I never get tired of this song - back when it was a radio hit (around the time this TV show was on) I’d stop what I was doing,,, then think about packin’ my grip and headin’ for the freight yards…. the dreams of a naive teenager.
facebook.com/reel/136307246586...fs=e&fs=e
Hartford noted that the songwriter royalties from “Gentle on My Mind” were significant in enabling him to choose the career direction he wanted.
One of the most-recorded songs in history.
I can fingerpick a guitar, but the banjo not so much.
If I could, I'd want to do it like John.
The royalty earnings Hartford received on this song were huge. At one time this song held the record for the most "covered" song in the music industry -- "covered" meaning re-recorded by other artists.
Now this statement is probably hyperbole of some sort, but there's a big portion of truth in it for sure! It set Hartford up for the rest of his life, after it was "carefully invested" for him (his own words).
When one of your songs is recorded by: Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby & Count Basie, Aretha Franklin…. I think you can be satisfied ;-)
Edited by - banjopaolo on 09/15/2026 10:50:37
I got to listen to part of it before Facebook wanted me to sign in.... I'm not on Facebook, so that took care of listening to the rest of the song. What I heard was great.
I think newer banjo players who are trying to figure out backup should listen to this. Hartford has a way of doing a busy backup ... in the background, softly and then coming back full sound for licks when the singer pauses for a breath (at the end of a musical phrase).
Here it is on youtube, if you are, like me, not on facebook:
youtu.be/GNHqG9lPcaE
pfalzgrass
Thanks! I got to enjoy the entire song instead of being cut off in the middle.
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