal Son
8. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
Side Five:
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Six
1. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
2. Pan American
3. Lovesick Blues
4. Arkansas Traveler - featuring Jerry Rivers
5. I Saw The Light
6. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Seven
7. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
8. Mind Your Own Business
Side Six:
1. Wedding Bells
2. Cotton-Eyed Joe - featuring Jerry Rivers
3. I've Just Told Mama Goodbye
4. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Eight
5. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
6. I Can't Get You Off My Mind
7. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
8. Fisherman's Hornpipe - featuring Jerry Rivers
9. Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine
10. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
Produced by Hank Williams Grammy-Award Winner Cheryl Pawelski, the audio has been freshly transferred, restored & mastered from the original 16" transcription disc. The album includes new liner notes from Colin Escott.
Featured are performances of timeless hits such as "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "I Saw The Light", "Lost Highway" and "Mind Your Own Business". This was the 1st recorded evidence of Hank's Nashville-era Drifting Cowboys.
"The Health & Happinesss Shows collects eight complete radio shows that Hank Williams recorded in 1949, when his career was just taking off. Throughout the collection, Williams sounds energetic and vibrant, even during his between-song stage patter which is nearly fascinating as the music. It's a set that is designed for collectors, but even casual Williams fans will find much to treasure on the Health & Happiness Shows." - Allmusic
"Consisting of eight separate shows recorded over multiple days to help promote the controversial Hadacol cure-all, the collection includes renditions of many of Hank's most iconic songs and standards, as well as rarities, such as his only known recording of 'The Tramp on the Street,' which he had included in a self-published songbook several years earlier. It was also the first recordings with Hank Williams backed by his Drifting Cowboy band, with fiddler Jerry Rivers featured prominently on multiple tracks. Even though these recording were made for a live show, some of them are of better quality than Hank's better-known studio cuts, both due to the quality of the WSM studio, and Hank's level of sobriety. The collection's version of 'Lost Highway' is considered the definitive one by many Hank Williams aficionados." - Saving Country Music
"Radio was good to Hank Williams in his time. He became a national sensation through his appearances on the Louisiana Hayride program, and in 1951, he recorded dozens of songs for the Mother's Best Flour radio show. In between, Williams and his Drifting Cowboys laid down eight 12 minute long recordings to be distributed to stations throughout the U.S., known collectively as the Health & Happiness Shows. Originally collected and released in 1993 on CD and cassette, BMG has committed these programs to wax in this triple LP set, giving folks another chance to hear Williams ramble through a selection of his original tunes and some choice versions of old favorites. These programs are about as loose as Williams would allow himself to get, even within the tightly scripted and constructed confines of a radio show. Though he knew he was aiming for a mass audience, he plays the whole thing with a wry quality that helps the corporate interests involved in the creation of these programs (in this case, the pharmaceutical company Hadacol) a little easier to stomach. Give some of the credit for that to Joy and Michael Graves at Osiris Studio in L.A. who mastered these 70 year old recordings. I'm not clear on whether they were using the same acetates as the CD issue or not but this new edition is crystal clear and present. Put some headphones on and you can imagine being in the studio with Williams and the gang, hollering after every pinpoint performance of 'A Mansion On The Hill' or 'Lost Highway.'" - Paste Magazine, Record Time: New & Notable Vinyl Releases, June 2019
Side One:
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show One
1. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
2. Wedding Bells
3. Lovesick Blues
4. Old Joe Clark - featuring Jerry Rivers
5. Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies - Hank and Audrey Williams
6. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October1949 - Health & Happiness Show Two
7. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
8. You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)
Side Two:
1. (There's A) Bluebird On Your Windowsill - Audrey Williams
2. Fire On The Mountain - featuring Jerry Rivers
3. The Tramp On The Street
4. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Three
5. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
2. I'm A Long Gone Daddy
3. I'm Telling You - Audrey Williams
4. Bill Cheatham - featuring Jerry Rivers
Side Three:
1. When God Comes And Gathers His Jewels
2. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Four
3. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
4. Lost Highway
5. I Want To Live And Love - Hank & Audrey Williams
6. Bile Them Cabbage Down - featuring Jerry Rivers
7. I'll Have A New Body (I'll Have A New Life)
Side Four:
1. Fingers On Fire - featuring Bob McNett
2. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Five
3. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
4. A Mansion On The Hill
5. There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
6. Wagner - featuring Jerry Rivers
7. The Prodigal Son
8. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
Side Five:
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Six
1. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
2. Pan American
3. Lovesick Blues
4. Arkansas Traveler - featuring Jerry Rivers
5. I Saw The Light
6. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Seven
7. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
8. Mind Your Own Business
Side Six:
1. Wedding Bells
2. Cotton-Eyed Joe - featuring Jerry Rivers
3. I've Just Told Mama Goodbye
4. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
October 1949 - Health & Happiness Show Eight
5. Happy Rovin' Cowboy (Theme) - with Grant Turner
6. I Can't Get You Off My Mind
7. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
8. Fisherman's Hornpipe - featuring Jerry Rivers
9. Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine
10. Sally Goodin' - featuring Jerry Rivers
