Hank Williams is one of the greatest music figures and most influential and important singer songwriters of the 20th century. His impact can be heard in nearly every music genre from rock to Gospel. His greatest hits include: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "Jambalaya", " Lovesick Blues", "Hey, Good Looking", "I Saw The Light", "Your Cheating Heart", "Cold,Cold, Heart", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "I'll Never Make Get Out Of This World Alive".

@nickhare1720

10 ай бұрын

Nailed it. Together with Chuck Berry, you have the dna of 95% of rock and roll.

Love Hank Williams! I'm 64 years old and have been saying for most of my life that he was the one who really started rock and roll.

George Thorogood covered this handsomely in 1978. It was one his first recordings to get radio play.

I love all of the verbs that Hank used. Endless!

Hank Sr is one of those that is in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is a major influence on music

Great analysis Harri! Hank was his own genre !

Good catch there Harri, Hanks influence on R&R right in this song, this is why I enjoy your reactions so much. You have great insight my friend

@HarriBestReactions

10 ай бұрын

Thank you ✌🏾🙏🏿🙏🏿

So very Hank Williams and I am not a country lover, but there are a few exceptions. Thanks Uncle Phil and Harri.

I have often said that Hank was the first Rock Star. It's the Louisiana Hayride influence in his music.

This is my favourite Hank Williams song.

A founding father of rock and roll....AND country!

Hank is actually in the rock n roll hall of fame because of his influence.

Honey, i was 10 years old when i found out he died 4 years before i was born. I had a mad crush on him from 2 albums my mom had for years when i was growing up. I still had those albums until i gave them away in 2009. I'm 68 years old and my heart still has a crush b on Hank Sr. To this day!

@Ric613-u1c

Күн бұрын

I was 7 when Hank passed. I remember hearing about it but it made no impression on me at the time. Only in adulthood did it dawn on me as to him impact on all American music become evident, even to this day.

The earliest form of Rock and Roll was from the Maddux Brothers and Rose from the late '30s. They called it Hillbilly Boogie. That morphed into what is now called Rockabilly by the early '50s. This song kind of straddles the line between traditional Country and Western and very early Rockabilly.

@webbtrekker534

10 ай бұрын

Maddox Brothers and Rose, billed as the Hardest Working Band in Show-business! Try this: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hXV-1rxqqMS9f5M.html

There’s a good chance that the same recording studio owned both songs.

The song seems timeless. The wording of the chorus is genius.Sad Hank left the world so young. He gave us unforgettable songs. Thank you Mr.Williams.

Hank Williams junior does a killer version of this !

@webbtrekker534

10 ай бұрын

He does the Original version of this!

Have loved this song for years but your observations deepened my appreciation. Thanks so much for your comments. Always grateful when someone sees something that completely escaped my notice!

George Thorogould rocked this song.

Before the days of corporate lawyers and a sue-happy population, many of the artists of the day would "borrow" the melody across from each other's acts as genres. "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "Tennessee Whiskey" come to mind. Quite famously, "The Great Speckled Bird", "Wild Side of Life", "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", and "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes" all share the same melody and musical accompaniment without any hostility between the artists. Think we all know how that would play out today, don't we? Edit: Check out the A.I. version of Hank Williams covering "Straight Outta Compton", it's SO awesome.

Hank Williams Jr says they say Bill Haley was the first rock star, but Haleys song was a direct steal from this song of his dad.

American rock artist George Thorogood had a bit of a hit with his cover of this song.

I’m so glad you are playing Hank Williams. I grew up on his songs. You called “Move It On Over” a rock and roll, and I do agree. I like all his songs I’ve heard, especially the Honky Tonk songs. I do enjoy your reactions on songs. You are one of my fav’s.

I used to listen to my Dad’s 78 rpm records . This was one of them. Love it.

I love old Hank Williams music. I hadn’t heard this but have heard George Thorogood’s version many times and love it. It’s great yo hear the original. Thanks Uncle Phil and Harri 🌺✌️

Hank was my Dad's favorite singer. I remember playing these song on an old record player at 78 rpm. Great memories. Thanks for this. Died way to early.

