The music of Kenny Rogers is familiar to millions of people around the world. His distinctive voice and stylizations make any song recorded by him instantly recognizable to his legions of fans everywhere. A former member of the New Christy Minstrels, Kenny Rogers first received public acclaim as a member and leader of the 1960’s pop- rock group The First Edition. An accomplished bass player and photographer, Kenny Rogers vaulted his way to superstardom with the release of such monumental singles as Lucille, Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town and The Gambler. The story songs of Kenny Rogers will live on forever, due in part to their timelessness and their wonderful melodies. Presented here, is one music reviewer’s compilation of ten great songs by Kenny Rogers.
A) Something’s Burning..1970.. Propelled by a driving bass line and urgent drums, this up- tempo rocker recorded with The First Edition starts out softly and gently and builds to a crescending climax in the refrains, where Kenny Rogers intones that what is burning is love. An under- appreciated and under- played example of just how great Kenny Rogers and the First Edition really were.
B) Ruby, (Don’t Take Your Love To Town)..1969.. A truly memorable Kenny Rogers song wherein he is in the part of a seemingly- paralyzed war veteran, whose wife is going out on the town without him. A very vivid and somewhat dark song that is one of Kenny Rogers’ best known works. When he sings “It’s hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed and the wants and the needs of a woman your age”, he paints a visual tableau that is believable and effective.
C) Reuben James..1969.. In this song, Kenny Rogers tells the tale of Reuben James, a sharecropping black man from Madison County. With a Bible in his right hand, Reuben James was the one who did not turn his back on the hungry white child. An up- tempo, countrified homage to a man who was misunderstood, yet cherished and honored by Kenny Rogers is articulated here.
D) (You Picked A Fine Time To Leave Me) Lucille..1977.. This number- one hit song essentially catapulted Kenny Rogers’ solo career to the top of the heap in both country and pop circles. In this story- song, Kenny Rogers tells of meeting a woman in a barroom, who turns out to be married and his conciense won’t let him do the wrong thing.
E) The Gambler..1978.. Regarded by many listeners as being the quintessential Kenny Rogers song, The Gambler is certainly one of his most well- known songs. A great example of the masterful storytelling that Kenny Rogers delivers in many of his songs, this song is almost a parable unto itself. Offering simple, yet true life’s lessons advice with lines such as “Know when to hold them, know when to fold them”, this song also inspired a movie of the same name.
F) Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)..1967.. The first big hit song for Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, Just Dropped In is a dark and psychedelic song that sounds like no other. Full of fuzzed- out sound effects and interesting lyrics, this classic song is accented by the famous refrain of ” Yeah, yeah, oh yeah, what condition my condition was in”. For listeners who are only familiar with Kenny Rogers’ later works, this song may completely blow their minds. As fresh and vibrant in the 2000’s, as it was when it was recorded in 1967. Coincidentally, a 45 rpm single of this song, was the first record ever purchased by this writer.
G) Coward Of The County..1980.. Another one of Kenny Rogers’ story songs, this classic tells the tale of Kenny Rogers caring for his brother’s son, who is called the “Coward of the county”. An inspirational song about doing the right thing and not underestimating quiet and seemingly- meek people, this song also posesses a wonderful melody, that pleasantly lingers.
H) Elvira..1970.. This pumped- up and energetic version of the song made famous by the Oak Ridge Boys is a joyous and infectious song that you just can’t help shimmying and bopping to. The electric bass and drum work, Kenny Roger’s lead vocals and the back- up vocals are all phenomenal. This version should have been, or still could be a number- one hit song.
J) Islands In The Stream (with Dolly Parton)..1983.. From a 1983 album produced by the Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb, this duet with Dolly Parton was a number- one hit song, that reached across pop and country parameters and became a much- loved song by fans of both genres. This timeless classic is perhaps one of the most popular duet- songs in recent pop and country music history.
K) But You Know I Love You..1969.. A great melody and lyrics, accented with classy horn arrangements, are featured in this very hummable song that Kenny Rogers recorded with The First Edition in 1969. In this song, Kenny Rogers laments being away from his lover, by having to be “On the road”, yet again. When he sings “And to pay the rent, I must leave you all alone”, you can almost feel his anguish, but the peppy melody of this song rescues it from self- despair and makes it an almost- celebratory exclamation of his love.
