Don Williams built one of the most consistent catalogs in country music history — 17 number-one hits over a career that ran from the early '70s into the 2010s, all delivered in that same unhurried, velvety baritone. If you're new to his music, the sheer size of his discography can be intimidating. This playlist is meant to be a starting point: the songs that best capture why he earned the nickname "the Gentle Giant" and why artists are still covering him decades later.
**1. "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me" (1974)**
Williams' first number-one single as a solo artist, and the song that set the template for everything that followed — simple, sincere, and completely unhurried.
**2. "You're My Best Friend" (1975)**
One of his most enduring love songs, and a favorite for weddings to this day. It's Williams at his most tender.
**3. "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" (1977)**
A quietly devastating heartbreak ballad that shows off just how much emotion he could pack into restraint.
**4. "I Believe in You" (1980)**
Arguably his signature song. A gentle statement of faith and devotion that crossed over onto the pop charts and remains one of his most-covered tunes.
**5. "Tulsa Time" (1978)**
The outlier in his catalog — a rock-inflected road song written by his guitarist Danny Flowers, later famously covered by Eric Clapton. More energy than almost anything else Williams recorded.
**6. "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" (1981)**
A prayerful, reflective tune that leans into the gospel undertones that always ran through his music.
**7. "Amanda" (1973)**
Actually a Bob McDill song made famous by Waylon Jennings, but Williams' own version (and his close ties to McDill's songwriting) makes it essential listening for understanding his musical world.
**8. "Good Ole Boys Like Me" (1980)**
A reflective, nostalgic character study often cited as one of the best-written country songs of its era — a favorite among songwriters themselves.
**9. "It Must Be Love" (1979)**
Breezy, warm, and effortlessly catchy — a good example of how Williams made simplicity sound sophisticated.
**10. "If Hollywood Don't Need You (Honey, I Still Do)" (1982)**
A tender, reassuring love song with a storyline about staying grounded despite outside temptations — a recurring theme in his writing.
**11. "Love Me Over Again" (1981)**
A steady, romantic groove that shows why he was such a natural fit for adult contemporary radio as well as country.
**12. "Heartbeat in the Darkness" (1986)**
A moodier, slightly more atmospheric track from later in his career, proving he could evolve without abandoning his core sound.
**13. "Senorita" (1988)**
A gentle, understated love song that shows his staying power well into the late '80s.
**14. "Then It's Love" (1984)**
A warm mid-tempo tune that's a great example of his knack for making devotion sound uncomplicated.
**15. "Love Is on a Roll" (1983)**
An upbeat, optimistic hit that rounds out the playlist on a high note — proof Williams could do "happy" just as convincingly as heartbreak.
**Bonus listen:** For context on where it all started, check out "Time" by the Pozo-Seco Singers, the folk trio Williams sang with before launching his solo career.
Taken together, these songs trace the arc of a man who rarely chased trends and never needed to raise his voice to make you feel something. Start here, and the rest of the catalog will feel like familiar territory.
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