Thompson, Hank / Songs For Rounders

Real Gone Music

The late ‘50s. A time of crushing conformity. Of well-manicured lawns, white picket fences, and men in grey flannel suits. Not in HANK THOMSPSON’s world. With its tales of drunkenness, prostitution , drug abuse, gambling and vagrancy—not to mention one of the most notorious album covers in the history not just of country music, but of all popular music—Thompson’s 1959 LP Songs for Rounders remains one of country’s most essential albums. It all started when Thompson brought Ken Nelson, Capitol’s head of country A&R at the time, a song he often featured in his live performances called “Cocaine Blues.” Nelson told him there was no way the song would ever get any airplay as a single, but suggested it might work as part of an album concept. Thompson then proceeded to round up a collection of tunes taken from every walk of American popular song and every walk of American life—like the walk taken in Dallas’ red light district in “Deep Elm.” The spirit of the album even extended to the photo shoot. After the cover shots were taken in the morning, Thompson spent the rest of the day in the studio recording. He then went down the street to a bar and found one of the women who had posed with him. She had been drinking since the shoot had ended. She didn’t even remember him. This Real Gone vinyl reissue offers the optimum way to experience this landmark album. Remastered and pressed on 160-gram vinyl, this release features the stereo mix of Songs for Rounders, as this record was not only Hank’s first stereo recording but also one of the earliest country albums to be released in stereo. Includes an album-size insert with a full-color reproduction of the album cover suitable for framing on one side and notes from COLIN ESCOTT on the other. (STREET DATE - 2/28/2012)

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