Hillbilly Joker

Hillbilly Joker is the sixth studio album by Hank Williams III. It was released on May 17, 2011.[5] The album was originally recorded and planned to be released in 2003 under the title This Ain't Country,[6] but Williams' label, Curb Records, refused to either release the album or allow him to issue it on another record label. This angered Williams so greatly that he began selling "Fuck Curb Records" T-shirts at his concerts, where he would play a number of songs from this release, notably "Hillbilly Joker" (retitled "Mississippi Highway" or "Go Fuck You"), "Life of Sin," "Hellbilly," and "Tennessee Driver." The latter track was eventually re-recorded for Williams' 2009 Assjack side project.

Hillbilly Joker
Studio album by Hank Williams III
Released	May 17, 2011
Recorded	2003
Genre	Cowpunk[1] thrash metal
Length	31:39
Label	Sidewalk
Producer	Dave Sardy
Hank Williams III chronology
Rebel Within (2010) Hillbilly Joker (2011) Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town (2011)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Pop Matters	[2]
UR Chicago	[3]
Allmusic	[4]

Eight years after This Aint Country's recording, and following Williams' 2011 acrimonious departure from the label, Curb suddenly elected to release the now-retitled album without any input from Williams, and promote it as "The New Hank Williams III Album." In response, Williams advised his fans "Don’t buy it, but get it some other way and burn the hell out of it and give it to everyone."[7]

Two songs from the original This Aint Country track ("Hang on" and "Runnin' & Gunnin") were not included in Hillbilly Joker; however, Curb released them three years later in the album Ramblin' Man. This album was made up of previously released material, as well as outtakes and covers of other artists' songs from tribute projects.[8] Much like Hillbilly Joker, Ramblin' Man was not authorized by Williams and his reaction to the release was to urge his fans not to buy it. Hillbilly Joker marked his last studio album to be released through Curb, and his first of five releases from the label since fulfilling his contract.

The album also features a much heavier sound than Williams' previous albums, showcasing Williams incorporating thrash metal into his music. It marks Williams’ first non-country album.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Hank Williams III.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hillbilly Joker"	2:17
2.	"I'm Drunk Again"	3:51
3.	"Life of Sin"	3:12
4.	"10 Feet Down"	4:08
5.	"Pistol Packin'"	3:13
6.	"Tennessee Driver"	2:14
7.	"M.F.J."	2:31
8.	"Now He's Dead"	2:59
9.	"Drink It, Drug It"	3:01
10.	"Hellbilly"	4:14
Total length:		31:39

Personnel

• Hank Williams III – vocals, screams, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, composer, electric guitar
• Shawn McWilliams – drums
• Michael McCanless – fiddle
• Jason Brown – bass guitar, stand-up bass
• Duane Denison – electric guitar

Chart positions

Chart (2011)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums	10
U.S. Billboard 200	62

References

1. Oquist, Kenneth E. (2011-05-17). "Curb Releases Hank Williams III's 'Hillbilly Joker' Much to His Chagrin". A&E Playground. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
2. Haag, Stephen (2011-05-17). "Hank Williams III: Hillbilly Joker". Pop Matters. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
3. Schwartz, Pawl (2011-05-17). "Hank Williams III – Hillbilly Joker". UR Chicago. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
4. Deming, Mark (2011-05-17). "Hillbilly Joker". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
5. Triggerman, The (2011-01-16). "Curb To Release Hank III 'Hillbilly Joker' Album". Saving Country Music. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
6. "Hank Williams III Biography". CMT. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
7. Triggerman, The (2011-06-03). "Hank III in Billboard Top 10 For All The Wrong Reasons". Saving Country Music. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
8. http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/curb-records-to-release-hank-iii-ramblin-man-album