Mother's Best Flour Shows

Perhaps the most well known, most sought after and most "supposed to be released very soon" collection in the Hank Williams catalouge are the Mother's Best radio shows. This collection of radio shows is considered by many to be Hank's best work and were done at the peak of his career in 1951.

The show was broadcast live between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m. on WSM out of Nashville, Tennessee. Some of the shows were pre-recorded to be played on the air when Hank was out on the road. Hank was paid $100 a week for recording the shows that usually consisted of one country song, one instrumental and a gospel song to close the show, but that's not all they have to offer.

The Mother's Best Shows capture Hank's personality better than anything else known to exist and they dont paint the picture of a sad, lonesome, forlorn man hell bent on drinking and death as many books and other publications try to portray him as. In fact, it is probably the in-between song chatter that makes these recordings so great, you get a glimpse of what Hank Williams was like as a person.

Here is a listing of all 72 Mother's Best Radio Shows...

1-A1

The Blind Child

Blue Steel Blues

When God Dips His Love In My Heart

1-A2

Where The Old Red River Flows

Moonlight Waters

How Can You Refuse Him Now

1- B1

Moanin' The Blues

Honky Tonkin' ( Audrey)

I'll Have A New Body

1-B2

Alabama Waltz

Fire On The Mountain

Lord Build Me A Cabin

2-1A

Nowbody's Lonesome For Me

Twin Guitar Polka

Gathering Flowers For The Masters' Bouquet

2-A2

Mansion On The Hill

I Like That Kind (Audrey)

How Can You Refuse Him Now (Audrey)

2-B1

Everything's OK

Why Should I Cry(Audrey)

I Heard My MotherPrayin'For Me

2-B2

Nobody's Lonesome For Me

Tight Wad Daddy (Audrey)

I'll Have A New Body

3-A1

Move It On Over

I'm Satisfied With Life (Audrey)

I Saw The Light

3-A2

Seaman's Blues

Blues In My Mind (Audrey)

Something Got A Hold Of Me

3-B1

Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain

Bonaparte's Retreat

I'Ve Just Told Mama Goodbye

3-B2

On The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain

Blue Love (Audrey)

Calling You

4-A1

My Sweet Love Ain't Around

Model T Love (Audrey)

Where The Soul Never Dies

4-A2

Pins And Needles

Four Flusher (Audrey)

I Heard My Mother Prayin' For Me

4-B1

Mind Your Own Buisness

I Like That Kind (Audrey)

When God Dips His Love

4-B2

May You Never Be Alone Like Me

My Love For You (Audrey)

Dear Brother

5-A1

They'll Never Take Her Love From Me

Last Night I heard You Cryin' In Your Sleep ( Audrey)

Wait For The Light To Shine

Whistlin' Rufus

5-A2

Cool Water

Orange Blossom Special

Lonely Tombs

5-B1

I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin'

You Don't Have To Be a Baby To Cry( Audrey)

Jesus Remembered Me

5-B2

Cold Cold Heart

Honky Tonkin' (Audrey)

Sally Goodin' (Hank and Louie Buck Call A Square dance)

6-A1

Dear John

I'm Satified With Life (Audrey)

Somethin Got Ahold Of Me

6-A2

At The First Fall Of Snow

I Like That Kind (Audrey)

When God Dips His Love In My Heart

6-B1

Wedding Bells

Tight Wad Daddy (Audrey)

Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies

6-B2

Why Don't You Love

Blue Love In My Heart (Audrey)

Dear Brother

7-A1

Faded Love And Winter Roses

Fire On The Mountain

I Heard My Saviour Call

7-A2

Just When I Needed You

I Can't Tell My Heart That (Johnnie and Jack )

Farther Along

7- B1

Move It On Over

Darktown Strutter's Ball

Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine

7-B2

Ther.s Nothin' As Sweet As My Baby

Turkey In The Straw

Wait For The Light To Shine

8-A1

I Can't Help It

Panhandle Rag

Gathering Flowers For The Masters' Bouquet

Bill Cheatam

8-A2

Where The Old Red River Flows

Blue Steel Blues

Thirty Pieces Of Silver

8-B1

On Top Of Old Smokey

Columbus Stockade Blues

Prodigal Son

8-B2

May You Never Be Alone Like Me

Arkansas Traveler

I'll Have A New Body

9- A1

Next Sunday Is My Birthday

Old Joe Clark

Deck Of Cards

9-A2

Tennessee Border

Blue Bonnet Rag

Dear Brother

Whistlin' Rufus

9-B1

Pictures From Lifes' Other Side

Sally Goodin'

