Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
There have been countless Hank Williams compilations issued over the years, ranging from cheap budget-line discs to box sets of his complete recordings, but the idea for the triple-disc 2005 set Turn Back the Years: The Essential Hank Williams Collection is a fresh one: instead of following the traditional chronological approach, or mixing up his greatest hits in random order, this borrows a cue from Columbia/Legacy's 2000 set Love, God, Murder and arranges Hank's work thematically. Each of the three discs is titled after one of his songs, each bearing a clear thematic imprint: the first is "Honky Tonkin'," and contains his barroom anthems; the second is "Cold, Cold Heart" and has his high, lonesome heartbreak songs; the third is "I Saw the Light" and is devoted to gospel and religious tunes. This is an effective way to present his catalog, since each of the discs plays as a cohesive album and, taken together, they give a good indication of the range and depth of Williams' music. That said, this shouldn't be seen as a definitive collection, containing all of his great songs -- indeed, such classics as "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)," "Mind Your Own Business," "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It," "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)," "Half as Much," "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)," "I'll Never Get out of This World Alive," and "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)" are all absent. But that's the curse of a catalog as rich as Hank Williams' -- there's no way that one collection can contain all of his great songs. Turn Back the Years doesn't, but it does offer a different way of looking at his catalog that functions both as a thoroughly enjoyable listen for longtime fans and as an excellent introduction for neophytes who want thematic, cohesive albums instead of the usual greatest hits.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer
℗ 1947 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - Frank Walker, Producer - Lonnie A. Glosson, ComposerLyricist - Bill Carlisle, ComposerLyricist - Colin Escott, Producer, Co-Producer - Kira Florita, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1998 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist - Barry Feldman, Producer - T.C. Rogers, Producer
℗ 1948 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer
℗ 1951 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1950 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jimmie Davis, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1951 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist - Barry Feldman, Producer - T.C. Rogers, Producer
℗ 1948 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Vic McAlpin, ComposerLyricist - Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist
℗ 1952 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, Producer, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Edward G. Nelson, ComposerLyricist - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1952 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1987 Mercury Records
Hank Williams, MainArtist - Mort Dixon, ComposerLyricist - Ray Henderson, ComposerLyricist - Billy Rose, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer
℗ 1950 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist
℗ 1951 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jimmy Work, ComposerLyricist - Hank Williams, MainArtist - Colin Escott, Producer, Co-Producer - Kira Florita, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1998 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1951 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1947 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Don Helms, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Rivers, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Jack Shook, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer - Sam Pruett, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1951 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - Joseph William Pope, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1987 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tim Rogers, Producer, Executive Producer - Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Leon Payne, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Barry Feldman, Producer, Executive Producer - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1949 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Big Bill Lister, Producer
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1952 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
Hank Williams, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Mills, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Cliff Friend, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1949 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist - Claude Boone, ComposerLyricist - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1949 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1948 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - Ernest Tubb, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1986 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer
℗ 1985 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Chet Atkins, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - FRED ROSE, Producer - Don Helms, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Floyd Chance, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Jackson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Jack Shook, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1953 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Ernest Tubb, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1986 Mercury Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ramona Vincent, ComposerLyricist - Barry Feldman, Producer - T.C. Rogers, Producer
℗ 1947 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist
℗ 1950 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist
℗ 1949 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Leon Payne, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1950 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1949 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer
℗ 1987 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Hank Williams Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1951 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1953 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Wesley Rose, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1952 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Ralph Hutcheson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1987 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer
℗ 1952 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist - Colin Escott, Producer, Co-Producer - Kira Florita, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 3
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble, MainArtist
℗ 1985 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - Pee Wee King, ComposerLyricist - Redd Stewart, ComposerLyricist - Colin Escott, Producer, Co-Producer - Kira Florita, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1951 Mercury Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist
℗ 1985 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - FRED ROSE, Producer - The Drifting Cowboys, MainArtist
℗ 1985 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WALTER BAILES, ComposerLyricist - Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Ervin Staggs, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1975 Mercury Records
Virgil P. Brock, Composer - Blanche Kerr Brock, Author - Hank Williams, MainArtist - FRED ROSE, Producer - Rowswell, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1950 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1987 Mercury Records
Hank Williams, MainArtist - J.M. Purdom, ComposerLyricist - Kira and Colin Escott Florita, Producer
℗ 1998 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hank Williams, MainArtist - Roy Acuff, ComposerLyricist - Odell Mcleod, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1985 Mercury Records
Hank Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The Drifting Cowboys, Ensemble - Colin Escott, Producer, Co-Producer - Kira Florita, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1955 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
There have been countless Hank Williams compilations issued over the years, ranging from cheap budget-line discs to box sets of his complete recordings, but the idea for the triple-disc 2005 set Turn Back the Years: The Essential Hank Williams Collection is a fresh one: instead of following the traditional chronological approach, or mixing up his greatest hits in random order, this borrows a cue from Columbia/Legacy's 2000 set Love, God, Murder and arranges Hank's work thematically. Each of the three discs is titled after one of his songs, each bearing a clear thematic imprint: the first is "Honky Tonkin'," and contains his barroom anthems; the second is "Cold, Cold Heart" and has his high, lonesome heartbreak songs; the third is "I Saw the Light" and is devoted to gospel and religious tunes. This is an effective way to present his catalog, since each of the discs plays as a cohesive album and, taken together, they give a good indication of the range and depth of Williams' music. That said, this shouldn't be seen as a definitive collection, containing all of his great songs -- indeed, such classics as "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)," "Mind Your Own Business," "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It," "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)," "Half as Much," "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)," "I'll Never Get out of This World Alive," and "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)" are all absent. But that's the curse of a catalog as rich as Hank Williams' -- there's no way that one collection can contain all of his great songs. Turn Back the Years doesn't, but it does offer a different way of looking at his catalog that functions both as a thoroughly enjoyable listen for longtime fans and as an excellent introduction for neophytes who want thematic, cohesive albums instead of the usual greatest hits.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 3 disc(s) - 60 track(s)
- Total length: 02:32:39
- Main artists: Hank Williams
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Mercury Nashville
- Genre: Country
© 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.