Kris Kristofferson - Kristofferson
On this week's episode, we discuss the debut album by Kris Kristofferson 1970's Kristofferson.
A man of many talents, Kris Kristofferson is a scholar, an athlete, a pilot, an actor, a performer, and most importantly, one of country music's most beloved (and most successful) songwriters. On par with Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, and John Prine, he has penned some of country music's most endearing songs. Many of the songs on this album have been covered before and since this album was made, some arguably performed by better singers. But Kristofferson's voice has character that imbues these songs with an earnestness that makes for compelling listening.
Recommendation for this episode: Willie Sings Kristofferson by Willie Nelson.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
Doug Sahm was a musical prodigy. At age 5, he began singing. At Age Six, he was playing the steel guitar and by age 8 he could play the fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.
Kris Kristofferson’s father, Henry Kristofferson, was U.S. Army Air Corps officer and later an U.S. Air Force Major General. This picture of his family (Kris is on the left) was taken after he flew a B-25 from Washington, D.C. to Brownsville, Texas after being discharged from the U.S. Army Air Forces. The nose-art depicts the him riding a rocket from Karachi to Brownsville.
The Kristofferson family at happier times.
In March of 1958, Kristofferson was featured in Sports Illustrated as a result of his collegiate achievements in rugby, football, and track & field.
At the time of this feature, he was one of 32 Americans selected as a Rhodes scholar to continue his studies at the Oxford University in the UK, where he earned a master's degree in English literature in 1960.
Fred Foster (pictured with Kristofferson) was the founder of Combine Music and Monument Records and played a pivotal role in Kristofferson transitioning form a songwriter to a performer.
Foster also provided Kristofferson the inspiration for “Me and Bobby McGee.”
Ray Price recorded “For the Good Times” in March of 1970. Originally released as a"B" side it was switched after Wayne Newton recorded his own version. Price’s version topped the Country chart for one week and reached number 11 on the Billboard pop singles chart (Price’s only release to hit the Top 40 of the pop chart.
The song won the Academy of Country Music Awards "Song of the Year" for Kristofferson as composer and "Single of the Year" for Price.
In 1970, Johnny Cash recorded “Sunday Morning Coming Down.” Cash’s version hit number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs and number 46 on the Billoard Hot 100 . Here is Cash perfoming the song on his show.
“Sunday Morning Coming Down” won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year Award in 1970. As a testament to Kristofferson’s ability as a songwritter, here won “Song of the Year” from the two rival county music organizations in the same year for two different songs.
Here’s Roy Clark presenting an emotional Kristofferson with the CMA award.
The song “Me and Bobby McGee” was first recorded by Roger Miller recorded it in 1969
, and latter by several others. But it’s the Billboard chat topping 1970 Janis Joplin recording that everyone knows.
Kristofferson and Joplin had been an item briefly and remained on good terms afterwards. Kristofferson had sung the song for her, and singer Bob Neuwirth taught it to her. Joplin recorded the song without telling Kristofferson three days before her death.
Kristofferson’s film debut was in The Last Movie, directed by Dennis Hopper (right).
In 1976, Kristofferson starred in A Star Is Born, with Barbra Streisand. The movie and soundtrack were huge hits and Kristofferson won a Golden Globe for Best Actor.
While originally considered a somewhat risque song about a one night stand, “Help Me Make it Through the Night” had shed that baggage by the time Kristofferson appeared on The Muppet Show and performed a duet of the song with Miss Piggy in 1978.
In 1985 Kristofferson formed the county music super group, the Highwaymen, with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson.
Picture (L to R): Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings.
