Hillbilly Joker

Last updated
Hillbilly Joker
Hank-iii-hillbilly-joker2.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 17, 2011
Recorded2003
Genre
Length31:39
Label Sidewalk
Producer Dave Sardy
Hank Williams III chronology
Rebel Within
(2010)
Hillbilly Joker
(2011)
Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pop Matters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
UR Chicago Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Hillbilly Joker is an unauthorized release of recordings by Hank Williams III, released on May 17, 2011. The album marks a departure from Williams' previous country albums, instead featuring a cowpunk sound [1] which incorporates elements of rockabilly, heavy metal and hardcore punk. [4]

Contents

The album was originally recorded and planned to be released in 2003 under the title This Ain't Country, [5] but Williams' label, Curb Records, refused to either release the album or allow him to issue it on another record label. This angered Williams so greatly that he began selling "Fuck Curb Records" T-shirts at his concerts, where he would play a number of songs from this release, notably "Hillbilly Joker" (retitled "Mississippi Highway" or "Go Fuck You"), "Life of Sin," "Hellbilly," and "Tennessee Driver." The latter track was eventually re-recorded for Williams' 2009 Assjack side project.

Eight years after This Aint Country's recording, and following Williams' 2011 acrimonious departure from the label, Curb suddenly elected to release the now-retitled album without any input from Williams, and promote it as "The New Hank Williams III Album." In response, Williams advised his fans "Don’t buy it, but get it some other way and burn the hell out of it and give it to everyone."

Two songs from the original This Aint Country track ("Hang on" and "Runnin' & Gunnin") were not included in Hillbilly Joker; however, Curb released them three years later in the album Ramblin' Man. This album was made up of previously released material, as well as outtakes and covers of other artists' songs from tribute projects. Much like Hillbilly Joker, Ramblin' Man was not authorized by Williams and his reaction to the release was to urge his fans not to buy it. Hillbilly Joker marked his last studio album to be released through Curb, and his first of five releases from the label since fulfilling his contract.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Hank Williams III.

No.TitleLength
1."Hillbilly Joker"2:17
2."I'm Drunk Again"3:51
3."Life of Sin"3:12
4."10 Feet Down"4:08
5."Pistol Packin'"3:13
6."Tennessee Driver"2:14
7."M.F.J."2:31
8."Now He's Dead"2:59
9."Drink It, Drug It"3:01
10."Hellbilly"4:14
Total length:31:39

Personnel

Chart positions

Chart (2011)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums10
U.S. Billboard 20062

Related Research Articles

Hank Williams III American musician, singer, and multi-instrumentalist

Shelton Hank Williams, known as Hank Williams III, is an American musician, singer and multi-instrumentalist, known for his unique fusion of traditional country music, rockabilly, and punk rock. He was the drummer of hardcore punk band Arson Anthem, and former bassist of Phil Anselmo's band Superjoint Ritual. He has released eleven studio albums, including five for Curb Records. Williams is the grandson of Hank Williams, the son of Hank Williams Jr., the nephew of Jett Williams, and the half-brother of Holly Williams, and the father of Coleman Williams.

<i>Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts</i> 1996 studio album by Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr. and Hank Williams III

Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts is a collaborative studio album released by Curb Records in 1996. It combines the songs of Hank Williams, who died in 1953, with newly recorded accompanying vocals from his son Hank Williams Jr. and grandson Hank Williams III, the latter of whom makes his recording debut. Aside from Hank Williams' songs, this album also features a new song written by Hank Williams Jr. titled "Hand Me Down". The album was recorded largely to cover Williams III's child support debts.

Assjack is an American heavy metal band led by Hank Williams III and Garrett Bremer. The band is one of the three incarnations of Williams' live show.

<i>Straight to Hell</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Hank Williams III

Straight to Hell is the third studio album by American musician Hank Williams III, released on February 28, 2006 by Bruc Records, an imprint of Curb Records.

Lovesick Blues 1949 single by Hank Williams

"Lovesick Blues" is a Tin Pan Alley song, composed by Cliff Friend, with lyrics by Irving Mills. It first appeared in the 1922 musical "Oh, Ernest", and was recorded that year by Elsie Clark and Jack Shea. Emmett Miller recorded it in 1925 and 1928, followed by country music singer Rex Griffin in 1939. The recordings by Griffin and Miller inspired Hank Williams to perform the song during his first appearances on the Louisiana Hayride radio show in 1948. Receiving an enthusiastic reception from the audience, Williams decided to record his own version despite initial push back from his producer Fred Rose and his band.

<i>Risin Outlaw</i> 1999 studio album by Hank Williams III

Risin' Outlaw is the debut studio album by American country music singer Hank Williams III. It was released on September 7, 1999, by Curb Records. The album was produced by Chuck Howard and Bob Campbell-Smith.

<i>Thats How They Do It in Dixie: The Essential Collection</i> 2006 compilation album by Hank Williams Jr.

That's How They Do It in Dixie: The Essential Collection is a greatest hits album by American musician Hank Williams Jr. This album was released on June 27, 2006 on the Curb Records label. This album has two brand new songs, "That's How They Do It in Dixie," and "Stirrin' It Up". The former was released as a single, while "A Country Boy Can Survive" was re-released. Both songs were made into music videos in 2006. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and has been certified Gold by the RIAA, giving him the 23rd Gold album of his career.

