"Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)" | ||||
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Single by Hank Williams | ||||
B-side | "Calling You" | |||
Published | November 30, 1948 Acuff-Rose Publications [1] | |||
Released | January 1947 | |||
Recorded | December 11, 1946 [2] | |||
Studio | WSM Studio | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:40 | |||
Label | Sterling | |||
Songwriter(s) | Hank Williams | |||
Producer(s) | Fred Rose | |||
Hank Williams singles chronology | ||||
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"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.
In 1946, Sterling Records was looking for "hillbilly" singer to complement its jazz, pop, and R&B series, so producer Fred Rose signed Williams, who he had come to know through singer Molly O'Day recording several of his compositions. [3] 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 Wallis (accordion), Charles "Skeeter" Willis (fiddle), and Charles "Indian" Wright (bass). [4] WSM's recording quality was poor, and the muddy overall sound was made worse by Sterling's pressing quality [5] The single did not chart, but it sold well enough to impress Rose, who would eventually push to have Williams signed to MGM Records. In January 1948 the song was re-issued as the B-side to Williams' monster smash "Lovesick Blues" and reached #6.
Hank Williams, Jr. also covered the song for the 1996 album Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts .
"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 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.
"Honky Tonk Blues" was a hit country and western song written and performed by Hank Williams. The original 1952 recording was a major hit, and it later became a hit for later-day superstar Charley Pride.
"Why Don't You Love Me" is a song by American singer and guitarist Hank Williams. The song reached number one on the U.S. Country & Western chart. It was released as a single in 1950 with the B-side, "A House Without Love".
"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.
"You Win Again" is a 1952 song by Hank Williams. In style, the song is a blues ballad and deals with the singer's despair with his partner. The song has been widely covered, including versions by Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, the Grateful Dead, Charley Pride, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones.
"Honky Tonkin'" is a 1947 country music song, written and recorded by Hank Williams. His song went to #14 on the Billboard country music chart in 1948. In 1982, it became the sixth chart topping single for Williams' son, Hank Williams Jr.
"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.
"My Love for You " is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It was his third single released on Sterling Records in April 1947. After issuing two singles containing mostly spiritual music, "My Love for You " was the kind of bitter love song that Williams would become famous for, its narrator turning away a remorseful lover who wishes to come back. It was recorded on February 13, 1947 in Nashville with Fred Rose producing and featured Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Dale "Smokey" Lohman, Zeke Turner, and Louis Innis (bass). Like his previous two releases on Sterling, the single did not chart, but they did well enough for Hank to eventually land a contract with MGM Records in April 1947.
"Pan American" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It was his final single on Sterling Records after moving to MGM in April 1947.
"I Don't Care " is a song written and originally recorded by Hank Williams. It was the B-side of the single release, "My Love for You ", 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).
On the Banks of the Old Ponchartrain is a song written by Hank Williams and Ramona Vincent. It was the singer's second single on MGM Records, released in September 1947.
"Calling You" is a hymn written and recorded by Hank Williams.
"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.
Six More Miles is a song written by Hank Williams for MGM Records. It appeared as the B-side to "I Saw the Light" in 1948.
"My Son Calls Another Man Daddy" is a song written by Jewell House and made famous by country star Hank Williams, who released the song in 1950.
"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.
"Weary Blues from Waitin'" is a song written by Hank Williams. It was released as a posthumous single on MGM Records in 1953.
"No, No, Joe" is a song by Hank Williams. It was written by Fred Rose and takes aim at Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.