Family Tradition (album)

Family Tradition is the twenty-ninth studio album by American musician Hank Williams Jr. It was released in April 1979 by Curb Records, his third studio album for the label.

Family Tradition
Studio album by
Hank Williams Jr.
ReleasedApril 17, 1979 (1979-04-17)
Recorded1978
StudioWally Heider Recording Studio, Los Angeles; Heritage Studios, Hollywood; Sound Labs, Hollywood; Woodland Studios, East Nashville; Glaser/Wishbone Studios, Nashville
GenreCountry
Length31:13
LabelElektra/Curb
ProducerJimmy Bowen (tracks 6-9)
Phil Gernhard (track 10)
Ray Ruff (tracks 1-5)
Hank Williams Jr. chronology
One Night Stand
(1977)		 Family Tradition
(1979)		 Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound
(1979)
Singles from Family Tradition
  1. "I Fought the Law"
    Released: 1978
  2. "Old Flame, New Love"
    Released: 1978
  3. "Family Tradition"
    Released: May 28, 1979
  4. "To Love Somebody"
    Released: January 1979
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideC[2]

Composition

Family Tradition shows influences from R&B and soul music.[1]

Critical and commercial success

Family Tradition was a significant success, both critically and commercially for Williams. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, making it Williams' first Top 5 album since 1969's Live at Cobo Hall. Four of the ten tracks were released as singles, the first single being "I Fought the Law". "I Fought the Law" was originally a hit for the rock & roll group The Bobby Fuller Four in the early 1960s and the song was a moderate success for Williams, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The follow-up singles, "Old Flame, New Fire" and "To Love Somebody" had little success, only peaking at number 54 and number 49 respectively. The final single, the album's title track, "Family Tradition", would become one of Williams' most popular and recognized songs. It peaked at number 4 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, his first Top 10 single since 1974. Williams' performance received rave reviews by critics and he received his first Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. The album was also a significant commercial success for Williams, becoming only his second album to be certified Gold by the RIAA.

Track listing

All music is composed by Hank Williams Jr., except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."To Love Somebody"Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb3:08
2."Old Flame, New Fire"Oskar Solomon2:37
3."Always Loving You"Steve Young4:26
4."We Can Work It All Out" 2:20
5."I Fought the Law"Sonny Curtis2:25
6."Family Tradition" 4:01
7."Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"Jimmy Bryant3:18
8."Paying on Time"Allen Reynolds, Hank Williams Jr.3:13
9."I've Got Rights" 3:35
10."I Just Ain't Been Able" 2:35

Singles
Year Single US
Country
1978 "I Fought the Law" 15
"Old Flame, New Fire" 54
1979 "To Love Somebody" 49
"Family Tradition" 4

Personnel
  • Hank Williams, Jr. - vocals, guitar
  • Reggie Young - electric guitar
  • Al Bruno, Jay Graydon, Jerry Wallace - guitar
  • Mac McAnally, Richard Bennett - acoustic guitar
  • Brad Felton - steel guitar
  • Bob Wray, Ray Pohlman, Reinie Press - bass
  • Charlie Daniels - fiddle
  • Alan Lindgren, Clayton Ivey, Don Randi, Greg Mathieson - keyboards
  • Billy M. Thomas, Chet McCracken, Roger Clark - drums
  • King Errisson - percussion
  • Muscle Shoals Horns - horns
  • Carol Chase, Jim Dugan, Karen McClain, Pam Johnze, Pat Erickson, Susie Allanson - background vocals
  • David Turner, Henry Ferber, James Getzoff, Murray Adler, Robert Lee Adcock, Sid Sharp, William Kurasch - violin
  • Jesse Ehrlich, Judy Perett, Raymond Kelley, Robert Lee Adcock - cello
  • Richard Hieronymus, John D'Andrea - arrangements
Technical
  • Jerry Hall, Leslie King, Mary Beth McLemore, Michael Lietz, Ron Treat - engineer
  • Jim Shea - photography

Charts

References
Notes
  1. Jurek, Thom. "Family Tradition". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. "Hank Williams Jr. Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  4. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  5. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1980". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
Sources
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