| "The Battle of Armageddon" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Hank Williams | |
| A-side | "Thank God" |
| Released | 1955 |
| Recorded | August 1948–May 1949, Shreveport |
| Genre | Country, gospel |
| Length | 2:29 |
| Label | MGM Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Roy Acuff, Odell McLeod |
"The Battle of Armageddon" is a hymn written by Roy Acuff and Odell McLeod. It warns of the coming Judgment Day and references the Book of Revelation. The song became associated with Hank Williams when MGM Records released it as a posthumous single. Between January and May 1949, Williams had pre-recorded early morning radio shows for Johnnie Fair Syrup, and MGM issued several songs from the surviving acetates as singles to satisfy the unyielding demand product by the late country singer, who was quickly becoming a mythic figure in country music. [1] Co-writer Roy Acuff had been a primary influence on Williams' music. Williams pronounces "Armageddon" as "Am-be-gotten" and usually ignored his producer Fred Rose's demands that he enunciate his words with more sophistication. [2]
"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.
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.
There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight is a song written by Hank Williams and released on MGM Records as the B-side to "Mind Your Own Business" in July 1949.
"I've Just Told Mama Goodbye" is a song by Hank Williams on MGM Records.
"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 Won't Be Home No More" is a song recorded by Hank Williams on July 11, 1952. It was released posthumously on MGM Records a year later in July 1953. The song climbed to No. 4 on the US Billboard National Best Sellers chart.
"Let's Turn Back the Years" is a song written and originally recorded by Hank Williams for MGM Records.
"Weary Blues from Waitin'" is a song written by Hank Williams. It was released as a posthumous single on MGM Records in 1953.
"Please Don't Let Me Love You" is a song by written by Ralph Jones and first recorded by George Morgan, who had a #4 country hit with it in 1949.
"Message to my Mother" is a song written by Hank Williams. It was recorded as a demo in 1951 and released by MGM Records in 1955, two years after its composer's death. It is notable for its length, clocking in at just over four minutes, which is unusual for a Williams song. The song tells the story of a young man on his deathbed imploring those around him to let his long-suffering mother know he has been saved. The song displays a clear Roy Acuff influence, whose songs with similar themes had a profound influence on a young Williams.
"At the First Fall of Snow" is a song written by Lorene Rose. It is primarily associated with Hank Williams, who recorded it at WWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana as part of the Johnnie Fair Syrup program between August 1947 and May 1948. The surviving acetates feature Williams accompanied by his own guitar singing many of his favorite songs by Ernest Tubb, Gene Autry, and Roy Acuff, among others. MGM obtained the rights to the acetates and "At the First Fall of Snow" was released as a single in September 1955 with "Someday You'll Call My Name" as the B-side. By February 1956 it had sold thirty thousand copies.
"California Zephyr" is a song written by Hank Williams. It was released as a single on MGM Records in 1956.
"You Better Keep It on Your Mind" is a song by Hank Williams. It was composed by Williams and Vic McAlpin and released as a posthumous single by Williams in 1954 on MGM Records. The B-side was "Low Down Blues." McAplin was a staff songwriter at Acuff-Rose and had made minor contributions to Hank's "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" while the pair went on a fishing trip. Thematically, "You Better Keep It on Your Mind" is similar to "You're Gonna Change ," with the narrator warning his significant other to take him seriously. The second voice on the recording is speculated to be Hank Snow.
"Help Me Understand" is a song written by Hank Williams and released under the name "Luke the Drifter" on MGM Records in 1950.
"No, No, Joe" is a song by Hank Williams. It was written by Fred Rose and takes aim at Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
"Faded Love and Winter Roses" is a song written by Fred Rose. It was released as a posthumous single by Hank Williams, whose records Rose produced, in 1954.
"Mother Is Gone" is a song by Hank Williams. It had appeared in Williams' song folio in 1946 and was released as a posthumous single by MGM Records in 1955. The narrator in the song laments the passing of his mother, one of several compositions that Williams wrote containing a maternal theme that was likely influenced by Roy Acuff and other singers who recorded similar songs. The original recording was a demo Williams made for publishing company Acuff-Rose sometime between 1946 and 1949.
"Thank God" is a hymn written by Fred Rose and released as a posthumous single by Hank Williams in 1955 on MGM Records. Rose had produced Williams' records and published his songs through his company Acuff-Rose. The Roy Acuff hymn "The Battle of Armageddon" was the B-side. "Thank God" was recorded between August 1948 and May 1949 at KWKH studio in Shreveport, Louisiana when the singer appeared on the Johnny Fair Syrup radio show. Williams dubbed himself "The Ol' Syrupy Sopper" and performed alone with his guitar.
"No One Will Ever Know" is a song written by Fred Rose and Mel Forre. It was originally associated with country icon Hank Williams when it was issued as a posthumous single in 1957.
"Lost on the River" is a song written by Hank Williams. It was released as a duet with his wife Audrey Williams on MGM Records in 1950.