Hillbilly Jokeris an unauthorized release of recordings byHank Williams III.Released on May 17, 2011, the album marks a departure from Williams' previouscountryalbums, instead featuring acowpunksound[1]which incorporates elements ofrockabilly,heavy metalandhardcore punk.[4]
| Hillbilly Joker | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | May 17, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2003 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 31:39 | |||
| Label | Sidewalk | |||
| Producer | Dave Sardy | |||
| Hank Williams IIIchronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Pop Matters |   [2] |
| UR Chicago |   [3] |
| Allmusic |  [4] |
The album was originally recorded and planned to be released in 2003 under the titleThis Ain't Country,[5]but Williams' label,Curb Records,refused to either release the album or allow him to issue it on another record label. This angered Williams so greatly that he began selling "Fuck Curb Records" T-shirts at his concerts, where he would play a number of songs from this release, notably "Hillbilly Joker" (retitled "Mississippi Highway" or "Go Fuck You" ), "Life of Sin," "Hellbilly," and "Tennessee Driver." The latter track was eventually re-recorded for Williams' 2009Assjackside project.
Eight years afterThis Aint Country'srecording, and following Williams' 2011 acrimonious departure from the label, Curb suddenly elected to release the now-retitled album without any input from Williams, and promote it as"The New Hank Williams III Album."In response, Williams advised his fans"Don’t buy it, but get it some other way and burn the hell out of it and give it to everyone."
Two songs from the originalThis Aint Countrytrack ( "Hang on" and "Runnin' & Gunnin" ) were not included inHillbilly Joker;however, Curb released them three years later in the albumRamblin' Man.This album was made up of previously released material, as well as outtakes and covers of other artists' songs from tribute projects. Much likeHillbilly Joker,Ramblin' Manwas not authorized by Williams and his reaction to the release was to urge his fans not to buy it.Hillbilly Jokermarked his last studio album to be released through Curb, and his first of five releases from the label since fulfilling his contract.
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Hank Williams III
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hillbilly Joker" | 2:17 |
| 2. | "I'm Drunk Again" | 3:51 |
| 3. | "Life of Sin" | 3:12 |
| 4. | "10 Feet Down" | 4:08 |
| 5. | "Pistol Packin'" | 3:13 |
| 6. | "Tennessee Driver" | 2:14 |
| 7. | "M.F.J." | 2:31 |
| 8. | "Now He's Dead" | 2:59 |
| 9. | "Drink It, Drug It" | 3:01 |
| 10. | "Hellbilly" | 4:14 |
| Total length: | 31:39 | |
Personnel
edit- Hank Williams III– vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, composer, electric guitar
- Shawn McWilliams – drums
- Michael McCanless – fiddle
- Jason Brown – bass guitar, stand-up bass
- Duane Denison– electric guitar
Chart positions
edit| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S.BillboardTop Country Albums | 10 |
| U.S.Billboard200 | 62 |
References
edit- ^abOquist, Kenneth E. (May 17, 2011)."Curb Releases Hank Williams III's 'Hillbilly Joker' Much to His Chagrin".A&E Playground.RetrievedMarch 2,2012.
- ^Haag, Stephen (May 17, 2011)."Hank Williams III: Hillbilly Joker".Pop Matters.RetrievedFebruary 14,2012.
- ^Schwartz, Pawl (May 17, 2011)."Hank Williams III – Hillbilly Joker".UR Chicago.RetrievedFebruary 14,2012.
- ^abDeming, Mark (May 17, 2011)."Hillbilly Joker".Allmusic.RetrievedFebruary 14,2012.
- ^"Hank Williams III Biography".CMT.Archived fromthe originalon February 22, 2004.RetrievedJuly 3,2011.