Country Hall of Fame is a studio album by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in February 1968 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. The album was co-produced by Chet Atkins and Felton Jarvis. The album's name was derived from its single of the same, which became Locklin's first major hit in several years. It would also be his seventeenth studio recording released in his career and one of many to be produced by Chet Atkins. Country Hall of Fame received positive reviews from writers and publications.
| Country Hall of Fame | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 1968 | |||
| Recorded | November 1967 | |||
| Studio | RCA Victor Studio | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Hank Locklin chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Country Hall of Fame | ||||
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Background and content
editHank Locklin had not had a major hit single since the early 1960s when songs like "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" reached the top of the country charts. Yet, he continued releasing studio albums, other top 40 hits and toured. In 1968, Locklin's single that paid tribute to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum became his first to reach the top ten in many years.[2] Its success prompted the recording (and release) of a studio album of the same name.[3]
The album was a collection of 12 tracks. Despite being a songwriter as well, none of the album's material was composed by Locklin. Instead, it featured songs first recorded by other artists and songs written by other composers. Included was covers like Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues," Jim Reeves' "Four Walls" and "High Noon."[1] All of the album's songs paid homage to country artists (mostly whom Locklin was influenced by) who been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The project was recorded in November 1967 at the RCA Victor Nashville Sound Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were co-produced by Chet Atkins (Locklin's producer of many years) and Felton Jarvis.[3]
Release and reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Billboard | Favorable |
The album's release was preceded by its title track, which was first released as a single in September 1967.[4] Spending 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the single would climb to number eight in January 1968.[5] The title track brought Locklin's his first top ten hit since 1962's "Happy Journey," prompting the release of the studio album.[4] The album was first released in February 1968 on RCA Victor Records. It would mark Locklin's seventeenth studio album.[3] It was originally distributed as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on each side.[6] Several decades later, it was re-released in a digital format to online music stores such as Apple Music.[7]
Country Hall of Fame entered the Billboard Top Country Albums chart following its release and spent a total of 20 weeks there. By April of that year, it reached a peak of 20. It would be Locklin's highest-charting Billboard album.[8] Following its original release, the record received positive responses from music publications and critics. Billboard magazine responded positively to it in their March 1968 issue. They highlighted the album's covers of various country songs, but called its title track "the key song of the LP."[9] Thom Owens of Allmusic would later rate the album four and a half stars. "It's a very entertaining and even moving record, and it ranks as one of his best albums of the late '60s," he commented.[1]
Track listings
editVinyl version
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" | Tex Ritter | 2:49 | |
| 2. | "Four Walls" |
| Jim Reeves | 2:36 |
| 3. | "The Country Hall of Fame" | Karl Davis | Hank Locklin | 3:07 |
| 4. | "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)" |
| Eddy Arnold | 2:15 |
| 5. | "Walking the Floor Over You" | Ernest Tubb | Ernest Tubb | 2:50 |
| 6. | "Lovesick Blues" | Hank Williams | 3:09 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Night Train to Memphis" |
| Roy Acuff | 1:44 |
| 2. | "Signed Sealed and Delivered" | Cowboy Copas | 3:03 | |
| 3. | "No One Will Ever Know" |
| Hank Williams | 3:37 |
| 4. | "Blue Yodel ("T For Texas")" | Jimmie Rodgers | Jimmie Rodgers | 2:07 |
| 5. | "When I Stop Dreaming" | The Louvin Brothers | 2:30 | |
| 6. | "Peace in the Valley" | Thomas A. Dorsey | Red Foley | 3:20 |
Digital version
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" |
| Tex Ritter | 2:55 |
| 2. | "Four Walls" |
| Jim Reeves | 2:44 |
| 3. | "The Country Hall of Fame" | Davis | Hank Locklin | 3:15 |
| 4. | "I'll Hold You in My Heart" |
| Eddy Arnold | 2:20 |
| 5. | "Walking the Floor Over You" | Ernest Tubb | Ernest Tubb | 2:56 |
| 6. | "Lovesick Blues" |
| Hank Williams | 3:19 |
| 7. | "Night Train to Memphis" |
| Roy Acuff | 1:44 |
| 8. | "Signed Sealed and Delivered" |
| Cowboy Copas | 3:08 |
| 9. | "No One Will Ever Know" |
| Hank Williams | 3:45 |
| 10. | "Blue Yodel ("T For Texas")" | Rodgers | Jimmie Rodgers | 2:12 |
| 11. | "When I Stop Dreaming" |
| The Louvin Brothers | 2:37 |
| 12. | "Peace in the Valley" | Dorsey | Red Foley | 3:24 |
Personnel
editAll credits are adapted from the liner notes of Country Hall of Fame.[3]
Musical personnel
- The A Strings – string section
- Chet Atkins – guitar
- Harold Bradley – guitar
- Jerry Carrigan – drums
- Floyd Cramer – piano
- Ray Edenton – guitar
- The Jordanaires – background vocals
- Hank Locklin – lead vocals
- Grady Martin – guitar
- Wayne Moss – guitar
- The Nashville Edition – background vocals
- Jerry Reed – guitar
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
- Jerry Smith – piano
- Pete Wade – guitar
- Bill Walker – vibes
Technical personnel
- Chet Atkins – producer
- Felton Jarvis – producer
- Bill McElhiney – arrangements
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[10] | 20 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | February 1968 | Vinyl | RCA Victor | [11] |
| Germany | [12] | |||
| United Kingdom | [13] | |||
| United States | [3][6] | |||
| 2010s |
|
Sony Music Entertainment | [7] |
References
edit- ^ a b c Owens, Thom. "Country Hall of Fame: Hank Locklin: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ Erlewine, Michael. "Hank Locklin: Biography & History". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Locklin, Hank (February 1968). "Country Hall of Fame (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". RCA Victor.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ ""Country Hall of Fame" (single) chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Hank Locklin -- Country Hall of Fame (1968, LP) (US)". Discogs. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ a b c "Country Hall of Fame by Hank Locklin". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Country Hall of Fame chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 80, no. 10. March 9, 1968. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Hank Locklin Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Hank Locklin -- Country Hall of Fame (1968, LP) (Canada)". Discogs. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Hank Locklin -- Country Hall of Fame (1968, LP) (Germany)". Discogs. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Hank Locklin -- Country Hall of Fame (1968, LP) (UK)". Discogs. Retrieved 14 January 2021.