Hank William’s songs have been part of the American musical landscape for more than 70 years.  He is regarded as one of the most significant songwriters of the 20th century with 55 top ten hits, 12 of them reaching #1.  His songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and Tony Bennett.  Now 22 Long Island artists have added to his legacy with the release of Hank Williams Uncovered on Paradiddle Records.

Tribute albums can be a mixed affair. Often, a disparate collection of artists, usually recording on their own, independent and separate from each other, tackle a song or two from an esteemed songwriter or musical figure worthy of a tribute. Sometimes, artists who seem to have little musical connection but an affection for the person being honored will interpret a song from the artist covered, with uneven at best results. Hank Williams is more than deserving of a tribute release and there have been many over the years. His songwriting ability and influence as a ground-breaking and highly influential country artist and who transcends that genre, mostly overshadow the troubled mythological biographical narrative.

With Hank Williams Uncovered, we have a two-CD collection of tracks from artists who were born to interpret these remarkable songs. This is not a busman’s holiday or a chance for a pop or rock artist to try their hand at the impeccable Williams canon. These are artists steeped in the music, many who have spent decades honing their country roots chops. The fact that these artists mostly hail from the same region and that most of the tracks were produced by New York-based Paradiddle producer and head honcho Bill Herman, makes for a cohesive and shrewdly programmed 22-song recording.

The first disc starts off with rising star Pete Mancini and an aching, yet confident cover of “Lovesick Blues,” not Williams most popular song, but perhaps his most iconic. The Paradiddle king of country Gene Casey and his Lone Sharks offer up a perfect and understated “You Win Again,” another knowing choice for a follow-up to the opener. The king is followed shortly on disc one by the queen, with Mary Lamont nailing “You’re Gonna Change,” one of her most commanding vocal performances on record to date. Another standout on disc one is the sweet, one-of-a-kind vocal style of Caroline Doctorow on “Cold Cold Heart,” bringing an empathy to a track often sung through bitter tears.

And speaking of inspired vocals, Allen Santoriello brings a grit to “Your Cheating Heart,” with restraint and pure unadorned majesty. Annie Mark does a gripping and ragged reading of “I Can’t Help If I’m Still In Love With You,” a song that one wouldn’t think anyone could find a new way to sing, but Mark brings the house down. Gerry McKevneny offers up a welcome subtle take on “Move It On Over,” and the first disc closes out with a Chris James rave-up of “Jambalaya,” reminiscent of the feel he brought to his playing on the Last Hombres reunion/reset Redemption album in 2014.

Disc two starts off with Mick Hargreaves on “Half As Much.” Once again, this is a case where an artist from the Paradiddle family has come up with one of their best-ever vocal performances on record. The producer and bassist has never sounded better, with harmony vocals from Chloe Halpin and Jennifer Pawlizakthe. It’s been several years since Hargreaves has made a solo album and now might be the time for him to put another one out.

Disc two reflects a little more of the party/Cajun side of Williams’s music, particularly on “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It,” from the HooDoo Loungers, and “Why Don’t You Love Me” from Claudia Jacobs. The disc closes with two excellent duets with Ken Korb and Lora Kendall tackling “I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome” and Annie Mark and Chris James coming up with a one-of-a-kind rendition of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

With such releases as their multi-volume Bob Dylan series and other tributes like the ones they have done on Nanci Griffith and Willie Nile, Paradiddle is fast becoming one of the premier record labels releasing roots/singer-songwriter tribute/cover projects.

 

This Disk

Lovesick Blues - Pete Mancini

Written by Cliff Friend and Irving Mills

Pete Mancini - guitar, vocals

Mick Hargreaves - upright bass, 

Chris James - pedal steel. 

Bill Herman-drums

Produced by Pete Mancini. Recorded at Paradiddle Studio.

Pete on Paradiddle Records- Solo releases include Killing the Old Way, Foothill Freeway, Alive in Patchogue.  Destination Blues & Play for the Films (with Butchers Blind).  Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol. 2 & 3, Kinks UnKovered & Willie Nile Uncovered

https://petemancini.com/

Song notes: Lovesick Blues first appeared in the musical "Oh, Ernest" in 1922. Hank Williams recorded his version and released it in February 1949.  The song quickly reached number one on Billboard's Top Country & Western singles chart and number 24 on the Most Played in Jukeboxes list. After a 42-week run, 16 of those weeks at number 1, the publication named it the top country and western record of the year.  Cashbox named it "Best Hillbilly Record of the Year". It was the biggest hit of Hank Williams' career.

