Already possessing the most powerful pedigree in country music, Hank Williams Jr. debuted on the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 11, and at 14 made his first record, a rendition of his father's “Long Gone Lonesome Blues.” In 1970, he signed the biggest recording contract in the history of MGM Records, and when he began to follow his own music path, Hank's instincts led to him to phenomenal success. Family Tradition, released in 1979, went Gold, kicking off a long string of gold and platinum efforts. 

In October 1982, Williams had nine albums on the Billboard music charts at the same time, a feat unequaled by any other living artist. Hank has received 16 songwriting honors from Broadcast Music, Inc., had 10 #1 singles, 13 #1 albums, 20 gold and five platinum albums and a double platinum (Greatest Hits, Vol. I). In 1987, Hank won the first of five straight Entertainer of the Year awards voted to him by his peers, and won his first ever Grammy. 

Originally issued at the height of Bocephus' fame in 1982, multi-million selling Hank Williams Jr.'s Greatest Hits Vol. 1 compiles the many hits from his run of popular studio albums like Family Tradition (1979), Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (1979), Habits Old and New (1980), Rowdy (1981) and The Pressure Is On (1981) plus the then new original single "The American Dream."