I have loved Hank Williams all my life. So talented with such a tragic life due to the pain of Spina bifida a debilitating disease. Check out Shelton Hank Williams III aka Hank3 very talented like his grandpa but a original one! Rufus Payne aka tee-tot taught Hank to play guitar.

You mentioned Bill Hayley. Did you know, that before his band was called the comets, they were called the Saddlemen. In 1952, Bill Hayley and the Saddlemen put out a song called Rock this joint. In that rendition, the 3rd instrumental part still uses a Steal Guitar, which I think was dropped When he re recorded it with the Comets. So you are closer than you think when pointing out similarities in Hanks music and that of Early Rock n Roll. If you haven't, you could do a reaction to that. It's on youtube. Called Rock this joint- Bill Hayley and the Saddlemen.

A song I've always loved by Hank is "Ramblin' Man." I first heard it on an American Playhouse" production of Sam Shepherd's play "True West." It starred John Malcovich and Gary Sinise and that song was haunting me for weeks so I bought a greatest hits album. The song still haunts me today. Loved to hear you react to it. As always, thank you.

lost highway and i saw the light are my 2 favs from Hank Sr.

George Thorogood does a killer cover of this.

Three most important songs are all Hank Williams song. Love Sick Blues( It made him the first superstar) Cold Cold Heart ( made him a crossover star) This song was the first rock and roll song.

loving all the old country music

Appreciate your take on this classic.

I know I'm late but i really enjoyed your reaction hank was the best him and jimmie rodgers

There was Western Swing back in the Thirties onward; What I was pleased to find was a piece by Governor Jimmie Davis ( You are my sunshine ) : he wrote 'A Humdumdinger from Dingersville - two versions - at the start of the relationship and after things began to go bad. . . I found one listed on a CD called Roots of Rap : . . ..( something like ) 'Classical country Blues from the twenties and thirties ; the other is on - it's either slide guitar or bottle neck guitar greats . . . there's more out there

Love rock-n-roll, good memories.

Move over lil dog cuz a big dog’s movin’ in!🐶

Thanks Harri. Personally, I think rock and roll music would sound a little bit different if it had not been for Hank Williams. It sure sounds like Rock Around the Clock was taken from this song. George Thorogood also does a killer version of this.

I've always felt that this is the first "rock n' roll" tune. (And remember that George Thorogood covered it as a rock song.)

Check out George Thorogood's version of this song.

Sometimes called the first rock and roll song!

@louisskulnik7390

6 ай бұрын

Alongside Rocket 88 by Ike Turner.

Beautiful reaction, as always. Sending love ❤

I've listened to this song for decades now and never thought of Bill Haley. Interesting to think about. I have always believed that this song with its catchy dance beat is definitely on an R and B path predating and probably inspiring just about everyone. I think all musicians at that time "borrowed" some sound or inspiration as the copy right laws were in infancy. There is a joke told by Hank on one of Hank's Mother Best live radio shows that I remember where he was talking about Irvin Berlin as being an honest singer because he is the only singer that rips himself off.

That's a good observation

I've always said Hank started rock n roll.

Bill Haley and the 4 Aces Of Western Swing Four Leaf Clover Blues is a Haley written accordion driven side, which shows what Bill was doing in 1948 which was some way away from Hank William's approach. In 1950 Bill Haley And The Saddlemen issued Ten Gallon Stetson which was part written by Jimmy De Knight which moves the genre on a bit.

Love it, definitely a similarity to Rock around the Clock, music has been rearranged since time immemorial and the recent court case with Ed Sheeran etc proves it still is way tunes get taken rearranged and will continue.

I've been saying Hank is the original Rock Star for a long time. Have you heard Kaw-Liga? It's my favorite Hank song.

Carl Perkins was a cross between Elvis and Hank Williams. Not intentionally that was just Carl's style. Great call on the Bill Haley similarity, wow that never occurred to me. I love Hank Williams. It's that Honky Tonk and Western Swing combo sounds like Rock N Roll. Chuck Berry used Country and R&B to create guitar driven Rock.

It's a classic

It's simplistic to say rock 'n roll is a mix of country and blues, but there's plenty of truth there too. Adding drums and piano would make this a rock 'n roll song, or playing it with a guitar/bass/drums trio and it'd be rockabilly. It all crosses over a great deal.