You Win Again - Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks

Written by Hank Williams

Gene Casey- vocals, guitar, vox organ

Chris Ripley-Drums

Pete Crugnale-Bass

Paul Scher- Sax

Produced by Gene Casey & Bill Herman. Recorded at Paradiddle Studio.

Gene on Paradiddle Records - Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol.1 & 2, Kinks UnKovered & Willie Nile Uncovered

https://genecasey.com/

Song notes: Hank Williams recorded "You Win Again" on July 11, 1952—one day after his divorce from Audrey Willams was finalized. "You Win Again" was released as the B-Side to "Settin' the Woods on Fire". It peaked at number 10 on the Most Played in C&W Juke Boxes chart.

Cold, Cold Heart - Caroline Doctorow (featuring Grayson Hugh)

Written by Hank Williams

Caroline Doctorow: lead vocal
Grayson Hugh: duet vocal
Gary Oleyar: fiddle, all guitars, bass, tambourine, harmony vocal
Jim Ryan: pedal steel
Lou Petto: drums
Produced by Caroline Doctorow
Recorded at Sonoma Beach Studio
Engineer: Gary Oleyar

Caroline on Paradiddle Records – Trouble in the Fields, Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol.1 & 2, Kinks UnKovered & Willie Nile Uncovered

https://www.carolinedoctorow.com/

Song notes: Originally released as a B-Side to "Dear John".  "Dear John" peaked at #8 after only a brief four-week run on Billboard magazine's country music charts, but "Cold, Cold Heart" proved to be a favorite of disc jockeys and jukebox listeners, whose enthusiasm for the song catapulted it to #1 on the country music charts.

I’m a Long Gone Daddy – The Lucky Ones

Written by Hank Williams

Mike Meehan-Vocals

Michael Leuci- recording and all instruments except:

Brian Halverson-Backing vocals & accordion (performance & recording)

Richard Charles-solo guitars

Bill Palumbo-Harmonica (performance and recording).

Mike Meehan on Paradiddle Records - Eps Freaks & Wonders, Better Angels, Hard Luck Town & Angel Midnight

https://luckyonemusic.com/

Song notes: Originally released in 1948.  It became his second top ten hit.

You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave) - Mary Lamont

Written by Hank Williams

Mary Lamont-vocals

Jim Marchese-guitars

Skip Krevens-pedal steel

John Pandolfo - bass

Greg D'Anca-Frums

Recorded at Niteflight Music Productions Studio.  

Produced by Mary Lamont, Jim Marchese & John Pandolfo.  Mastering John Pandolfo.

Mary on Paradiddle Records - Kinks UnKovered

https://www.marylamont.com/

Song Notes: "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" was the fourth in a string of twenty Top 10 hits that Williams would have between 1949 and his death on New Year's Day 1953. Originally released as a single in September 1949 it reached #4 on the Best Selling Retail Folk Records chart.

Crazy Heart - The Lone Pine Radio Boys

Written by Fred Rose and Maurice Murray

Frank SanPietro on vocals

Tony Zinicola on rhythm electric & all steel guitars

Kirk Brewster on acoustic & lead electric guitars

Mark Willenbrock on Ampeg electric standup bass

Gary Hoffman on drums. 

Engineered by Mark Willenbrock and produced by Tony Zinicola. 

The Lone Pine Radio Boys on Paradiddle Records - single, (That's How I Got to) Memphis on Paradiddle Records.

Song notes: Crazy Heart reached #4 in the record charts for Williams in 1951. It was one of Williams least commercially successful singles of the period, only spending two weeks on the chart.

Your Cheatin' Heart - Allen Santoriello

Written by Hank Williams

Allen Santoriello – vocals, acoustic guitar

Anna Coronna & Tom Santoriello – background vocals

Pat Ambrosio-Electric Guitar

Larry Ketchell-piano

Dave Noyes-bass

Howard Silverman-drums

Produced by Allen Santoriello & Bill Herman.  Recorded at Paradiddle Studio.

