Jerry Jeff Walker
Posted by Richard on July 28, 2012
That Toby Keith lyric about “singing Jerry Jeff songs” brought back memories and made me want to listen to some Jerry Jeff. And share.
Back in my misspent youth, we sang along to “Jaded Lover” a lot when we were drinking (and whatever).
We sang along to this one a lot, too.
[YouTube link]
Here’s a delightful surprise I stumbled across: Jerry Jeff performing Guy Clark’s “LA Freeway” on the Dinah Shore show in 1978. The video is 1978-quality, but the sound is pretty good and the performance is terrific. Another great sing-along song.
Now for a change of pace. “Hank Williams Tonight” is one of the best songs of heartbreak ever.
Another change of pace. “Cowboy Boots and Bathing Suits” is about one of Jerry Jeff’s favorite places, Belize.
I’ll finish with “Mr. Bojangles,” undoubtedly one of Jerry Jeff’s finest songs and the one that’s been covered by more artists than any other. This is the original recording. If you hit the YouTube link and expand the description, you can read how he came to write it after a brief stint in jail in 1968.
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