I agree.

Hank died in 1953 before Rock Around the Clock came out.

@louisskulnik7390

6 ай бұрын

All the more reason for him to receive credit, and royalties to his estate.

@mariocisneros911

5 ай бұрын

I think he died 1/1/51. My older brother was born on that day. William's was just a young man , my papa was 1 yr younger but had a full life..Odd that William's made all that money but loss everything, my father struggled for a long time until finding success at 42.

I have thought similarly about his Rockin’ Chair Money. I felt it was early rock n roll.

Guy named Louis Jordan was doing blues jazz rock type stuff in the early 40s called it jump blues. Pinetops Boogie Woogie is from the 20s with a rock beat, so everything gets recycled with newer tech

Bill Haley had been producing for Essex/Holiday labels "Western Swing" music. By 1954 Jimmy De Knight and Max C. Freedman had written Rock around The Clock ( perhaps a little earlier) that was released in a different style by another artist (Billboard Mar. 20, 1954 (and if you can find the disc you are a rich man = Sonny Dae And His Knights - bootlegs exist and it is on youtube), and Bill wanted to cover it. Bill moved it into the Western Swing realm and added the guitar break that Hank Williams feels as if it should have , but didnt, the break though had already been used in a previous Comet's recording as they were not sure what to play, so it was reprised in style and tempo. The boss of Essex didnt like Jimmy De Knight and did not want to release it byt finally Bill got it out as an A Side on Brunswick/Decca.

Hank Williams is up there with The Beatles, Chuck, Rolling Stones, and Elvis

The 4 bar verses here have pretty much EXACTLY the same melody line as the verses from "Rock Around The Clock" .. So yes, I totally agree with you there, Harri .. But to me, I do think of this as a country / bluegrass song, albeit with some early hints of rock and roll, so I'm not quite on the same page as you there, mate .. But great reaction, as always !

This was the start of "Honky Tonk" Music, Hank Sr, created and defined a whole genre of music,

There was more interesting music in the 1940's than I ever dreamed. A white female singer named Ella Mae Morse sang Money Honey, and The House of Blue Lights. I recommend you check her out.

Love how you dissect these songs.

Listen to Hank Williams Sr “I Saw The Light” and Hank Williams Sr with Hank Williams Jr “There’s A Tear In My w

Hank is the Father of country music. Hank took 12 songs to #1, and had 55 charted singles in his career, which ended all too soon when he died on Jan. 1, 1953, at the age of only 29. He is listed as the writer or co-writer of 167 songs in his lifetime.

I always thought this had a early rock sound to it

I have been saying this for years. Move It On Over is rock ‘n’ roll. Totally agree, Rock Around The Clock copied it.

Hank made great music and was a interesting guy with a tragic tragic end ☮️

I love this song. I always considered it country blues, but I've seen it called western swing, honky tonk and a few other country sub-genres. As for it being the first rock 'n roll song, I dont agree to that at all. In fact, I don’t think there was a first rock 'n roll song, and it's root's go back to the early 20th century. It was a gradual melding of four top level genres, Blues, Country, Jazz and Gospel. Rock music wasn't formed by a revolution, it was a evolution. The only thing revolutionary about it was the unbelievably huge surge in popularity after Elvis came along and mainstream radio began playing it. I was a kid from the Boston area back then and would listen to WILD, the local "race station". I first heard Little Richard do "Tutti Fruitty" about a year before Elvis became popular. And it did feel like a revolution to me when I could suddenly hear almost all the music I loved without having to change the radio station! Anyway, those are my thoughts on the subject, and yes, their a mixture of facts and my personal beliefs about the evolution of Rock.

