VA - Heartache In Your Hand: Startime Country (2025) [Hi-Res]

Startime, the country subsidiary of Abnak (Five Americans, Jon & Robin), sought to give voice to the unique talent of the Lone Star State. Hear the fusion of traditional honky-tonk and Western swing come to life, full of heartache (yes, lots of heartache), grit, and passion.

In the rich history of Texas country music, few labels hold a more curious place than Startime Records, the country division of Dallas-based Abnak Records. Though Startime’s reign in the industry was brief, lasting from its launch in the early ‘60s to the closing of Abnak in 1971, the label captured the heart and soul of Texas country music like few others.

Founded in 1963 by Dallas insurance man John Howard Abdnor Sr., Abnak Records first gained attention with acts like The Five Americans, but it was Startime’s roster of homegrown talent that really reflected the sound of Texas. Headed by the talented producer Ray Winkler, known for penning Jim Reeves’ hit "Welcome to My World," Startime brought together a collection of artists whose music echoed through honky-tonks and radio stations of Texas and beyond.

From the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s, country music in Texas experienced a fusion of traditional honky-tonk, Western swing, and the emerging outlaw country movement. While Nashville was dominating the mainstream, Texas remained a breeding ground for authentic, raw country music, thanks in part to iconic venues like Panther Hall in Fort Worth and The Dallas-based Big D Jamboree barn dance and radio show. These two venues played critical roles in shaping country music careers, including several of the artists featured on this album.