The Ways of Life

With the success of his biggest hit, "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," Hank Locklin began having a steady stream of hits in the 1960s. This included songs such as "One Step Ahead of My Past," "Happy Birthday to Me," and "We're Gonna Go Fishin'."[2] The latter hit would be featured on The Ways of Life. The album was mostly recorded in March 1963 and the sessions were held at the RCA Victor Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The album's sessions were produced by Chet Atkins, who had produced all of Locklin's previous albums for the RCA Victor label.[3] The LP contained a total of 12 tracks, all of which had not been previously released.[1] Included on The Ways of Life was cover versions of hits previously made successful by other country artists. These covers included "Candy Kisses" by George Morgan, "Slowly" by Webb Pierce, "Rosalita" by Al Dexter and "Kentucky Waltz" by Bill Monroe.[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

The Ways of Life was released in July 1963 via RCA Victor Records and was Locklin's seventh studio recording.[3] The LP was distributed as a vinyl record, containing six songs on either side.[4] The LP's only single, "We're Gonna Go Fishin'," had been released in May 1962.[5] It spent a total of 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart before reaching number 14 in August 1962.[6] It was also Locklin's third charting single in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 18 around the same time.[7]

The Ways of Life later received positive reception from Bruce Eder of Allmusic, who reviewed the LP. Eder described the album as an array of songs that are "mostly sad and ironic quirks." He also praised Locklin's singing and the production of the album. He concluded by discussing its positives and negatives: "There might be a little energy lacking in the overall release, but the crisp, precise playing and Locklin's excellent singing (with fine and restrained vocal chorus accompaniment) just about make up for it."[1]

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Ways of Life.[3]

Musical personnel

• Kenneth Buttrey – drums
• Fred Carter Jr. – guitar
• Floyd Cramer – piano
• Ray Edenton – guitar
• Louis Dunn – drums
• The Jordanaires – background vocals
• Jerry Kennedy – guitar
• The Anita Kerr Singers – background vocals
• Buddy Harman – drums
• Roy Huskey – bass
• Grady Martin – guitar
• Bob Moore – bass
• Velma Smith – guitar
• Henry Strzelecki – bass
• Joseph Tanner – guitar

Technical personnel

• Chet Atkins – producer
• Bill Porter – engineer
• Lawton Williams – liner notes