Esco Hankins

*01-01-1924 Union County, TN, +18-11-1990

3rd version

by Dick Grant, Elizabeth Miles-Christopher, Walt Saunders, Al Turner, Kevin Coffey, Dave Barnes, Mario Manciotti, Michel Ruppli, Praguefrank

SESSIONS

ca. May 1947 Radio Station KWEM, West Memphis, AR* - Esco Hankins (William Esco Hankins [vcl/gt], Elizabeth “Aunt Liz” Miles [tenor vcl/rh gt], Gene Jackson [gt], poss. Monroe Queener  or prob. Burkett Howard “Josh” Graves [dobro[, Clyde Varner [bass], Curly Farmer [fiddle])

001 K2450  THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN King 652/BACM CD D 058

002 K2451  LOW AND LONELY  655 BACM CD D-058

003 K2452  WHAT GOOD WILL IT DO  649/AL-1547  BACM CD D 058

004 K2453  THE PRECIOUS JEWEL  648/ BACM CD D 058

005 K2454  GLORY BOUND TRAIN  649/ AL-1547  BACM CD D 058

006 K2455  FIRE BALL MAIL  650/ BACM CD D 058

007 K2456  WRECK ON THE HIGHWAY  651/King 807 BACM CD D 058

008 K2457  I'M BUILDING A HOME  648/ AL-1547  BACM CD D 058

*according to Elizabeth Miles

ca May 1947 Radio Station KWEM, West Memphis, AR* - Esco Hankins (Esco Hankins [vcl/gt], Elizabeth Miles [tenor vcl/rh gt], Gene Jackson [gt], poss. Monroe Queener  or prob. Josh Graves [dobro], Clyde Varner [bass], Curly Farmer [fiddle])

009 K2458  NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW  651/ AL-1547  BACM CD D 058

010 K2459  BRANDED WHEREVER I GO  653/Audio Lab AL-1547 BACM CD D 058

011 K2460  THE RISING SUN  650/Audio Lab AL-1547 BACM CD D 058

012 K2461  WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO SHINE  653/Audio Lab AL-1557 BACM CD D 058

013 K2462  WAITING FOR MY CALL TO GLORY  655/ AL-1547  BACM CD D 058 JASMCD 3578

014 K2463  ALL THE  WORLD IS LONELY NOW  654/ AL-1547  BACM CD D 058

015 K2464  BENEATH THE LONELY MOUND OF CLAY 652/ AL-1547  BACM CD D 058

016 K2465  THE STREAMLINED CANNOBALL  654/ AL-1547  BACM CD D 058

*according to Elizabeth Miles

Audio Lab AL-1557 A VARIETY OF COUNTRY SACRED SONGS (1960?); King 807 25 YEARS OF COUNTRY and WESTERN, GOSPEL, SPIRITUAL SONGS  (1962); JASMINE JASMCD  3578 OLD RUGGED CROSS: COUNTRY GOSPEL (UK, 2007)

December 1947 Radio Station KWEM, West Memphis, AR* - Esco Hankins (Esco Hankins [vcl/gt], Elizabeth Miles [tenor vcl/rh gt], Gene Jackson [gt], poss. Monroe Queener  or prob. Josh Graves [dobro[, Clyde Varner [bass], Curly Farmer [fiddle])

017 K2838  SWEETER THAN THE FLOWERS  730/AL-1519 BACM CD D 058

018 K2839  WHAT ELSE CAN I DO Federal 45-10029

019 K2840  A DADDY’S LULLABY  730/BACM CD D 058 Jasmine JASMCD-3587

020 K2841  MOTHER LEFT ME HER BIBLE  757 New American EP-NA-103/Audio Lab AL-1504  

021 K2842  LONGING FOR YOU TO COME HOME  757

022 K2843  I'LL LOVE YOU AS LONG AS I LIVE Federal 45-10029

*according to Elizabeth Miles

New American EP-NA-103 GOSPEL SINGING STRING BAND (1960, label owned by Wayne Raney); Audio Lab AL-1504 SONGS OF FAITH (1959); Audio Lab AL-1519 A DAY IN THE COUNTRY (1959); Jasmine JASMCD-3587 JUST PLAIN FOLKS: SONGS OF THE OLD FOLKS AT HOME (UK, July 6, 2007)

