But before I get to my list, I have to say that I wish I had my father's old Ford pickup (greenish), with its AM radio, buttons that you could actually push in and sometimes they would get stuck in. And this radio played only real country music (not that shitty pop that tries to pass for country now). You know what I mean: Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams.
Okay, so here's my list.
- Charlie Rich "The Most Beautiful Girl": This is the first 45 I ever bought. I must have been 5 or 6. I loved Charlie Rich.
- "Tennessee Waltz": I think the version we had was by Andy Williams. I can't verify that. But here's a great version by Patsy Cline.
- Kris Kristofferson, "Me and Bobby McGee": This is the only version I knew until I was in my 20s. Seriously. "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." This the way I remember him. He wrote this song. He's my hero.
- Willie Nelson, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys"
- John Denver, "Rocky Mountain High" (Also his "Eclipse" is one of my favorites)
- John Prine, "Paradise"
- Bonnie Raitt and John Prine, "Angel from Montgomery"
- Johnny Cash, "Hurt"
2 comments:
I agree about so many of these! I love love Kris Kristofferson (have you ever seen that movie Songwriter? Willie Nelson is also in it, and Rip Torn. It is amazing. You must!) and his version of Me and Bobby McGee (as you say, his song) is right up there, imho, with Janis's. Which is, of course, iconic. And do not get me started on John Denver, but really only the Rocky Mtn High disk. But that one is sublime. Excellent post! and godspeed on all your doings before, during, and after the end of semester/departure for foreign soil. Have you got these songs loaded on your iPod? Maybe you should.
Once, I karaoke'd Me & Bobby McGee. The karaoke music was the Kristofferson version. It was hard on me. But now I like it. And the John Denver song I still sing is Country Road, and sometimes Sunshine.
Thanks for making me nostalgic!
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