I never fully appreciated Kris Kristofferson until I watched Ken Burns' "Country" documentary. He wrote some of the most compelling lyrics I've ever heard, "Sunday Morning Coming Down" being a prime example.
The first song I ever heard that Kris wrote was Roger Miller's version of "Me And Bobby McGee", by Roger Miller. It rose to #12 on the Country charts in Sept., 1969. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZvsxe1CD-c&t=3s
"Like George Jones fronting the Velvets at their most restrained, Kris Kristofferson’s ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’ is a pitch-perfect spiritual about being the last one to grasp that your life needs to change. As Zevon once put it: “The shit that used to work/ It won’t work now.”
Did I mention I'm an old sentimental fool? (Or is that sentimental old fool?)
I'm lying in a hotel room in Lisbon watching Kristofferson videos on my phone remembering a Kristofferson concert where Ronnie Hawkins literally fell into lap.
After I've gorged on Sunday Morning, celebrated his support of Sinéad, and shared memories with the mother of my children (what the actual fuck?!) of course I turn to that dance scene from Heaven's Gate
I got talked into buyinig the debut by the guy who worked the record department at White Front. I was a record fiend so we saw each other all the time. I repected the guy's opinion because he knew his shit. School had just let out and there were a ton of great new releases I snagged. Gasoline Alley, John Barleycorn Must Die, Closer to Home, James Gang Rides Again, Alone Together etc. When I went to the register he said I should check Kristofferson out. He said that since I dug the Dead, the Band, Merle Haggard and Johhny Cash, I'd probably like Kris. I took him at his word and I was really glad I did. Within weeks Johnny Cash's version of Sunday Morning Coming Down hit. For lots of people the definitive version. Before the end of the year, the Dead did Me and Bobby McGee when I saw them in El Monte. Then Janis, of course. I love Kristofferson's version a lot but really love the Dead version from Skullfuck. Kris will never be missed. Those first two albums alone made him immortal.
9 comments:
A classic song. The Ken Burns doc on country music helped me appreciate Kris Kristofferson's impact on the genre. Plus, he has a crazy filmography!
I never fully appreciated Kris Kristofferson until I watched Ken Burns' "Country" documentary. He wrote some of the most compelling lyrics I've ever heard, "Sunday Morning Coming Down" being a prime example.
So thankful I caught him twice at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in 2011 and 2016. Legend.
The first song I ever heard that Kris wrote was Roger Miller's version of "Me And Bobby McGee", by Roger Miller. It rose to #12 on the Country charts in Sept., 1969. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZvsxe1CD-c&t=3s
Our friend Elizabeth @paranoiacs says it best:
"Like George Jones fronting the Velvets at their most restrained, Kris Kristofferson’s ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’ is a pitch-perfect spiritual about being the last one to grasp that your life needs to change. As Zevon once put it: “The shit that used to work/ It won’t work now.”
Did I mention I'm an old sentimental fool? (Or is that sentimental old fool?)
I'm lying in a hotel room in Lisbon watching Kristofferson videos on my phone remembering a Kristofferson concert where Ronnie Hawkins literally fell into lap.
After I've gorged on Sunday Morning, celebrated his support of Sinéad, and shared memories with the mother of my children (what the actual fuck?!) of course I turn to that dance scene from Heaven's Gate
https://youtu.be/WZfoi59-1to?si=yjd0AVczG8bLN8ZA
I got talked into buyinig the debut by the guy who worked the record department at White Front. I was a record fiend so we saw each other all the time. I repected the guy's opinion because he knew his shit. School had just let out and there were a ton of great new releases I snagged. Gasoline Alley, John Barleycorn Must Die, Closer to Home, James Gang Rides Again, Alone Together etc. When I went to the register he said I should check Kristofferson out. He said that since I dug the Dead, the Band, Merle Haggard and Johhny Cash, I'd probably like Kris. I took him at his word and I was really glad I did. Within weeks Johnny Cash's version of Sunday Morning Coming Down hit. For lots of people the definitive version. Before the end of the year, the Dead did Me and Bobby McGee when I saw them in El Monte. Then Janis, of course. I love Kristofferson's version a lot but really love the Dead version from Skullfuck. Kris will never be missed. Those first two albums alone made him immortal.
VR
You know what you're talking about, and can tell a good story. I always enjoy your comments.
Thanks for the comments. Sal's gone fishing, and I'll do my best to fill in this week.
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