ca. May 1951 Castle Studio, The Tulane Hotel, 206 8th Ave. North, Nashville, TN –  Esco Hankins aka  Roscoe Hankins (Esco Hankins [vcl/gt],  Monroe Queener [ten vcl/dobro], Josh Graves [?])

023 YW-7248  I'M PRAYIN' FOR THE DAY (WHEN PEACE WILL COME)  Mercury 6337-x45/BACM CD D 058 BCD 16286 526 691-2

024 YW-7249  PLEASE FORGIVE ME  6356-x45/BACM CD D 058

025 YW-7250  WORLD OF SORROW  6356-x45/BACM CD D 058

026 YW-7251  AN ANGEL SMILES (WHEN MOTHER SMILES AT ME)  6337-x45/BACM CD D 058

BEAR FAMILY BCD 16286 HANK WILLIAMS SONGWRITER TO LEGEND (GER, 1998); MERCURY 314 526 691-2 50 YEARS OF COUNTRY MUSIC FROM MERCURY 3 CD SET

Early 1961 Bradley Film and Recording Studio B, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN – Esco Hankins. *and Jackie (Esco Hankins [vcl/gt], Jackie Tincher [duet vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Russell Sims)

027 119A GOD THREW AWAY THE PATTERN*  Sims 45-119

028 119B OH SO AFRAID  45-119

1961 Jewel Recording Studio, Mt. Healthy, OH -  Esco Hankins and Jackie (Esco Hankins [vcl/gt], Jackie Tincher [duet vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Rusty York)

029 MOTHER SLEEPS IN A LONELY GRAVE  Jewel EP-403

030 HEAVEN WILL SURELY BE WORTH IT ALL  Jewel  EP-403

031 LOOKING THRU THE WINDOW OF HEAVEN Jewel EP-403

1962 Nashville, TN – Esco Hankins

032 SOMEONE WANTS HER  Briar 144

033 LITTLE RING OF GOLD  144

1963 poss. REM Studio, 2003 Liberty Road, Lexington, KY – Esco Hankins and Jackie  (Esco Hankins [vcl/gt], Jackie Tincher [duet vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Bob Mooney)

034 MOTHER LEFT ME HER BIBLE REM EP-504/RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCS-309 OHCD-309

035 MOTHER SLEEPS IN A LONELY GRAVE  EP-504/RL-1006 OHCS-309 OHCD-309

036 JESUS PRAYED IN THE GARDEN FOR ME EP-5014/RL-1006

037 LIES AND ALIBIS  EP-504

038 WITHOUT YOU  EP-504

039 THAT’S IT  EP-504

1963 poss. REM Studio, 2003 Liberty Road, Lexington, KY – Esco Hankins and Jackie  (Esco Hankins [vcl/gt], Jackie Tincher [duet vcl] + Kenny Whalen [gt] + unknown musicians. Producer: Bob Mooney)

040 I’M IN HIS CARE  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

041 HE’LL BE THERE IN TIME  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

042 SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

043 UNWORTHLY, LORD  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

044 THE POWER OF GOD  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

045 I’D LIKE TO THANK JESUS  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

046 FALL ON YOUR KNEES  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

047 STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

048 BY THE CRYSTAL SEA  REM RL-1006 Old Homestead OHCD-309 OHCD-309

1 May 1963 Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville,  TN – Esco Hankins  (unknown musicians. Producer: Don Law  and Frank Jones)

