Don Williams Volume One

From 1964 to 1971, Don Williams formed and played with the band the Pozo-Seco Singers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-pozo-seco-singers-mn0000488599|title=The Pozo Seco Singers|website=Allmusic|access-date=October 29, 2019}} In 1966, the band signed with Columbia Records, due to the success of their first single, "Time".{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-pozo-seco-singers-mn0000488599/discography|title=Pozo Seco Singer Discography|website=Allmusic|access-date=October 29, 2019}} Williams left the band in 1971, and moved to Nashville, where he met producer and writer Allen Reynolds, who introduced Williams to country singer and businessman Jack Clement. Clement had recently founded JMI Records. Williams was soon signed to JMI records, and Reynolds would go on to produce and write on Williams' next two albums.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XfzsAgAAQBAJ&q=don+williams|title=Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary|last=Carlin|first=Richard|publisher=Routledge|year=2014|isbn=9781135361044|pages=see URL}}

Initially a songwriter demo was recorded to sell Williams' songs to other artists. However, when there wasn't a strong initial response, it was decided to record and release a full-length album.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tLZz02EzmBYC&q=%22Don+Williams+Volume+One%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT1610|title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music|last=Kingsbury|first=Paul|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-19-517608-7|location=New York|pages=see URL}}

At the time the album was released, the Nashville sound featured more elaborate orchestral arrangements; however Don Williams Volume One caught on.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d18K8QWcEo8C&q=%22Don+Williams+Volume+One%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA539|title=Country Music: The Encyclopedia|last=Stambler|first=Irwin|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|year=1997|isbn=0312151217|location=New York, NY|pages=539}}

In addition to producing the album, Reynolds contributed the song "I Recall a Gypsy Woman" written along with Bob McDill and Williams. While not initially released as a single in 1973, the song would be released as the B-side from the Don Williams Volume Two album single "Atta Way Go", and as a single in the UK in 1976, where it become a minor hit.

Bob McDill{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-mcdill-mn0000071157|title=Bob McDill|website=Allmusic|access-date=October 29, 2019}} had a hand in writing three of the album's songs, including the final song on the album, "Amanda", which was also included as the B-side on his No. 12 hit "Come Early Morning." Williams' version reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/don-williams/chart-history/csi/|title=Don Williams Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 29, 2019}}

When Williams died in 2017, his version of "Amanda" was singled out in his Rolling Stone obituary:

“In giving voice to songs like ‘Good Ole Boys Like Me,’ ‘Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good’ and ‘Amanda,’ Don Williams offered calm, beauty, and a sense of wistful peace that is in short supply these days,” Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young said in a statement Friday. “His music will forever be a balm in troublesome times. Everyone who makes country music with grace, intelligence, and ageless intent will do so while standing on the shoulders of this gentle giant.”{{Cite magazine|last=Betts|first=Stephen L.|date=September 8, 2017|title=Don Williams, Country's 'Gentle Giant,' Dead at 78|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/don-williams-countrys-gentle-giant-dead-at-78-202607/|magazine=Rolling Stone}}

All songs written by Don Williams, except where noted.

From the original vinyl:

{{Track listing

| collapsed =

| headline =

| total length =

| title1 = Come Early Morning

| writer1 = Bob McDill

| length1 = 3:08

| title2 = Too Late To Turn Back Now

| writer2 = Williams, Allen Reynolds

| length2 = 2:03

| title3 = Endless Sleep

| writer3 = Jody Reynolds, Dolores Nance

| length3 = 2:11

| title4 = The Shelter of Your Eyes

| writer4 =

| length4 = 2:58

| title5 = I Recall a Gypsy Woman

| writer5 = A. Reynolds, McDill

| length5 = 3:20

| title6 = No Use Running

| writer6 =

| length6 = 2:38

| title7 = How Much Time Does It Take

| writer7 =

| length7 = 2:32

| title8 = My Woman's Love

| writer8 =

| length8 = 3:13

| title9 = Don't You Believe

| writer9 =

| length9 = 2:39

| title10 = Amanda

| writer10 = McDill

| length10 = 3:08

}}

From the album liner notes:

• Don Williams - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Joe Allen - bass
• Kenny Malone - drums
• Jimmy Colvard, Reggie Young - electric guitar
• Buddy Spicher - fiddle
• Chuck Cochran - organ
• Bobby Wood, Chuck Cochran - piano
• Chip Young, Jimmy Colvard - rhythm guitar
• Lloyd Green - steel guitar
• Don Sheffield - trumpet
• The Joyful Noise - backing vocals
• Danny Flowers - harmonica

• Produced by Allen Reynolds
• Violin Arrangements by Chuck Cochran

{{reflist}}{{Don Williams}}

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Category:Don Williams albums

Category:1973 debut albums

Category:Albums produced by Allen Reynolds