According to the 2004 book Hank Williams: The Biography, Williams was not too enamoured with "Half as Much" and only recorded it at producer Fred Rose's insistence.[2] Williams recorded it at a session at Castle Studio in Nashville on August 10, 1951. He was backed by Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Don Helms (steel guitar), Sammy Pruett (lead guitar), Howard Watts (bass), probably Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and either Owen Bradley or Fred Rose on piano.[3] "Half as Much" is notable for being the only Hank Williams recording to feature a solo barroom piano at its conclusion. Two months after Williams recorded "Half as Much," Curly Williams recorded it for Columbia Records, so Rose held back Hank's release until March 28, 1952 to clear the way for Curley's release on November 2, 1951.[2]
Cover versions[edit]
Also in 1952, Rosemary Clooney recorded a number-one, hit version for Top 40 markets in the US, this version also went to number three in the UK.[4]
Patsy Cline (1962),
Ray Charles (1962)
Eddy Arnold (1964)
Sharon Redd (1967)
Alberto Semprini, piano with rhythm accompaniment recorded it as the second song of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 18) - Part 1" along with "Here in My Heart" and "Isle of Innisfree" in London on November 11, 1952. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10385.
Alma Cogan with orchestra conducted by Frank Cordell recorded it in London on August 1, 1952. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B-10338.
George Jones recorded the song for his 1960 LP George Jones Salutes Hank Williams.
Kitty Wells released the song on Decca in 1960.
Marty Robbins released a version on Columbia Records.
Carl Smith recorded the song for Hickory.
Hank Williams steel guitarist Don Helms released an instrumental version in 1962 on Smash Records.
George Hamilton IV recorded the song on ABC Records.
Don Gibson covered the song for RCA.
Glen Campbell included it on his 1973 album I Remember Hank Williams.
Petula Clark (1974)
Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn recorded the song as a duet for their 1988 album Making Believe.
Emmylou Harris (1992)
Cake (1998)
Van Morrison (2006)
Sylver (2010).
Chart performance[edit]
Hank Williams version[edit]
Year
Chart
Position
1952
Billboard Country Singles
#2
Rosemary Clooney version[edit]
Year
Chart
Position
1952
Billboard Pop Singles
#1
1952
UK Singles Chart
#3
See also[edit]
Billboard Top Country & Western Records of 1952
References[edit]
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 387.
^ a bEscott, Merritt & MacEwen 2004, p. 178.
^Escott, Merritt & MacEwen 2004, p. 345.
^"ROSEMARY CLOONEY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
Bibliography[edit]
Escott, Colin; Merritt, George; MacEwen, William (2004). Hank Williams: The Biography. New York: Little, Brown.
vteHank Williams
Discography
Songs
Albums
Hank Williams Sings
Moanin' the Blues
Memorial Album
Hank Williams as Luke the Drifter
Hank Williams on Stage
40 Greatest Hits
The Complete Hank Williams
Songs
"Move It On Over"
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"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It"
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"Long Gone Lonesome Blues"
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"Cold, Cold Heart"
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"Half as Much"
"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"
"You Win Again"
"I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive"
"Kaw-Liga"
"Your Cheatin' Heart"
"Take These Chains from My Heart"
"The Blues Come Around"
"Six More Miles (To the Graveyard)"
"I'm Satisfied with You"
"The Pale Horse and His Rider"
Family
Hank Williams Jr.
Jett Williams
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Related articles
Death of Hank Williams
List of tributes to Hank Williams
Drifting Cowboys
Sterling Records
MGM Records
Grand Ole Opry
The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams
Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts
The Garden Spot Programs, 1950
Rufus Payne
vteRosemary Clooney
Studio albums
Irving Berlin's White Christmas (1954)
Blue Rose [with Duke Ellington] (1956)
Ring Around Rosie [with The Hi-Lo's] (1957)
Swing Around Rosie [with the Buddy Cole trio] (1958)
Fancy Meeting You Here [with Bing Crosby] (1958)
A Touch of Tabasco [with Perez Prado] (1959)
How the West Was Won [with Bing Crosby] (1960)
Rosie Swings Softly (1960)
Clap Hands! Here Comes Rosie! (1960)
Rosie Solves the Swingin' Riddle! (1961)
Rosemary Clooney Sings Country Hits from the Heart (1963)
Love (1963)
Thanks for Nothing (1964)
That Travelin' Two Beat - Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney [with Bing Crosby] (1965)
Look My Way (1976)
Nice to Be Around (1977)
A Tribute to Duke (1977)
Everything's Coming Up Rosie (1977)
Rosie Sings Bing (1978)
Here's to My Lady (1979)
Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin (1979)
With Love (1981)
Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Cole Porter (1982)
Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Harold Arlen (1983)
My Buddy with Woody Herman (1983)
Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Irving Berlin (1984)
Rosemary Clooney Sings Ballads (1985)
Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Jimmy Van Heusen (1986)
Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Johnny Mercer (1987)