049 CO-78722/CB-645? TEN THOUSAND TIME  Columbia 4-42822

050 CO-78723/CB-646?/ZSP-78534  WHAT ABOUT YOU   4-43142

051 CO-78724/CB-647?  ANOTHER BAND 4-42822

052 CO-78725/CB-648?  EMPTY TOMORROWS  4-43142

22 April 1965 Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville,  TN – Esco Hankins  (unknown musicians. Producer: Don Law  and Frank Jones)

053 NCO-82707/ZSP-110847 JOHNNY OVERLOAD 4-43309

054 NCO-82708/ZSP-110848 BAD GIRL 4-43309

055 NCO-82709/ZSP-111925 IN SHACKLES AND CHAINS  4-43446

056 NCO-82710/ZSP-111926  I’M GONE AGAIN  4-43446

1965 Jewel Recording Studio, Mt. Healthy, OH -  Esco Hankins and Jackie (Esco Hankins [vcl/gt], Jackie Tincher [duet vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Rusty York)

057 ANGEL BAND  Jewel EP-603

058 RIVER OF JORDAN  EP-603

059 ROSES WILL NOT FADE UP THERE  EP-603

1972 Jewel Recording Company, 1594 Kinney Ave., Cincinnati, OH – Esco Hankins and Jackie (Jackie Tincher [duet vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Rusty York)

060 I'M NOT WORTHY Jewel LP-210 

061 WITHOUT HIM Jewel LP-210 

062 WORKING GOD'S FIELDS Jewel LP-210 

063 HAD IT NOT BEEN Jewel LP-210 

064 POWER IN PRAYER Jewel LP-210 

065 HOLY HILLS OF HEAVEN Jewel LP-210 

066 RENEW YOUR JOYS IN THE LORD Jewel LP-210 

067 LORD I NEED YOU AGAIN TODAY Jewel LP-210 

068 SPREAD THE GOSPEL Jewel LP-210 

069 ETERNITY WHERE? Jewel LP-210 

070 UNCLE DAN'S LAST REQUEST Jewel LP-210 

071 MOTHER LEFT ME HER BIBLE Jewel LP-210 

072 TELEGRAM FROM VIETNAM Jewel LP-210 

1976 Jewel Recording Company, 1594 Kinney Ave., Cincinnati, OH – Esco Hankins and Jackie (Esco Hankins [vcl], Jackie Tincher [duet vcl] + unknown musicians. Producer: Rusty York)

073 EASTERN GATE Jewel LPS 604 

074 SIX HOURS ON THE CROSS Jewel LPS 604 

075 I COULD STILL GO FREE Jewel LPS 604

076 FIRST SOUND AFTER DEATH Jewel LPS 604 

077 BETTER LIFE IS WAITING Jewel LPS 604

078 JESUS Jewel LPS 604 

079 HEAVEN WILL SURELY BE WORTH IT ALL Jewel LPS 604

080 HOUSE OF GOD Jewel LPS 604 

081 THREE RUSTY NAILS Jewel LPS 604  

082 FORGIVE ME LORD Jewel LPS 604

1977 Jewel Recording Company, 1594 Kinney Ave., Cincinnati, OH – Esco Hankins and Jackie (Esco Hankins [vcl], Jackie Tincher [duet vcl], Rusty York [rh gt], Chubby Howard [steel], Roger Seibel [bass], Jim Seward [drums], Denzil Rice [piano]. Producer: Rusty York)

073 7622118 MEMORIES OF MAMA Jewel 7722/LPS743

074 7722118 MAMA’S SPENDING CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN  7722/LPS 743

