The Pressure Is On
The Pressure Is On is the thirty-third studio album by American musician Hank Williams Jr. It was released by Elektra/Curb Records in August 1981 and was Williams' seventh studio album on the Elektra/Curb label.
Critical and commercial success
The Pressure Is On was Williams' fifth consecutive Top 10 album for Curb, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Two songs, "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" and "A [Country Boy Can Survive]" were released as singles, with "All My Rowdy Friends" peaking at Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs & Tracks chart, giving Williams his fifth career Number One single, while "A Country Boy Can Survive" peaked at number 2. They have become signature songs for Williams and remain among the most popular of his career. The album and singles were well received by critics, earning Williams an Academy of Country Music nomination for Academy of [Country Music Awards|Top Male Vocalist]. It was also a major commercial success for Williams and was certified Platinum by the Recording [Industry Association of America|RIAA], making it Williams' fourth album to be certified Gold and his second to be certified Platinum.Track listing
Personnel
- Guitar: Kenny Bell, Bobby Thompson, Billy [Joe Walker Jr.], Paul Worley, Reggie Young
- Steel Guitar: "Cowboy" Eddie Long, Sonny Garrish
- Banjo: Bobby Thompson. Dobro: Mike Auldridge, Hank Williams
- Mandolin: Vernon Derrick, Kieran Kane
- Sitar: Reggie Young
- Drums: James Stroud
- Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn, Bob Wray
- Keyboards: Larry Knechtel, Mike Lawler, Tony Migliore, Hargus "Pig" Robbins
- Fiddle: Lisa Silver, Vernon Derrick
- Viola: Buddy Spicher
- Clarinet: Jerry Vinett
- Horns: Irv Kane, Terry Mead
- Train Whistle: Boxcar Willie
- Harmonica: Terry McMillan
Production
- Produced by Jimmy Bowen
- Recorded at Sounds Stage Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
- Engineered by Ron Treat, Jimmy Bowen and Steve Tillisch
- Mastered at Masterfonics by Glenn Meadows
- Album Art Direction: Ron Caro and Norm Ung
- Album Design by Norm Ung
- Album Photography by Ron Slenzak
Chart performance