“Half as Much” is an American pop standard written by Curley Williams in 1951. It was first recorded by country music singer Hank Williams in 1952 and reached number two on the Billboard Country Singles chart. According to the 2004 book Hank Williams: The Biography, Williams was not too enamoured with “Half as Much” and only recorded it at producer Fred Rose’s insistence. Williams recorded it at a session at Castle Studio in Nashville on August 10, 1951. He was backed by Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Don Helms (steel guitar), Sammy Pruett (lead guitar), Howard Watts (bass), probably Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and either Owen Bradley or Fred Rose on piano. “Half as Much” is notable for being the only Hank Williams recording to feature a solo barroom piano at its conclusion. Two months after Williams recorded “Half as Much,” Curly Williams recorded it for Columbia Records, so Rose held back Hank’s release until March 28, 1952 to clear the way for Curley’s release on November 2, 1951. Eddy Arnold recorded in 1964.
