Mastered at Georgetown Masters, Nashville, TN.
I've been a fan of Hank Thompson ever since I heard his first recordings. In other words, I've been a fan of the man ever since I've been involved with Country Music... and that's been a while. Hank Thompson was very much responsible for my entering the Country Music scene. He was one of the first stars was to see "in person" in my hometown of Shamrock, Texas and his style of our music was... and still is... a grade above most of the others.
What I refer to as "The Thompson Touch" has always contained class. His phrasing and deep resonance has always kept him in a special spot all his own. Reason is, no one can duplicate Hank's sound. Many have tried, but none have succeeded in capturing "the soul" of "The Thompson Touch." Hank sings better now than ever, as you will notice in this, his latest album. Every song echos a compliment to our proud industry of Country Music.
My friend, Hank Thompson has received every award possible in our field of music. Now, it's our honor to sit back and relax as we hear a real star in action.
- Bill Mack
(Bill Mack is the legendary "Midnight Cowboy" Disk Jockey on the all night Truckers show on WBAP 820 AM Radio out of Dallas/Fort Worth. Bill is also the songwriter of the mega Country hit "Blue")
Producer's acknowledgement:
Prior to my involvement in this project, which has engulfed much of my life over the past year, first hand knowledge of Hank Thompson was unfortunately limited to his big hits - "Six Pack To Go", "Oklahoma Hills", "The Wild Side Of Life", etc. Of course Hank's name among musically hip baby boomers and gen-xers, has always ranked up there with the other icons of the 40's and 50's - Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills, Tex Ritter, Hank Williams Sr. All were his buddies and contemporaries. However, because Hank dared to defy the Nashville power base by quitting the Grand Ole Opry in the 1950's (one of only a handful brave enough to do so), his significant accomplishments have not been duly noted or promoted nearly as often as the aforementioned. None-the-less, Hank is still very much alive and kicking - writing new songs and playing over 120 concert dates a year - while his buddies are not.
Hank Thompson made not only a significant impact on the Country Music scene from his base of operations in Texas, Oklahoma and California, but along with his then manager Jim Halsey, set the pattern for today's big time music acts in vital areas of marketing, promotion and public relations. The trends and "firsts" Hank Thompson & The Brazos Valley Boys accomplished throughout the 1950s and 60s are staggering, even in today's terms: they were the first act to tour with a sound and lighting system, receive corporate tour sponsorship, record a live album, put on a show in Las Vegas, record in Hi-Fi stereo, perform on a color broadcast of a television variety show; and in the process they sold over 60 million records in the days before Garth Brooks and the cross marketing, media-blitz onslaughts we must now endure. Hank Thompson's catalog of work at Capitol Records during that era is stunning, bolstered no doubt by the fact that he shared the same studios, producers and promotions with his label mates Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.
Elvis Presley opened shows for Hank Thompson and actively sought his advise on how to break into the Country Music business, before resigning to the fact that the audiences preferred his renditions of what they used to call "Race Music" (old Blues tunes). Hank and his musical associate, Guitar Legend Merle Travis, were also the early pioneers of what was soon to be called Rock-A-Billy or Rock n' Roll. As part of Hank's show in the late 40s and early 50s, they played tunes they had learned from black street musicians as kids, influencing guys who were picking up Merle's guitar style, like Scotty Moore, Carl Perkins and Bill Haley. But Capitol Records producers at the time refused to let Hank record any of that kind of music, leaving that recorded history to others who would follow.
Nashville eventually forgave Hank Thompson for quitting the Grand Ole Opry, and in 1989 voted him into it's Country Music Hall Of Fame. By then he had also been single-handedly responsible for opening the floodgates for women artists in the music business. Hank's mega hit "The Wild Side Of Life" paved the way for the first million seller record for Kitty Wells, with the answer song "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".
But what about Hank Thompson today? In response, I humbly offer you our efforts on this recording, which ranks among Hank's finest work. Indeed, as Bill Mack so aptly put, Hank is singing (and writing) better than he ever has. Compare his character, resonance and tone to some of the best vocalists in the business on this CD or Cassette. It was always so interesting to watch jaded session musicians or one of the Guest Artist's work with Hank in the studio. His John Wayne-like presence was commanding, his music inspirational in it's simplicity... yet so intimidating and complex in tone, density and feel. An aura that definitely brought out one's best. In this era of Retro rage - celebrating Swing, Jazz, Country and Blues, Hank Thompson once again emerges as the undisputed King of Honky Tonk Swing. The Tony Bennett of Cool Classic Country.
Hank Thompson will most likely accomplish another "first" with this new recording... Hank could be the First Artist in Music History to chart a song in the top 100 in Six decades! One of these songs on this CD is guaranteed to break that record. (Shameless plug.) So folks, if you like this recording and hear one of these songs played on your local radio station, please call and request it again. By doing so, you will be a part of making musical history.
