Unreleased Don Williams Tracks Unearthed: 'Epilogue' Album Celebrates Country Icon's Legacy
March 25, 2026
Coverage from Saving Country Music, with industry voices like Jones weighing in on the recordings’ cultural significance and historical value.
Rodney Crowell praises Williams’ version of Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight as surpassing his own, highlighting the emotional impact and tribute to Williams’ artistry.
Liner notes feature quotes from Kyle Young of the Country Music Hall of Fame, noting Williams’ calm, beauty, and timeless impact on the genre.
The released track is a Crowell-Cowart composition performed with Williams’ steady phrasing and narrative drive, offering a fresh take within country circles.
Ed Morris contributes liner notes that explain how the 12 songs were selected to work together as an album rather than released as disparate tracks.
Billboard premiered the single, highlighting Williams as a revered 1970s–80s country voice and noting the track’s distinctive delivery and rapid-fire lyricism.
The collection features 12 tracks, with the first single being a new release of Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight, showcasing Williams’ unpretentious vocal style.
Available in vinyl, CD, and digital formats with special color variants (Red Velvet at Barnes & Noble, Parchment Smoke at Cracker Barrel, Mahogany Smoke via CraftRecordings.com) and pre-order options.
The project emphasizes Williams’ warm baritone and understated charm, placing him in his artistic prime from the late 70s to early 80s as described by liner notes writer Ed Morris.
The posthumous collection Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes compiles 12 tracks from Don Williams’ peak years (1979–1984) that were discovered in the family cellar on multi-track tapes and released on May 29.
Executive producer Tim Williams (Don Williams’ son) and producer Garth Fundis curated the material to fit together as a cohesive album, reflecting careful song selection to preserve Williams’ calm baritone and understated charm.
The release is designed to commemorate Williams’ legacy by offering fans new material from his prime years, expanding the catalog with unreleased, era-appropriate recordings.
Summary based on 19 sources
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Sources

American Songwriter • Mar 25, 2026
A Handful of Lost Don Williams Songs Were Just Discovered, Including a Rodney Crowell Cover
MusicRow.com • Mar 25, 2026
Craft Recordings To Release Don Williams’ ‘EPILOGUE: THE CELLAR TAPES’
antiMusic Logo • Mar 25, 2026
Lost Don Williams' Recordings Set For Release