Songwriter Jim Weatherly passed away earlier this month, aged 77. Having written songs for Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney, he worked predominantly in country music... yet his three biggest hits came in the soul arena, via Gladys Knight & The Pips: You're The Best Thing (That Ever Happened To Me), Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye... and this, undoubtedly his most famous composition...
A genuine soul classic.
The song was, however, originally recorded by Weatherly himself... with a different title... a different destination... and a different mode of transport.
Many years later, Jim would take a crack at the more famous version. Careful though, there are a couple of versions out there, and with all due respect, one of them sounds like bad karaoke. This would be the one to listen to.
For a proper re-interpretation, more true to Weatherly's original vision, here's Neil Diamond.
Yes, it's everything you'd expect from a Neil Diamond cover, but stripped back with that voice to the forefront. No, it's nowhere as good as Gladys... but you can't improve on perfection.
You're dead right Rol, you can't improve on perfection. Gladys' version is effortlessly classy.
ReplyDeleteI read about Midnight Plane to Houston a while back and learned he heard that phrase from Farrah Fawcett while talking to her on the phone. It stuck in his mind. Cool story.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.texasmonthly.com/list/the-secret-history-of-texas-music/midnight-plane-to-houston-1972/
Thanks for the extra detail, Brian.
DeleteAnother piece of music folklore that is new to me but really fascinating. The Gladys version is sublime though and just realised I’ve listened to it at just coming up to Midnight. Very apt.
ReplyDeleteIt also makes me want to resume my musical odyssey across the 50 states. Let’s see.
Go for it! I'm trying to resurrect some old blog series just to mix things up and cut the monotony. (Not that monotony is something you have to worry about.
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