"When God Comes and Gathers His Jewels" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Hank Williams | ||||
A-side | "Wealth Won't Save Your Soul" | |||
Published | November 30, 1948 Acuff-Rose Publications [1] | |||
Released | February 1947 | |||
Recorded | December 11, 1946, WSM Studio | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:45 | |||
Label | Sterling | |||
Songwriter(s) | Hank Williams | |||
Producer(s) | Fred Rose | |||
Hank Williams singles chronology | ||||
|
"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). [2]
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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 Can't Help It " 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 " 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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"Moanin' the Blues" is a song by Hank Williams. It became his fourth number one single on MGM Records in 1950.
"Baby, We're Really in Love" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams and released on MGM Records. It peaked at number four on the Billboard country singles chart. It was recorded at Castle Studio in Nashville on July 25, 1951 with Fred Rose producing and backing from Don Helms, Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Sammy Pruett, Howard Watts (bass) and probably Jack Shook. It was his fourteenth Top 5 hit.
"I'd Still Want You" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams and released on MGM Records. It was selected to be the B-side to the up-tempo "Baby, We're Really in Love." Williams biographer Colin Escott calls it "another bleak commentary on Hank's continuing need for Audrey [Williams, his wife] as she closed off her heart to him." It was recorded at Castle Studio in Nashville on July 25, 1951 with Fred Rose producing and backing from Don Helms, Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Sammy Pruett, Howard Watts (bass) and probably Jack Shook.