Shreveport Sessions

VINYL FORMAT. When Hank arrived in Shreveport in August 1948, KWKH's now legendary Louisiana Hayride (but at the time just one of many popular radio barn dance's being broadcast across the South) had yet to attract a major act (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Faron Young, Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves, and Slim Whitman all came after), and Hank himself was barely known outside of Montgomery. Hank managed nonetheless to get a spot on the Hayride (sponsored by the Johnnie Fair syrup company), which he held down until May of the following year, when the success of "Lovesick Blues" meant that Hank was on to the bright lights of Nashville. During this period (Aug. 1948-May 1949) Hank made a number of recordings, including several acetates that were recorded for KWKH to broadcast when Hank was away on other engagements. This material, almost entirely comprised of Hank singing other artists' songs, gives fans an enlightening glimpse of Hank's many influences and how his style developed over the years. However, Hank also recorded acetates of his own material while he was with the Hayride, mostly with Curley Williams, which he sent over to Acuff-Rose in Nashville, and these are also included here.