Me and Bobby McGee
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"Me and Bobby McGee" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster, originally performed by Roger Miller, but best remembered for Janis Joplin's cover of the song, recorded a few days before her death in October 1970.
Some sources state that Gordon Lightfoot issued the first recorded version; another story tells how Kristofferson popped his head into the studio with freshly written verses as Roger Miller was recording the song. Regardless, Miller was the first artist to have a hit with the song, peaking with it at #12 on the US country charts in 1969. Lightfoot's version hit #13 pop, and #1 country in his native Canada in 1970. In a 2008 autobiography, Don and Harold Reid of the Statler Brothers say Kristofferson promised it to them, but when they later inquired about recording it, they learned Miller had already cut the song. The Reids say there were no hard feelings, and were happy about Miller's success with the song. The song was later included on a Statler Brothers album, but was not released as a single.
By far the best known recording is by Janis Joplin on her 1971 Pearl album. Joplin's version topped the charts to become her only number one single and only the second posthumous number one single in rock & roll history (the first was "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding). In 2004, the Janis Joplin version of this song was ranked #148 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Kristofferson performed the song live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 and a CD and DVD of the event were issued 30 years later as Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival 1970.
In the original version of the song, Bobby is a woman; Janis Joplin, who was a lover and a friend of Kristofferson's from the beginning of her career to her death, changed the gender and a few of the lyrics in her cover. It was the last song she recorded before her death. Kristofferson states he did not write this song for her, but the song is associated with her. Especially, he has said, in the line, "Somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away."
[edit] Selected list of recorded versions
- 1969 Roger Miller on the album Roger Miller 1970
- 1970 Gordon Lightfoot on the album Sit Down Young Stranger
- 1970 Kris Kristofferson on his debut album Kristofferson (Listen )
- 1970 Bill Haley & His Comets on the album Rock Around the Country. (According to the biography Bill Haley by John Swenson, Kristofferson gave Haley's version his seal of approval.)
- 1971 Janis Joplin U.S. number-one single, and on the album Pearl (Listen )
- 1971 Jerry Lee Lewis (flip side to "Would You Take Another Chance on Me").
- 1971 The Grateful Dead on the album Skull & Roses
- 1972 Johnny Cash on the live Pa Osteraker
- 1974 Cornelis Vreeswijk on the album Getinghonung (swedish lyrics: Jag och Bosse Lidén)
- 1975 Lonnie Donegan
- 1979 Gianna Nannini (Io E Bobby McGee) on the album California
- 1999 LeAnn Rimes on the album LeAnn Rimes
- 1999 Barb Jungr on the album Bare
- 2002 Anne Murray on the album Country Croonin'
- 2002 Jennifer Love Hewitt on the album Bare Naked
- 2005 Allison Crowe on the double-album Live at Wood Hall
- 2005 Dolly Parton on the album Those Were The Days (Listen )
- 2005 Arlo Guthrie on the album Live In Sydney
- 2007 Angela Kalule on the album Last King Of Scotland OST
Other artists
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| Preceded by "One Bad Apple" by The Osmonds |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Janis Joplin version) March 20, 1971 |
Succeeded by "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" by The Temptations |
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