Allen on Paradiddle Records - solo album Pros & Cons, Bob Dylan Uncovered Vols 1 & 2 & Willie Nile Uncovered

https://www.allensantoriello.com/

Song notes: Originally released in January 1953.  It topped Billboard's Country & Western chart for six weeks and sold over a million units. Ranked at 213 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and was ranked number 5 on Country Music Television's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.

Honky Tonkin' - Willie Steel

Written by Hank Williams

Willie Steel - Guitar & Vocals

Jim Uhl - Fiddle

Allen Santoriello- Guitar

Tim Strohsnitter - Bass

Bill Herman – Drums

Taken from Paradiddle Records release Hank Williams Uncovered-The Backyard Sessions

Produced by Bill Herman

Song notes: Song went to #14 on the Billboard Country Music Chart in 1948.

I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) - Annie Mark

Written by Hank Williams

Annie Mark-vocals

Chris James-guitars

Tom Hopkins-bass

Mark Pohl-Drums

It hit number two on the Billboard country singles chart in 1951

Annie on Paradiddle Records – Solo LP Annie Mark , Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol. 2 & 3 & Willie Nile Uncovered

https://anniemarkmusic.com/

Song notes: It was released as the B-side of "Howlin' at the Moon", but on the strength of its simple language and passionate singing, soared to number two on the Billboard Country Singles chart.

Move It On Over - Gerry McKeveny

Written by Hank Williams

Gerry McKeveny - vocals, acoustic & telecaster guitars

Pete Mancini-slide guitar, background vocals

Mark Mancini – Piano

Bill Herman-drums

Produced by Gerry McKevany & Pete Mancini. Recorded at Paradiddle Studio.

https://gerrymckeveny.netlify.app/#/

Song notes: “Move It on Over “was Williams' first major hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard Most Played Juke Box Folk Records chart. The revenue generated by the song was the first serious money the singer had ever seen in his life. It also earned him a spot on the coveted Louisiana Hayride show.

Jambalaya (On the Bayou)- The Hideaways

Written by Hank Williams

Chris James-guitar, bass

Scotty Micciche-harmonica

Roger Murdoch-drums

The Hideaways on Paradiddle Records – Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol 2.  Chris James has also appeared on Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol. 3.

https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Hideaways/100064090147963/

Song notes: It is Williams' most covered song.  Reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles.

That Disk

Half As Much - Mick Hargreaves

Written by Curly Williams

Mick Hargreaves - lead vocal, acoustic & electric guitars, 6 string bass, organ, piano
Chloe Halpin, Jennifer Pawlizak- harmony vocals
Mike Bifulco - electric slide guitar
Gary Dawson - electric guitar
Pete Mancini - high strung acoustic guitar
Don Mangels - fender bass
Chris Mehos - drums
Recorded and mixed with the Lantern Sound Recording Rig
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Mick Hargreaves

Assistant engineers: Sophia Aley, Nick Michalski
Thanks: Kristen Halpin, Buddy Woodward

Mick on Paradiddle Records - Kinks UnKovered

http://www.lanternsoundrecordingrig.com/

http://www.mickhargreaves.com

Song notes: Hank Williams recorded the song in 1952 at a session at Castle Studio in Nashville.  It reached #2 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart.

Alone and Forsaken - Roger Street Friedman

Written by Hank Williams

Roger Street Friedman - vocals, acoustic guitar

Larry Campbell - fiddle, pedal steel, mandolin, electric guitar, bass guitar

Justin Guip - Drums

Produced by Larry Campbell

Recorded at Milan Hill Studios

Engineered by Justin Guip

Mixed by Justin Guip

https://www.rogerstreetfriedman.com/

Song notes: Alone and Forsaken was never officially released by Hank Williams.  MGM released it in 1955, over two years after Williams' death using a recording taken from one of his performances on the Shreveport radio station KWKH between August 1948 and May 1949.

My Buckets Got a Hole In It - HooDoo Loungers

Written by Clarence Williams

David Deitch piano/vocal

Joe Lauro - acoustic bass

Michael Schiano - guitar

Doug Dean - Drums

Eric Kay - clarinet

Bob Hovey – Trombone

John Brierly – Trumpet

The HooDoo Loungers on Paradiddle Records – LP So Beautiful (2022)

https://www.hoodooloungers.com/

Song notes: Hank's version reached number 4 on the country chart in 1949.  A tune older than the hills and it appears in many forms and titles for at least 50 years before Hank covered it.