BILL MILLET... Hank Thompson "& Friends" CD Producer... August 1997
Career Highlights:
Hank Thompson has sold over 60 million records internationally.
Hank Thompson headlined the first Country Music show to ever play Las Vegas.
Hank Thompson's legendary "Live At The Golden Nugget" was the first Live Country Music Album ever recorded.
Hank Thompson was the first music act to receive corporate tour sponsorship.
Hank Thompson, and his band The Brazos Valley Boys were the first to do a musical show on color television.
Hank Thompson and his band were the first act to tour with a sound and lighting system. Hank put it together from his electronics training and experience at Princeton and later in the Navy.
Hank's band, The Brazos Valley Boys, were voted #1 Country Western Band for 14 years in a row by Billboard Magazine.
Hank Thompson's huge hit, "The Wild Side Of Life" paved the way for the first million selling Country record for a female artist, with the answer song "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells. Kitty's success directly opened the floodgates for future women artists to claim a share of Music stardom, and it was Hank Thompson's music that set it in motion.
Hank Thompson & The Brazos Valley Boys still perform over 120 dates a year throughout the world.
Special Thanks:
Although acknowledged elsewhere, I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone, and there have been so many, who have been associated with this project. It's inception goes back a lot of years. here were those who wanted to and couldn't, those who tried and failed, those who would have if they knew how. We had moments of encouragement, only to be slapped down with disappointments. It was a tough job, and only through the combined efforts of everyone involved did we prevail.
It was Mike Curb's original suggestion, and his periodic encouragement that kept a flame going. Chuck Ainlay, and his engineering associates, whose superb talents behind the equipment made this the best sounding record I've ever made. There were so many outstanding musicians who enthusiastically contributed their talents and ideas. Of course, I am humbly grateful to all those wonderful celebrities who so amiably joined me to forge these historic recordings. Also, a very warm thanks to their respective record labels and management. In particular, I would especially like to single out the contributions my associate Warren Kice and his wife Elaine put forward to this project. He has been a long time fan and friend of mine since he was a teenager in Oklahoma. Warren put together the business plan for Prosperity Special, Inc. to complete this large scale project with Curb Records. An attorney in Dallas, Warren is also a superb audiophile, and his enthusiasm with the songs and renditions was a welcome encouragement to us all. Thank you again Warren and Elaine Kice.
It became quite evident that any project of this magnatude requires a lot of ingredients, but it takes that certain catalyst to make it come together. That key essential here was our Producer, Bill Millet. Not only his consummate musicianship and recording ability, but I was constantly amazed by his overall knowledge of this complex industry. His dedication to this venture was unshakable, and he relentlessly pursued all avenues to ensure it's completion. He skillfully, tactfully and methodically resolved all the essentials and then fined tuned the details. True, this was a huge group effort. But this project would not have happened without Bill Millet!
- Hank Thompson... July 1997
Special thanks to:
All of the Guest Artists & Musicians on this project, James Bland, Melissa Brannan & The Staff at Sound Emporium, D.D. & Larry Bray, David Briggs, Billy Burnette, Frank Callari, Kim Carmel, Liz Cavanaugh, Don Cobb, Wylie Gustafson, Dennis Hannon, Brad Holliday, Lisa Jenkins, Mark T. Jordan, Becky Judd, David Kronemyer, Bill & Cindy Mack, Billy & Layla Martin, Randy Merriman, Billy & Eden Millet, Jeff Millet, Jon Millet, Mersedeh Millet, Ljubenka Milunovich, Dennis Morgan, Denny Purcell, Mark Ralston, Jonathan Russell, Mario Tarradell, Ann Thompson, Matt Weitz.
For Hank Thompson fan club information and merchandise write or call:
Hank Thompson Fan Club
2000 Vista Road
Roanoke, Texas 76262
U.S.A.
(817) 491-2545
Hank Thompson web site address:
http://www.infocus.com/hank/
For Hank Thompson & The Brazos Valley Boys (with Junior Brown, Bill Millet, Bill Mack, Mark T. Jordan, Robert Bowlin, Dennis Morgan, Jay Weaver, Tom Lewis, Bobby Garrett & Jimmy Clark) concert booking information:
D.D. Bray
Hank Thompson Enterprizes
Office: (817) 491-2545
Hank Thompson public relations and media information:
Rogers & Cowan Public Relations
Attn. Lori Lousararian
1888 Century Park East
Suite 500
Los Angeles, California 90067
(310) 201-8804
Record production and marketing:
Prosperity Special, Inc./Trianon Productions, Inc.
Attn. Bill Millet and Warren Kice
2000 Vista Road
Roanoke, Texas 76262
U.S.A.
Office: (972) 838-4495
EMail: bmilletpsi@aol.com
(P) & (C) 1998 Curb Entertainment International orp under exclusive license to The Hit Label
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London
W10 6SP
Unauthorized public performance, broadcasting, copying and rental prohibited. All rights of the manufacturer and of the owner of the recorde work reserved.
Compact Disc Digital Audio
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