"Calling You" | ||||
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Single by Hank Williams | ||||
A-side | "Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)" | |||
Published | November 30, 1948 Acuff-Rose Publications [1] | |||
Released | January 1947 | |||
Recorded | December 11, 1946, Nashville | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:52 | |||
Label | Sterling | |||
Songwriter(s) | Hank Williams | |||
Producer(s) | Fred Rose | |||
Hank Williams singles chronology | ||||
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"Calling You" is a hymn written and recorded by Hank Williams.
With its simple musical structure and infectious sing-a-long chorus, "Calling You" remains one of Williams' most affecting gospel compositions. It was recorded at the singer's first ever recording session on December 11, 1946 for Sterling Records with Fred Rose producing. Williams was backed on the session by the Willis Brothers, who also went by the name of the Oklahoma Wranglers: James "Guy" Willis (guitar), Vic Willis (accordion), Charles "Skeeter" Willis (fiddle), and Charles "Indian" Wright (bass). [2] In the 2004 book Hank Williams: The Biography, Vic Willis recalls to Colin Escott, "Hank was a quiet guy and kinda negative. But he had a hell of a dry sense of humor. Someone asked Hank if he wanted a beer with his meal, and he shook his head. 'You don't know ol' Hank. Hank just don't have one beer.'" [3] The uneasy dichotomy between Williams' faith and his often reckless lifestyle would only make him a more compelling figure in years to come, especially in light of the passion he unfailingly displayed when singing spiritual music.
A demo version of "Calling You," likely recorded between July 1946 and the fall of 1948 for Acuff-Rose, [4] is also available, as well as a version featuring Hank's wife Audrey Williams.
"Hey, Good Lookin'" is a 1951 song written and recorded by Hank Williams, and 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. Since its original 1951 recording it has been covered by a variety of artists.
"Move It On Over" is a song written and recorded by the American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1947.
"I Saw the Light" is a country gospel song written by Hank Williams. Williams was inspired to write the song while returning from a concert by a remark his mother made while they were arriving in Montgomery, Alabama. He recorded the song during his first session for MGM Records, and released in September 1948. Williams' version did not enjoy major success during its initial release, but eventually it became one of his most popular songs and the closing number for his live shows. It was soon covered by other acts, and has become a country gospel standard.
"Long Gone Lonesome Blues" is a 1950 song by Hank Williams. It was Williams' second number-one single on the Country & Western chart. "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" stayed on the charts for 21 weeks, with five weeks at the top.
"Take These Chains from My Heart" is a song by Hank Williams. It was written by Fred Rose and Hy Heath and was recorded at Williams' final recording session on September 23, 1952, in Nashville. The song has been widely praised; Williams' biographer Colin Escott deems it "perhaps the best song [Rose] ever presented to Hank...It was one of the very few songs that sounded somewhat similar to a Hank Williams song." Williams is backed by Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Don Helms, Chet Atkins, Jack Shook, and Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance (bass). In the wake of Williams' death on New Year's Day, 1953, the song shot to No. 1, his final chart-topping hit for MGM Records. Like "Your Cheatin' Heart," the song's theme of despair, so vividly articulated by Williams' typically impassioned singing, reinforced the image of Hank as a tortured, mythic figure.
"I'm a Long Gone Daddy" is a country song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It was released in 1948 on MGM Records and became his second top ten hit.
"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" is a song written and originally recorded by Hank Williams on MGM Records. It hit number two on the Billboard country singles chart in 1951. In his autobiography, George Jones printed the first six lines of the song and stated, "Its lyrics couldn't be more simple - or profound."
"Howlin' at the Moon" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It rose to number 3 on the Hot Country Singles chart in 1951. The song also appeared on the soundtrack of alternate history TV series, For All Mankind.
"Settin' the Woods on Fire" was the A-side of a single by Hank Williams, released in September 1952. The song reached number 2 on U.S. Billboard Most Played by Jockeys chart and number 2 on the National Best Sellers chart.
"Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It was the singer's first single released on Sterling Records in 1947.
"Wealth Won't Save Your Soul" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It was paired with "When God Comes and Gather His Jewels" for his second single release on Sterling Records in February 1947.
"I Don't Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)" is a song written and originally recorded by Hank Williams. It was the B-side of the single release, "My Love for You (Has Turned to Hate)", on Sterling Records.
"When God Comes and Gathers His Jewels" is a hymn written by Hank Williams. It was the B-side to his second single, "Wealth Won't Save Your Soul," released in 1947 on Sterling Records. Williams wrote and performed spiritual music throughout his career on his radio shows and in concert, usually closing personal appearances with his famous gospel number "I Saw the Light." He recorded this song on December 11, 1946 at WSM Studios in Nashville with Fred Rose producing and was backed on the session by the Willis Brothers, who also went by the name of the Oklahoma Wranglers: James "Guy" Willis (guitar), Vic Wallis (accordion), Charles "Skeeter" Willis (fiddle), and Charles "Indian" Wright (bass).
"A Mansion on the Hill" is a song written by Hank Williams and Fred Rose and originally recorded by Williams on MGM Records. It peaked at No. 12 on the Most Played Jukebox Folk Records chart in March 1949.
"(Last Night) I Heard You Crying in Your Sleep" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams on MGM Records. It was released as the B-side of "Move It on Over" in 1947.
Six More Miles (To the Graveyard) is a song written by Hank Williams for MGM Records. It appeared as the B-side to "I Saw the Light" in 1948.
"May You Never Be Alone" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It was released as the flipside of "I Just Don't Like This Kind of Living" in January 1950.
"(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle" is a song written by Hank Williams and Jimmie Davis. It became his fourteenth consecutive Top 10 single in 1951.
"I Could Never Be Ashamed of You" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It was released as the B-side of "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" on MGM Records in November 1952.
"Just Waitin" is a song written by Hank Williams and released as the A-side of "Men with Broken Hearts" in 1951 on MGM Records. It was released under the pseudonym "Luke the Drifter."