Hank Thompson 

And Friends

Available only on CD $15.00 plus S&H   Click to hear sample tracks

A Six Pack To Go (duet with Vince Gill)

Vince Gill was the first artist to record with me on this project. We refer to him as "the flagship," and it is fitting and proper that "Six Pack" be the first number on this album. I had not thought about this song for him, but Vince specifically requested to do it. He said that when he was a youngster, he and his older brother used to sing the song and do a little dance to it. Vince and his now deceased brother were very close, and "Six Pack" has a very sentimental meaning to him for that reason. As a result, this recording has a heartfelt significance to all of us involved in this project.

Get The Hell Out Of Dodge (duet with David Ball)

There are always unexpected pluses to things we do. Little happenings aside from the main purpose. Such was the case of meeting David Ball and establishing a new friendship. I admire his work, and what a pleasure to record with him. David brought the song "Dodge" to the studio, written by his late friend and bandmate Walter Hyatt. "Uncle Walt," as he was known, met his untimely demise in the ValuJet crash in Florida. We feel as though this great song, "Get The Hell Out Of Dodge," will perpetuate his memory for years to come.

I Picked A San Antonio Rose (duet with Bekka Bramlett) Bekka Bramlett was recording in the studio at Sound Emporium while we were in the other room. She came into the control booth to listen while we were cutting "I Picked A San Antonio Rose." She got carried away with the rhythm and said, "I'd really like to sing on this number!" Bill Millet, our producer said, "well, go in there in the booth with Hank...." I had never met Bekka and was not familiar with her work. However, when she started singing, I knew I had a winner. This charming young lady is the daughter of Delaney & Bonnie who also appear on this album.

Sobering Up

Well, we were in the Bahamas and enjoying some refreshing rum drinks when we noticed the bottle was empty... the last one. Somebody said, "horrors! We'd better get to the store in a hurry or we run the risk of sobering up." We all got to giggling and the idea stuck with me. Some time later, I wrote the song. Everyone did sober up so I had to do this one by myself!

Green Light (duet with Marty Stuart) Everyone is familiar with the showmanship and musicianship of Marty Stuart. What many do not know is that Marty is one of the foremost historians of Country Music and has a tremendous collection of costumes, musical instruments, and other relics of the past. When he accepted my invitation to join him on this album, it was only natural that he chose one of my hits from the early years, "Green Light." His vocalizing and mandolin picking added a new zest to this old favorite of mine, not to mention the fact that he managed to abscond with a pair of my vintage "Nudie" stage trousers for his collection.

I'll Still Be here Tomorrow

Bill Mack and I have been good friends for about as long as both of us have been in the music business. We've had the pleasure of working together on radio, television, cruises and various other functions. I always wanted to record his composition, "Drinking Champagne." It seems like everytime I'd start to do it, somebody else would come out with a version. I never had a shot at "Blue," but could not have done that one justice anyhow. When Bill sent me "I'll Still Be here Tomorrow" and said that he had written it just for me back in the 50s, I had to agree after hearing it. I guess that's why I kept it all to myself on this record!

Hooked On Honky Tonk (duet with Brooks & Dunn)   I first heard "Hooked On Honky Tonk" performed by the writer Wylie Gustafson (who goes by an easier name to remember, "Wylie & The Wild West Show") at a club on lower Broadway in Nashville. Bill Millet wanted me to record it. Bill said, "what if Brooks & Dunn helped you out on it?" I said, "now that would be a different story!" What I didn't know at the time was that Ronnie (Dunn) and Kix (Brooks) had already selected "Hooked On Honky Tonk" to sing with me on this record, out of several songs Bill had sent them for consideration. Ronnie and Kix came to the recording session direct from a stint in Las Vegas, and spent over three hours on that song - what hard workers and perfectionists! No wonder they're the premier stars of today's Country Music. And what a privilege to record with such nice talented people.

Hey George, Hey Hank (duet with George Jones)

George Jones and I have been friends for many years and, of course, I'm one among his legion of fans. A good many years ago, George and I were among a group of stars doing the Wembley Festival outside of London, England, and staying at a big hotel there. A bunch of us got together around the piano in the lobby and started singing songs. I would prod George's memory on the old times by saying, "Hey George, do you remember this one?" I'd start out and then he'd join in. I couldn't come up with one he didn't know. We had great fun doing this recording, but we kept drifting back to old stories. I think we wound up with more "Hey George" and "Hey Hank" tales of the past than music.

Total Stranger (duet with Lyle Lovett)

Lyle Lovett is a unique artist, a singular style, and an easily recognizable voice... a real rarity in today's market. It does not go unappreciated, as evidenced by his huge following and those Grammy Awards! When Lyle expressed his interest in wanting to be a part of this project, I was delighted. However, I was surprised in his choice to do an old song of mine, "Total Strangers." I wrote this song based on a hunting incident one time in Wyoming. It's a wordy and difficult number to render, sort of a Country "rap." I was not able to be in the studio with Lyle, so I was anxious to hear the result. As expected...... Terrific!

The Wild Side Of Life/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels

Whatever meaningful contributions I may have made to this industry must pale by comparison to the profound effect of my recording of "Wild Side Of Live." Not so much what the song did for me, but that it spawned an answer song (not unusual back then), "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels." It catapulted a relatively unknown young girl vocalist, Kitty Wells, to immortal stardom. Prior to Kitty's emergence, female singers in Country Music (and all other forms as well) had only modest success. It is now academic to say that she paved the road. Kitty cut the ribbon to the freeway for those to come: Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Reba McEntyre, Tanya Tucker and other superstars. Kitty Wells came into the studio and sang her signature song as well, if not better than she did on the original recording. The clarity and charm of her voice project an exhilaration that is unmistakable! By contrast and compliment, Tanya Tucker added her saucy, and even sassy, retaliation. She put a sting to those lyrics so characteristic of her style and personality. And to think Kitty and I recorded those songs years before Tanya was born! Who would have thought that someday we would be here for this historic event. It makes us very proud!

Dry Bread When you mention "Delaney, Bonnie & Friends", you immediately get the attention of the blues and rock fans of the 70s. With the help of their daughter, Bekka Bramlett, and Bill Millet, it was possible to get them back together in a studio after all these years. They chose to do an old traditional Blues song Merle Travis and I did in the 50's on an album called "Songs For Rounders." When you listen to this song, "Dry Bread," you hear Delaney & Bonnie's interpretive vocals and Delaney's "bottleneck" dobro guitar. This re-visitation offers a rare opportunity to once again hear a great act from yesterday. I'm just glad I was there!