Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (album)
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound is the thirtieth studio album by country music artist Hank Williams, Jr. that was released by Elektra Records/Curb Records in November 1979, his fourth on the Elektra/Curb labels. The full-length album was Williams' second of 1979, with Family Tradition released in April.
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound | ||||
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Studio album by Hank Williams, Jr. | ||||
Released | November 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 30:27 | |||
Label | Elektra/Curb (Reissue) | |||
Producer | Jimmy Bowen | |||
Hank Williams, Jr. chronology | ||||
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Singles from Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+[2] |
Reception
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, his second consecutive Top 5 for the label and only his second Top 5 album since 1969's Live at Cobo Hall. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA, marking it as his third Gold album certification and his first Platinum album. The album generated two major hit singles, the title track and "Women I've Never Had", that peaked at number 2 and number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and would become two of Williams' most well known and popular songs.
Reviewing in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau wrote: "At times his son-of-an-outlaw obsession is worse than shtick, but here he does justice to the formula. Two candid songs about women tell you more about his sexism than he knows himself, two others explain why he's in that mood, the covers from Gregg Allman and George Jones define his parameters, and 'The Conversation'—with Waylon Guess Who, about Guess Who, Sr.—doesn't make you gag once."[2] In 2006, CMT ranked it #16 on its list of the top 40 albums in country music history.[3]
Track listing
- All Songs Written By Hank Williams Jr., except where noted.
- "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" 3:09
- "Tired of Being Johnny B. Good" 2:35
- "Outlaw Women" 3:02
- "(I Don't Have) Anymore Love Songs" 2:24
- "White Lightnin'" (J.P. Richardson) 2:21
- "Women I've Never Had" 2:52
- "O.D.'d in Denver" 2:40
- "Come and Go Blues" (Gregg Allman) 4:05
- "Old Nashville Cowboy" (Rock Killough, McClellan) 3:04
- "The Conversation" (Albright, Jennings, Williams) 3:51
Singles
Year | Single | US Country |
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1979 | "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" | 2 |
1980 | "Women I've Never Had" | 5 |
Personnel
- Acoustic Guitar: James Burton, Rock Killough, Hank Williams, Jr.
- Electric Guitar: James Burton, Reggie Young
- Keyboards: David Briggs, Larry Knechtel
- Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn
- Drums, Percussion: Larrie Londin
- Mandolin: Kieran Kane
- Harmonica: Rock Killough
- Viola: Buddy Spicher
- Horns: John Gore, Jim Horn, Irving Kane, Terry Mead, Muscle Shoals Horns
- Lead Vocals: Hank Williams Jr.
- Additional Vocals: Waylon Jennings on "The Conversation"
Production
- Produced By Jimmy Bowen
- Engineered By Jimmy Bowen & Ron Treat
References
- Allmusic review
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- "CMT 40 Greatest Albums: Episode". CMT.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2007.