075 HE ROWS ME OVER THE TIDE Jewel LPS 743 

076 PLEASE SEARCH THE BOOK AGAIN Jewel LPS 743 

077 ME AND JESUS Jewel LPS 743 

078 LORD IT'S JUST ANOTHER HILL Jewel LPS 743

079 TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND Jewel LPS 743 

080 ONE WAY FLIGHT Jewel LPS 743 

081 SURELY I WILL Jewel LPS 743 

082 PICK UP THE BROKEN PIECES Jewel LPS 743 

1978 Jewel Recording Company, 1594 Kinney Ave., Cincinnati, OH – Esco Hankins and Brother Byron Jessup (Esco Hankins [vcl], Brother Byron Jessup [vcl], Rusty York [rh gt], Chuck Rise [steel], Roger Seibel [bass], Bryan Rice [drums], Denzil Rice [piano]. Producer: Rusty York)

083 IT'LL BE ALLRIGHT Jewel JRC 879 

084 I WAS BORN TO SERVE THE LORD Jewel JRC 879

085 I FORGIVE Jewel JRC 879

086 GREAT SPECKLED BIRD Jewel JRC 879 

087 TODAY IS TOMORROW'S YESTERDAY Jewel JRC 879 

088 SING THE GLORY DOWN Jewel JRC 879 

089 YOU NEVER MENTIONED HIM TO ME Jewel JRC 879 

090 THAT'S THE MAN I'M LOOKING FOR Jewel JRC 879 

091 THERE'S ALWAYS A RAINBOW Jewel JRC 879 

092 PASS ME NOT Jewel JRC 879

1983 Jewel Recording Company, 1594 Kinney Ave., Cincinnati, OH – Esco Hankins and Brother Byron Jessup

093 THANK YOU LORD Jewel JRC 83028

094 WAY BELOW THE BOTTOM Jewel JRC 83028 

095 I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS HOMESICK BEFORE Jewel JRC 83028

096 THAT SAME SPIRIT Jewel JRC 83028

097 STAND UP AND BE COUNTED Jewel JRC 83028 

098 CLIMBING THE LADDER Jewel JRC 83028

099 HOMECOMING AWAITING Jewel JRC 83028 

100 WHERE NO ONE STANDS ALONE Jewel JRC 83028

101 MOTHER LEFT ME HER BIBLE Jewel JRC 83028

102 WAYFARING STRANGER  Jewel JRC 83028

ALBUMS

Audio Lab AL-1547 Esco Hankins Country Style: Rising Sun; Branded Wherever I Go;  Lonely Mound Of Clay;  All The World Is Lonely Now;  Streamlined Cannonball; Waiting For My Call To Glory;  Glory Bound Train; No One Will Ever Know;  What Good Will It Do;  I'm Building A Home In The Sky - 60

REM RL-1006 Mother Left Me Her Bible To Show Me The Way: Mother Left Me Her Bible; I'm In His Care; He'll Be There In Time; Somewhere Along The Way; Unworthy, Lord; The Power Of God; Mother Sleeps In A Lonely Grave; I'd Like To Thank Jesus; Fall On Your Knees; Stairway To Heaven; By The Crystal Sea; Jesus Prayed In The Garden For Me –  63 (reissued in 1984 on Old Homestead OHCS-309 and later on CD OHCD-309)

Jewel LP-210 Working God's Fields: I'm Not Worthy; Without Him; Working God's Fields; Had It Not Been; Power In Prayer; Holy Hills Of Heaven; Renew Your Joys In The Lord; Lord I Need You Again Today; Spread The Gospel; Eternity Where?; Uncle Dan's Last Request; Mother Left Me Her Bible; Telegram From Vietnam - 72  w. Jackie

Jewel LPS-604 Sing Most Requested Hymns:  Eastern Gate;  Six Hours On The Cross;  I Could Still Go Free;  First Sound After Death;  Better Life Is Waiting; Jesus;  Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All; House Of God;  Three Rusty Nails;   Forgive Me Lord -  76 - w. Jackie

Jewel LPS-743 Sing Gospel: He Rows Me Over The Tide; Please Search The Book Again; Me And Jesus; Lord It's Just Another Hill; Mama's Spending Christmas In Heaven; Touch Of The Master's Hand; One Way Flight; Surely I Will; Pick Up The Broken Pieces; Memories Of Mama - 77