I'm singing, Rock around the clock..😮

I started following you Harri back when you reviewed the first song you heard from my favorite female singer, Emily Linge, that Clint gave you to review. Like this song, your review was so ‘on point’ I was really surprised and impressed at the same time. You noticed things that others never notice, and you picked up on little details that were spot on perfect. This is a great review, and you have impressed me once again.👏👏👏👏🌹🫶

I have something to add to the argument about Haley and the birth of this thing called "rock." Haley and his group were touring with Hank Snow in the early 50's. Snow and his group had the song "Music Makin' Mama from Tennessee." (Their live performance on the Perry Como show in 1952 is on KZread.) If you listen to that song, it has the identical chord progression of the later "Rock Around the Clock." And as someone else pointed out, this melody pattern is common to many songs. But this was too much of a coincidence.

@highpath4776

9 ай бұрын

Thanks , wondered where Bill and the Saddlemen had got some of the ideas, as the 4 Aces of Western Swing had not picked up the progression it seems from the early stuff I have found.

Lead guitar was played by none other than Chet Atkins

@Jazzbeau1

10 ай бұрын

Speaking of Chet Atkins, the album he made made with Les Paul - "Chester and Lester" is worth listening to.

@angelahill3556

2 ай бұрын

Zeke Turner played the guitar on this song.

Oh my goodness, the impact he had over country and rock is insane (and blues). For example you need to hear George Thorogood's version of this, it's amazing..

Try "Bill Haley With The Saddlemen - Sundown Boogie "

I think Hank Sr was the superstar of the 40s, might say the Elvis of the 40s

Tell me that's not the true beginning of Rock and Roll. Did Rap, too. Explore Hank's "Luke the Drifter" alias.

George Thorogood did a great rendition of this song in I believe was 1978. Check it out🙂✌️

Another one you might like is "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It".

Check out his song “Jambalaya”

have you ever seen the Blues Brothers movie? remember the scene in the country bar: "We like both kinds, Country and Western." Here's a perfect example of the cross influences in American music. one of the "fathers" of country music wrote one of the most successful blues songs ever.

I hear the similarities with Haley, but I think similarity of instrumentation and the 12-bar blues structure go a long way toward explaining that. The slide guitar definitely has a country sound to me.

His son and grandson are still at it today. I guess you never can tell the impact one person may have. George Thorogood and the destroyers use this song often idk if they pay for the privilege or how that works, but plenty of people like the original far more.

Hard to believe his huge legacy considering he died at age 29

Yes, Bill Hayley totally ripped it off.

I heard the same similarity a long time ago ..Hey that is Bill Haley's song , but William's came 1st .

Check out Jimmy Rodgers in the jailhouse now or blue yodel if you wanna go way back

Hank was heavily influenced by black street musicians in Montgomery you can hear it in his music

Yep, rock around the clock was a direct rip off of this, check out Hanks song “lost Highway”, that’s one of my favorites of his, damn there’s just so many, Hank has an incredible amount of great music in such a short amount of time.

While I hear the similarity you’re talking about, I have to disagree with you about one thing. This is very much traditional country music.

@marybaillie8907

10 ай бұрын

Sounds just like Don Messer's Jubilee or Country Hoedown, great Country Radio and T.V. variety shows from the 50's and the 60's in Canada. 🇨🇦

Great Comparison with Haley but this song was released two years before Bill Haleys song. I bet Haley found some inspiration from this song

not sure about that song analysis--way off--....but still love your show....The chord pattern was a basic 3 chord--u couldnt help but overlap at times.

People say Delta 88 by Ike Turner was the first Rock song. My dad insisted it was Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley. I'm wondering if this was the first Rock song???

He got screwed over! Or, his family did.

Hi Harri. Look hard enough and you'll find that Hank Williams ripped this off from a black artist.Check out, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. These were the pioneers of Rock and Roll.

@unclephil7650

10 ай бұрын

Ripped off is a little harsh. He was definitely influenced by these guys. Heck, they ripped off each other as far as that's concerned. There were other versions of songs like Sweet Home Chicago by Robert Johnson before he did it but he never gave them credit.

@ptournas

10 ай бұрын

​@@unclephil7650Good point. In the album "Last Session" recorded in a record shop in Atlanta, Blind Willy McTell talks about writing songs in the intro to "A Married Man's A Fool" saying, "I'd jump 'em from other writers, but I'd arrange 'em my way". And on the same album he mentions writing "The Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues" in the intro to the song, saying, "See I had to steal music from every which way to get it, to get it to fit."