10. Kenny Rogers & The First Edition - Trying Just As Hard
The earlier the better when it comes to Kenny Rogers. Though he made some great records when he went solo too, it's the nine years with The First Edition I find most appealing. It was here that he recorded Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town; Reuben James; and The Dude's psychedelic stoner anthem, Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).
I was lucky enough to come across a collection of First Edition era Kenny in the charity shop a few months back and beyond the obvious glories, there were a number of hidden gems I'd never heard before. Here's one I've been enjoying a lot, where country rock meets gospel. Keeping that positive vibe going into February...
Another great band photo too, I'm sure you'll agree.
Top photo indeed
ReplyDeleteAt a quick glance you might think that the young lady was a lawyer or some such thing until you look closer and realize she is sporting a Nudie suit like the rest of the band!
Showing my ignorance here, I had no idea what a Nudie suit was... in fact, for a second there I was worried I'd posted an inapprpriate photo. Don't want those kind of hits!
Delete(I was then scared to google "Nudie suit" for obvious reasons.)
See the dude in the dark shirt, second from right? That's Mickey Jones, who in 1966 sat in for Levon Helm and toured the world drumming with Bob Dylan and The Band. In recent years he's been better known as an actor, most famously playing Pete Bilker in Home Improvement. Just call me the king of trivia!
ReplyDeleteThat's the kind of trivia I like. It's welcome here anytime, Swede.
DeleteOh Kenny, Ruby, and all those other artists whose names ended with a "y" - great stuff and good to hear the positive vibes are making their way into February. Great photo but as CC said the outfit makes them look positively flamboyant but makes the lady (Thelma C?) look positively lawyerly!
ReplyDeleteIt's the kind of photo that makes me want to join that band.
DeleteThat is a fantastic photo (just look at that face at the window!) and I am a big fan of Nudie suits so it's all good.
ReplyDeleteAlso a big fan of 'Just Dropped In...' - I remember first hearing that included on a tape of 60s psychedelia and couldn't believe it was the same Kenny Rogers I'd heard before.
With you on the positive vibes....
Yeah, it's different from much of the other First Edition stuff I've heard, but I've yet to investigate the album it came from so I don't know if there was more country psychedelia to be had.
DeleteHi Rol,
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard this one before and like it. Remember well their "Just Dropped In . . .." Thanks also for offering the new listening opportunities on googledrive. Much prefer that to youtube. ;-)
P.S. Might I request a new link in your blogroll? If that's o.k., ta in advance.
DeleteAh, Marie - good to have you back, and back in my blogroll too. I worried you'd disappeared since the last couple of times I tried to access your blog, blogger told me it no longer existed!
DeleteI'm afraid I usually only post songs on g-drive when I can't find the song on youtube. This is because a lot of my music is on wma files and they don't seem to play on g drive, so it's a pain having to convert them into mp3s to share them... particularly as my pc is on its last legs and regularly crashes if I ask it to do anything more complex than open the internet. Perhaps one day, if I can ever afford a new pc, and time permits, I might be able to post more g drive links.
I understand completely, Rol. I'm postponing getting a new computer myself as I love (and understand) Windows 7, but dread the switch to Windows 10. Two days ago, I dropped my laptop, destroying my mouse and the USB port into which it was plugged.
DeleteThanks for adding a link in your blogroll.
When I can afford a new (reconditioned) computer, I'm going back to Windows 7.
DeleteHad to blow up that photo too. That's a keeper. Keep the Kenny comin'.
ReplyDeleteDon't tempt me to start a Kenny Wednesday or something...
Delete(Hmm, that's not a bad idea.)