Jewel JRC-879 Singing The Glory Down: It'll Be Allright; I Was Born To Serve The Lord; I Forgive; Great Speckled Bird; Today Is Tomorrow's Yesterday; Sing The Glory Down; You Never Mentioned Him To Me; That's The Man I'm Looking For; There's Always A Rainbow; Pass Me Not -78 w. Brother Byron Jessup

Jewel JRC 83028 Thank You Lord: Thank You Lord; Way Below The Bottom; I've Never Been This Homesick Before; That Same Spirit; Stand Up And Be Counted; Climbing The Ladder; Homecoming Awaiting; Where No One Stands Alone; Mother Left Me Her Bible; Wayfaring Stranger - 83 w. Brother Byron Jessup

British Archive Of Country Music CD D 058 Risign Sun: A Daddy's Lullaby; All The World Is Lonely Now; Rising Sun; Waiting For My Call To Glory; An Angel Smiles (When Mother Smiles At Me); Beneath The Lonely Mound Of Clay; Fireball Mail;  I'm Building A Home; The Glory Bound Train; Branded Wherever I Go; I’m Prayin‘ For The Day (When Peace Will Come); The Wreck On The Highway; Low And Lonely; No One Will Ever Know; Please Forgive Me; Streamlined Cannon Ball; Sweeter Than The Flowers; World Of Sorrow; The Things That Might Have Been; Wait For The Light To Shine;  Precious Jewel; What Good Will It Do – 03 (released in UK)

EPs

Jewel

EP-403 Mother Sleeps In A Lonely Grave; Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All; Looking Thru The Window Of Heaven – 61

REM (1963)

45-EP-504 Lies And Alibis / Without You / That's It / Mother Left Me Her Bible / Mother Sleeps In A Lonely Grave / Jesus Prayed In The Garden For Me - 63  (MX P4KB-5387/5388)

Jewel

EP-603 Angel Band / River Of Jordan / Roses Will Not Fade Up There  - 65 (MX: Rite 692/R-15861/

SINGLES

King (1947)                

648 The Precious Jewel / I'm Building A Home – 23-08-47

649 The Glory Bound Train / What Good Will It Do – 23-08-47

650 Fire Ball Mail / The Rising Sun – 23-08-47

651 The Wreck On The Highway / No One Will Ever Know – 23-08-47

652 Beneath The Lonely Mound Of Clay / Things That Might Have Been – 23-08-47

653 Branded Wherever I Go / Wait For The Light To Shine – 23-08-47

654 Streamline Cannonball / All The World Is Lonely Now – 23-08-47

655 Low And Lonely / Waiting For My Call To Glory – 23-08-47

730 Sweeter Than The Flowers / Daddy's Lullaby – 16-10-48 (rev. Oct. 30)

757 Mother Left Me Her Bible / Longing For You To Come Home – 29-01-49

45-10029 I'll Love You As Long As I Live / What Else Can I Do - 51 (released on Federal)

Mercury (1951)  as by Roscoe Hankins      

6337-x45 An Angel Smiles (When Mother Smiles At Me)  / I’m Prayin‘ For The Day (When Peace Will Come) – 07-51 (rev. July 14)

6356-x45 World Of Sorrow / Please Forgive Me – 09-51

Sims (1961)        

119 Oh So Afraid / God Threw Away The Pattern – ca. 11-61 w. Jackie

Briar (1962)

144 Someone Wants Her / Little Ring Of Gold – 62

Columbia (1963-65)      

4-42822 Ten Thousand Times / Another Band – 09-07-63

4-43142 Empty Tomorrows / What About You – 26-09-64

4-43309 Bad Girl / Johnny Overload - 06-65

4-43446 In Shackles And Chains / I'm Gone Again – 08-11-65

Jewel (1965-77)

7722 Memories Of Mama / Mama’s Spending Christmas In Heaven – 77 w. Jackie