Sing, Sing, Sing

9-B2

Just Waitin'

Paradise Island

When The Fire Comes Down From Heaven

10-A1

My Sweet Love Ain't Around

I Can't Tell My Heart That (Jimmie Skinner)

Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies

10-A2

I Can't Help It

Panhandle Rag

Drifting Too Far From The Shore

10-B1

Just When I Needed You

Steel Guitar Stomp

I'll Fly Away

10-B2

Cold Cold Heart

Dance All Night, Give The Fiddler A Dram

Old Country Church

11-A1

Moanin' The Blues

Blue Steel Blus

I Dreamed About Mama Last Night

11-A2

I Hang My Head and Cry

Tennessee Wagoner

At The Cross

11-B1

I Dreamed About Mama Last Night

Black Mountain Rag

I Heard My Saviour Call

11-B2

Low and Lonely

Foolish Questions (Big Bill Lister)

The Funeral

12-A1

Where The Old Red River Flows

Orange Blossom Special

Where He Leads Me I Will Follow

12-A2

If I Didn't Love You

Panhandle Rag

Wait For The Light To Shine

12-B1

I Just Don't like This Kind Of LIvin'

Tennessee Wagoner

Pale Horse and His Rider

12-B2

Hey Good Lookin'

Alabama Jubilee

Searching For A Soldiers' Grave

13-A1

I've Been Down That Road Before

Little Annie

I've Got a One Way Ticket To The Sky

13-A2

California Zephyr

Down Yonder

Softly and Tenderly

13-B1

Lonesome Whistle

Roadside Rag

I'm Bound For The Promised Land

13-B2

I Can't Tell My Heart That

Georgia Steel Guitar

Take My Hand Precious Lord

14-A1

Just Waitin'

Eighth Of January

From Jerusalem To Jericho

14-A2

Cherokee Boogie

Columbus Stockade Blues

A Beautiful Home

14-B1

Lonesome Whistle

I Don't Love Nobody

Great Judgement Morning

14-B2

I'll Sail My Ship Alone

Little Annie

I'll Have A New Body

15- A1

Dear John

Roadside Rag

I'll Fly Away

Bonapartes' Retreat

15-A2

Cold Cold Heart

Fire On The Mountain

Farther Along

15-A1

Stars In Her Eyes

(PSA For Veneral Disease Hank Sings and Tells The Story Radio Drama )

16- A1

Quaker Oats Audition Show

Why Don't You Love Me

San Antonio Rose(Owen Bradley Quartet)

HONEY Be MY Honey BEE (Beasley Smith)

Cold Cold Heart

Additional Shows By Date

2/12/51

Move It On Over

Waltz Of The Wind (Audrey)

I'll Have A New Body

2/13/51

Faded Love and Winter Roses

Four Flusher (Audrey)

I Saw The Light

2/21/51

Why Should We Try Any more

Low and Lonely (Audrey)

Jesus Died For Me

2/22/51

Long Gone Lonesome Blues

Last Night I Heard You Cryin' In Your Sleep (Audrey)

Lonely Tombs

Turkey In The Straw

2/23/51

Dear John

If you Want Some Lovin' (Audrey)

I Heard My Mother Prayin' For Me

Additional Shows By Numbers

#146

Mind Your Own Business

Old Joe Clark

I Dreamed About Mama Last Night

#147

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Corinna, Corrinna

I Heard My Saviour Callin'

#150

My Sweet Love Ain't Around

Fire On The Mountain

I Saw Thge Light

#151

You Blotted My Happy School Days

Orange Blossom Special

Dust On The Bible

#156

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You

Sally Goodin'

When The Saints Go Marchin' In

#157

Hey Good Lookin'

Silver Bells

I'm Gonna Sing, Sing, Sing

Turkey in the Straw

#158

I Can't Help It

Stay All Night Stay a Lil' Longer

Lonely Tombs