<i>The Almeria Club Recordings</i> 2002 studio album by Hank Williams, Jr

The Almeria Club Recordings is the forty-ninth studio album by American musician Hank Williams, Jr. This album was released on January 8, 2002 on the Curb Records label. He recorded most of the songs at "The Almeria Club", a club that his father, Hank Williams, recorded several songs himself. Kid Rock as well as Uncle Kracker appear on the song "The 'F' Word" giving background vocals.


"Ramblin' Man" is a song written in 1951 by Hank Williams. It was released as the B-side to the 1953 number one hit "Take These Chains from My Heart", as well as to the 1976 re-release of "Why Don't You Love Me". It is also included on the 40 Greatest Hits, a staple of his CD re-released material.

<i>Habits Old and New</i> 1980 album by Hank Williams Jr.

Habits Old and New is the thirty-first studio album by Hank Williams Jr. and was released under Elektra Records/Curb Records in June 1980. Habits Old and New was Williams' third full-length album in a fourteen-month span, following Family Tradition and Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound that were released in April and November 1979. It was also his fifth album on the Elektra/Curb label.

<i>Damn Right, Rebel Proud</i> 2008 studio album by Hank Williams III

Damn Right, Rebel Proud is the fourth studio album released by American country music artist Hank Williams III. It was released on October 21, 2008. The album was released in two separate versions, one being a censored release for major retailers, the other is uncensored. The album was released through Curb's revived Sidewalk Records label. This is Hank III’s most successful album to date.

<i>Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Hank Williams, Jr.

Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound is the thirtieth studio album by Hank Williams, Jr. and his fourth on the Elektra/Curb labels. The full-length album was Williams' second of 1979, with Family Tradition released in April.

Joey Allcorn American country singer/songwriter (born 1980)

Joey Allcorn is a country music singer/songwriter known for his own brand of traditional honky-tonk-style country music and writing many of his own songs. He has recorded three studio albums, 50 Years Too Late (2006) and All Alone Again (2009), both having been released on his Blue Yodel Records label, and one, Nothing Left To Prove, set to be released in 2014. He cites Hank Williams Sr., Ernest Tubb, Faron Young, Lefty Frizzell, and Jimmie Rodgers among his idols and modern-day influences include BR549, Wayne Hancock, Robbie Fulks and Dale Watson.

Hank Williams III discography

The following is a complete discography of all albums and singles credited to American musician Hank Williams III, some of which were released without his approval.

<i>Rowdy</i> (Hank Williams Jr. album) 1981 studio album by Hank Williams Jr.

Rowdy is the thirty-second studio album by Hank Williams Jr. It was released by Elektra/Curb Records in January 1981. "Texas Women" and "Dixie on My Mind" were released as singles, both peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

<i>The Pressure Is On</i> 1981 studio album by Hank Williams, Jr.

The Pressure Is On is the thirty-third studio album by American musician Hank Williams, Jr. It was released by Elektra/Curb Records in August 1981 and was Williams' seventh studio album on the Elektra/Curb label.

<i>High Notes</i> 1982 studio album by Hank Williams, Jr.

High Notes is the thirty-fourth studio album by American musician Hank Williams, Jr. It was released by Elektra/Curb Records in April 1982, making it Williams' eighth studio album for Elektra/Curb and his ninth overall for the label. While not as successful or acclaimed as some of Williams' more recent recordings, High Notes was still a commercial success. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA, becoming Williams' seventh album to do so. The album also generated two hit singles, "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie" and "Honky Tonkin'". "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie" peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart while "Honky Tonkin'", a song that was originally a number 14 hit written and performed by his father, Hank, Sr., became Hank, Jr.'s sixth Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

<i>Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town</i> 2011 studio album by Hank Williams III

Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town is the sixth studio album by American musician Hank Williams III. The double album was released on September 6, 2011. All songs were recorded in Hank III’s home studio The Haunted Ranch. The album features guest appearances by Tom Waits, Ray Lawrence Jr., Eddie Pleasant, Alan King (Hellstomper), Les Claypool (Primus), Dave Sherman, Troy Medlin (Sourvein), and Williams' dog Trooper. Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town consisted of two of the four albums Hank Williams III simultaneously released on September 6, 2011 on Hank 3 Records (hank3.com), with distribution through Megaforce Records. It is also Hank III’s first album to be released by Megaforce, after leaving Curb Records in 2010.

The Damn Band is the backing band of Hank Williams III. It was formed in 1995, and the band is on most of Williams's country records. The band has had many changes in the line-ups. It consists of acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, bass, drums, electric guitar and banjo.

Blue & Lonesome is an album by American country music artist George Jones released in 1964 on the Mercury Records label.

References

  1. 1 2 Oquist, Kenneth E. (2011-05-17). "Curb Releases Hank Williams III's 'Hillbilly Joker' Much to His Chagrin". A&E Playground. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  2. Haag, Stephen (2011-05-17). "Hank Williams III: Hillbilly Joker". Pop Matters . Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  3. Schwartz, Pawl (2011-05-17). "Hank Williams III – Hillbilly Joker". UR Chicago . Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  4. 1 2 Deming, Mark (2011-05-17). "Hillbilly Joker". Allmusic . Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  5. "Hank Williams III Biography". CMT . Retrieved 2011-07-03.