Why Don’t You Love Me – Claudia Jacobs

Written by Hank Williams

Claudia Jacobs-vocals, guitar

Mark Pohl-drums

Dan Koontz-Tuba, Piano

Lora Kendell-fiddle

Greg Galluccio-Slide guitar

Claudia on Paradiddle Records – Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol. 2 & Kinks UnKovered

https://www.claudiajacobs.com/

Song notes: The song reached number one on the US Country & Western Charts

Honky Tonk Blues - The Haymakers

Written by Hank Williams

Tom Hopkins-vocals, bass

Chris James-guitar, harmony vocal 

Mark Pohl-drums, harmony vocal 

Produced by Bill Herman & Chris James.  Recorded at Paradiddle Studio.

https://www.haymakersmusic.com/

Song notes: The song was a major hit reaching #2 on the US Hot Country Songs Billboard Chart.

Hey Good Lookin' - Donna Domingo

Written by Hank Williams

Donna Domingo-Vocals

Chris James – Guitar, Pedal steel guitar

Tom Hopkins – Bass

Mark Pohl – Drums

Produced by Chris James & Bill Herman.  Recorded at Paradiddle Studio.

Song notes: His version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2003, CMT voted the Hank Williams version No. 19 on CMT's 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music.

Wearin' Out Your Walkin' Shoes - Hank Stone

Written by Hank Williams

Hank Stone – Vocals, guitar

Pete Mancini-Dobro

Tom Santoriello-Bass

Ken Korb- Washboard

Bill Herman-Tambourine

Hank Stone on Paradiddle Records - Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol. 2 & Kinks UnKovered.

https://hankstoneband.wordpress.com/

Lost Highway - Weeping Willows

Written by Leon Payne

Michael Korb – guitar, vocals

Joseph Patti-bass

Ken “The Rocket” Korb – Harmonica, acoustic guitar

Bill Herman – drums

Song notes: It's seen as one of Hank's defining records, if not a defining moment in country music, which makes it ironic that it barely dented the charts on release and doubly ironic that it's not even one of Hank's songs

Settin' The Woods on Fire - Tom Santoriello

Fred Rose & Ed G. Nelson

Tom Santoriello – guitars, upright bass and Vocals

Jim Uhl – fiddle

Brian Halverson – accordion

Ken “The Rocket” Korb – washboard

Tom on Paradiddle Records - appeared with the Little Wilson Band on Bob Dylan Uncovered Vol. 1.

Song notes: Song writer Fred Rose was Hank William's song publisher and producer.  The song reached number 2 on U.S.Billboard Most Played by Jockeys chart and #2 on the national Best Sellers chart.

I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome – Korb & Kendall

Written by: Hank Williams/Bill Monroe

Ken “The Rocket” Korb – Vocals, mandolin

Lora Kendall – vocals, fiddle

Song notes: Hank played the song for Monroe somewhere on tour in Texas, and somehow Monroe wound up with a credit.

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Annie Mark & Chris James

Written by Hank Williams

Annie Mark-vocals acoustic guitar

Chris James - Vocals, electric guitars, bass, organ
Tom Ryan – Drums

Annie & Chris on Paradiddle Records - Bob Dylan Uncovered Vols 2 & 3 & Willie Nile Uncovered

https://anniemarkmusic.com/

Song notes: Rolling Stone ranked it number 111 on their list of the 500 Greatest songs of all time, the oldest song on the list, and number 3 on its 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time.

 

Executive Producer: Bill Herman

Mastering by Michael Korb

Cover painting by Ken Korb

Graphics by John Chiaramonte

Original Hank Williams 78 rpm record labels courtesy of Joe Lauro

Thanks to Lynn for her constant support.  Thanks to Tom & Ellen, Chris James, Pete Mancini, John Chiaramonte, Michael Korb, Ken Korb.

A special thank you to all the musicians who shared their time and talent to make this recording possible.

Dedicated to Chuck Herman who kept Hank Williams playing on his stereo

Copyright 2023 Paradiddle Records

www.paradiddlerecords.com