Amanda: Don Williams Guitar Lesson
(Plus Full Volume One Acoustic Archive)

While it was originally the B-side to "Come Early Morning," its legacy as a masterpiece of understated country-folk makes it the perfect starting point for mastering the other songs contained on this album. To provide full historical context for this hit, I have included it here as part of our Exclusive Volume One Staging Archive.

Below, you will find "Amanda" alongside the other nine completed tracks from the foundational JMI Sessions, all recorded and confirmed as part of our upcoming 2026 Gentle Giant project.

Amanda is indeed one of Don Williams' most popular and well-known songs. It was written by Bob McDill and released by Don Williams as a single in 1973. "Amanda" became a major hit for him, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and also crossing over to the pop charts.

The song tells the story of a man reflecting on his love for a woman named Amanda. It explores the depth of his feelings for her and how she has brought joy and meaning into his life. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and appreciation for the special connection they share.

"Amanda" became a signature song for Don Williams and remains one of his most beloved tracks. Its timeless melody, heartfelt lyrics, and Williams' smooth baritone delivery contributed to its enduring popularity. The song has been covered by various artists over the years, further solidifying its place as a classic in country music.

Come Early Morning was written by the legendary Bob McDill and released in April 1973 as the second single from this debut album. It proved to be a pivotal track for Williams, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Interestingly,

Bob McDill had originally recorded the song himself for his own album Short Stories just a year prior. Don's version is often cited by historians as having one of the first-ever "country music videos," a promotional film produced by Jack Clement. For guitarists, the song is a perfect introduction to Don’s relaxed, mid-tempo groove.

It captures that early JMI Records sound, which was sparse and focused on the acoustic guitar rather than the heavy orchestrations common in Nashville at the time. Its success helped solidify the creative partnership between Williams, McDill, and producer Allen Reynolds that would define country music for the next two decades.

Don't You Believe is a standout track that showcases Don Williams as a songwriter, as he penned the song himself. While it was not released as a primary A-side single, it remains a favorite among purists for its simple, honest lyrical structure.

The song is a masterclass in the "less is more" philosophy that Don championed throughout his career. Produced by Allen Reynolds, the arrangement is incredibly clean, allowing the listener to hear the nuances of the acoustic guitar and Don’s warm baritone. It appeared on several of his later "Greatest Hits" compilations, proving its enduring quality despite not having a chart history of its own. In your lessons, this is an excellent piece for teaching students how to convey deep emotion with straightforward chord progressions.

It serves as a bridge from his folk-pop days with the Pozo-Seco Singers to the definitive solo country sound he would soon master.

Endless Sleep is a fascinating cover choice for this debut album, originally written and recorded by Jody Reynolds in 1958. The original was a million-selling rockabilly "teen tragedy" hit, but Don completely reinvented it as a haunting, acoustic-driven country ballad.

While Don's version was not released as a single, the song has a rich chart history with other artists; Hank Williams Jr. took a version to number 46 on the country charts in 1964.

Don’s interpretation removes the melodrama of the 1950s original, replacing it with a quiet intensity that fits his "Gentle Giant" persona perfectly. For your students, this song is a great exercise in dynamic control, showing how a dark, minor-key story can be told effectively with a steady thumb-beat. It’s a rare example of Don leaning into the more "theatrical" side of songwriting while still maintaining his signature understated delivery.

How Much Time Does It Take is another original composition by Don Williams, further establishing his dual talent as both a singer and a songwriter on this debut LP. This track was never released as a single, but it serves as a crucial piece of "Volume One" because it highlights the vulnerability that Don brought to the genre.

It’s a rhythmic acoustic piece that relies heavily on the steady pulse of the guitar to carry the narrative. In the context of the early 1970s Nashville scene, this song stood out for its lack of "twang," leaning more towards the folk-influenced country that Don would become famous for.

This song is valuable for teaching timing and the importance of a consistent right-hand technique. It’s a hidden gem that demonstrates how Don was already a fully-formed artist before the massive number-one hits started arriving a year later.

I Recall A Gypsy Woman is perhaps the most famous "non-hit" in U.S. country history, though its international success was massive. Written by Bob McDill and Allen Reynolds, it was originally released as the B-side to Don’s 1973 single "Atta Way to Go."

While it didn't chart as a single in the U.S. for Don (though Tommy Cash reached number 16 with a cover that same year), it became a signature song for Williams in the UK, reaching number 13 on the British charts in 1976. The song is famous for its evocative, storytelling lyrics and its slightly more complex melodic structure.

It has been covered by everyone from Waylon Jennings to B.J. Thomas, but Don’s original remains the definitive version. This is a "must-have" because of its worldwide popularity and the beautiful way the acoustic guitar mirrors the "rolling" feel of the lyrics.

My Womans Love is a deeply personal track written by Don Williams, showcasing the quiet, domestic devotion that would become his trademark theme. Like many of his self-penned tracks on "Volume One," it wasn't pushed as a single, yet it remains a foundational part of his early solo catalog.

The song is incredibly sparse, featuring little more than Don’s guitar and voice, which highlights the "demo-like" quality that Jack Clement and Allen Reynolds wanted to preserve for his JMI recordings. This track is perfect for your archive as it teaches students how to use the guitar to support a vocal without overplaying.

It’s an example of Don’s ability to find profound beauty in everyday life, a trait that endeared him to millions of fans. It’s often included in "Love Songs" collections of his work, illustrating its long-lasting appeal as one of his most sincere compositions.

No Use Running leans into the bluesier, more rhythmic side of Don's early folk-country style. While it didn't see a release as a single and consequently didn't have a chart run, it is frequently cited by fans as a favorite "deep cut" from his first album.

The song is driven by a more percussive acoustic guitar style than the ballads on the record, making it a great technical study for your students who want to move beyond basic strumming. It captures the transition period where Don was moving away from the folk-pop of the Pozo-Seco Singers and into a more mature, solo acoustic sound.

The lyrics deal with the classic country theme of trying to escape your problems, delivered with the calm authority that only Don could provide. It’s a great example of how he could make a song feel "heavy" and meaningful without raising his voice or adding electric instruments.

Shelter Of Your Eyes holds the distinction of being Don Williams’ very first solo single, released in late 1972/early 1973. Written by Don himself, the song reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, effectively launching his career as a solo artist.

It was a bold choice for a debut single because of its extreme simplicity and lack of traditional country tropes like fiddles or steel guitars. This song essentially created the blueprint for the "Gentle Giant" sound: a warm baritone, a clean acoustic guitar, and lyrics about finding peace in a chaotic world.

This is perhaps the most important song to teach from "Volume One" as it represents the "Big Bang" of his solo career. It’s a perfect three-chord song that sounds much more complex than it is because of Don’s masterful phrasing and steady thumb-work.

Too Late is a beautiful collaboration between Don Williams and his producer Allen Reynolds. Though not a single and without a chart history, it serves as the emotional anchor for the latter half of "Volume One."

The song explores the realization of being too deep into a relationship or a situation to walk away, a theme that resonated with Don’s mature audience. Musically, it’s a standard folk-country progression that relies on the "thump-pick" style you often discuss in your tutorials. This song is an excellent lesson piece for demonstrating how to use subtle bass-note runs to transition between chords.

It highlights the incredible chemistry between Don and Allen Reynolds, who would go on to produce some of the biggest albums in country music history. It’s the perfect closing piece for your project, showing the consistent quality Don maintained across every track of his debut album.