Seven decades after Hank Williams changed the course of country music with songs inspired by the brilliant ups and hellish downs of his own life, you can finally hear his amazing hits like you’ve never heard them before —
the pure original recordings with nothing added
in superb state-of-the-art stereo for the first time. Gone is that old “78rpm sound.”
What exactly does that mean? In this collection, you will be listening to the original master recordings with nothing added, in superb state-of-the-art stereo for the first time. Together with modern equalization (EQ) techniques, the result brings these early recordings into the modern age allowing listeners to more fully appreciate these simple, unadorned masterpieces. More information below on the technical process we use.
Others have attempted Hank Williams in stereo before, but a wide variety of misguided recordings added strings, piano, drums, artificial rechanneling and fabricated duets, all things that Hank never meant to be heard on his #1 hits like “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “Hey, Good Lookin’.”
It wasn’t just Hank’s fans who objected to these altered recordings released on MGM in the 1960s. Hank’s estate sued the label over these ill-conceived overdubbed versions. In 1969, Billboard reported that, “the Williams estate charges that MGM has violated its agreement...creating entirely new recordings from old cuts despite promising not to record in such a manner.”
While only the original recorded elements are present with nothing added, you will be able to hear things you may never have heard before because they were buried in the original mono mix. Whether you are a lifelong Hank Williams fan or are being introduced to this country legend for the first time, prepare yourself for the ultimate Hank Williams listening experience in unparalleled stereo.
The computer age has introduced highly sophisticated sound processing software that enables patient and expert audio engineers to create new, authentic stereo mixes from original mono recordings.
The most advanced technique and the one that usually produces the most satisfactory results is called DES (Digitally Extracted Stereo). Because most instruments and vocals often occupy fairly narrow, specific audio frequency ranges, it’s now possible in some cases to isolate guitars, drums, bass, strings, etc., and “extract” these elements into separate tracks which are then remixed into stereo. A professional DES stereo mix will be indistinguishable from an original multi-track stereo mix and offers audiences a fresh, exciting listening experience, allowing them to enjoy their favorite songs in a way never before possible.
The actual DES process is much more complex than it sounds in this simple explanation, principally because the sounds of most instruments overlap with others. So it requires an experienced sound engineer devoting substantial amounts of time and patience, and it sometimes requires weeks to complete a single song.
But much more important than this explanation is how YOU, the listener, experience the result of all this effort. Please listen carefully to the sound samples on this page and decide for yourself.
Earlier misguided attempts at stereo added strings and things that Hank never meant to be heard on his #1 hits like “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “Jambalaya.” His catalog has stood the test of time and now you can hear “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and his great spiritual classic “I Saw The Light” in the finest stereo ever produced. All 28 songs are making their stereo debuts, including never-to-be forgotten tunes like “You Win Again,” “Take These Chains From My Heart,” “Honky Tonkin’,” “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” and his first chart-topper, “Move It On Over.” Includes a 12-page booklet with photos and liner notes by Fred Bronson.
Makes other Hank collections obsolete. Don’t believe it? Check out the sound samples below (on your best system).
You won’t find these EXCLUSIVE stereo gems online!
— ALL 28 SONGS IN STEREO! 74 MINUTES OF MUSIC! —
— EVERY SONG IS A STEREO DEBUT —
— AUDIOPHILE QUALITY... CREATED BY COLLECTORS FOR COLLECTORS —
Track Listing — Disc #1 · 28 Songs · Single Artist · Hit Parade Records
| Listen | Track | Title | Country Peak | Chart Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 1 | 2/53 | |
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2 | 1 | 4/51 | |
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3 | 2 | 6/51 | |
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4 | 2 | 1/49 | |
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5 | 1 | 8/52 | |
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6 | 1 | 7/51 | |
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7 | 2 | 10/52 | |
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8 | 1 | 2/53 | |
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9 | 4 | 7/51 | |
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10 | - | 1/49 | |
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11 | - | 1/51 | |
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12 | 1 | 11/50 | |
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13 | 10 | 11/52 | |
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14 | 1 | 5/53 | |
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15 | 2 | 3/52 | |
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16 | 2 | 5/52 | |
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17 | 1 | 12/52 | |
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18 | 4 | 8/47 | |
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19 | 14 | 7/48 | |
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20 | 5 | 7/49 | |
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21 | 12 | 5/49 | |
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22 | 1 | 3/50 | |
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23 | 1 | 3/49 | |
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24 | 1 | 5/50 | |
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25 | 9 | 10/50 | |
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26 | - | 9/48 | |
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27 | - | 5/53 | |
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28 | - | 1/50 |