Though he had already earned fame, this studio session earned Hank Williams his second No. 1, solidifying his stake in the country scene.

Hank Thompson released "The Wild Side of Life" in January 1952, paving the way for a history-making hit to come out six months later.

Nothing makes you want to drown your sorrows quite like the next fresh wound in an ill-fated relationship — and nothing comforts like a good breakup song. History’s archive offers an array of colorful ...