I asked him when I met him (John Hartford) what it took to be a #riverboatpilot? He recommended I not do it… He said there were way too many dangers, including horny males. I trusted him, so listened to him, and took his advice. ❤
Glen Campbell: Member of the famous "Wrecking Crew" of studio musicians, lauded by many professionals as one of the greatest guitar players of all time, part-time member of the Beach Boys, singer songwriter, 29 songs in the top 10, with 50 years experience before we lost him. John Hartford: Grammy award winning singer songwriter, could play banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin with the best, expert river boat pilot, poet, author, music historian, the man could play a fiddle, sing, and clog at the same time. He was called a one-man band. Needless to say, these two phenomenal artists created a huge stir among their fans when it was announced that Glen would host a TV show. They are missed. Keep playing in heaven, boys.
I was 10 years old when this song hit the airwaves. It conjures up memories of that time...the Vietnam war, flower power, The Cowsills, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, The Doors, and so many more other memories of the time!
I turned 9 years old that summer and the best part of that year was the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the Glen Campbell Show. They and John Hartford and Steve Martin were why I picked up a guitar and why decades later I spend way too much time humming and strumming!
As a banjo picker, inspired by John Hartford, among others, I disagree with you. It is impossible to spend too much time humming and strumming...or just pickin' and grinnin'!
Glenn put country music into the mainstream with the Glenn Campbell Good time hour! I watched it when I was a kid and Glenn had a natural ability in front of the camera. He was a great artist and one of the best guitar players ever! He was respected by the Greats from Sinatra to Elvis and his talent will be missed.
Interesting fact: Glenn couldn't read music. He learned in the mountains, where you just pick up an instrument when you're a kid and start playing. To the end of his career he had to have someone else play written music for him before he could play it himself (with appropriate upgrades, of course). I loved learning that, because I learned several instruments (guitar, banjo, mandolin) that same way.
@@normsaunders4980 Launched John Denver. At some point, Glenn becomes a six-degrees game for the pop music of a whole era, whether country, folk, or rock.
My father had Hartford's Earthwords and Music album when I was a preschool kid. He would play the whole thing over and over in the house on weekends, and I always waited with such anticipation for this song to be up. I was a teenager before knowing it was Glen Campbell who had made it famous, but for me John Hartford's original will forever be the best version.
So nice to see the song writer, Johnny Hartford, getting credit too; Glen was such a master at the guitar and had a voice like butter. When I hear Glen singing "the back roads of my memories" I think about his illness. I lost both parents to dementia, and I get choked when I play this one.
I read somewhere that after Glen Campbell became sick it was terrible, but if he was handed his guitar he played like nothing was wrong with him. The doctors said it was muscle memory. I know that had to be heartbreaking and beautiful for anyone that witnessed that.
That "IT all starts with the composer"! "IT" was and is HIS creation with lived translations into the open minds' emotions, that tugs our common humility of savored memories.
I will never forget being at the Color Cruise near Chattanooga, on the Tennessee River. I began to hear Mississippi Dew and it was John's unmistakable voice! As I was trying to decide where it was coming from, I heard a steam whistle and looked to see a steamboat approaching the landing with John out on the starboard wing bridge playing and singing.
Only recently did I learn who wrote the song. Mr. Campbell did a wonderful job when he recorded it. Mr/ Hartford did an outstanding job composing it. This is an iconic American song that history will treat very well.
One of my greatest thrills was to meet #JohnHartford in person. He was a true gentleman, gift to the world of playing music, fiddling, I never washed my fiddle after he played it. ❤
This was a never forgotten moment in my life. I finally got to see John at the Ryman when he opened the show for the historic return of the Everly Brothers !
I owned John Hartford's Aereoplain album. Very much tongue-in-cheek humor and wonderful bluegrass/country material and talent. Opened and closed with 'Turn Your Radio On'. Hartford was simply loaded with talent.
Was able to see Mr Hartford in concert at the Ark, and he sang this so achingly wistful, I still remember- he also stayed and talked with people even though he was in such back pain he laid flat on the floor - a truly marvelous gentleman.
@@thomdombrowski8572 the Ark in Ann Arbor MI is on its third(?) incarnation with the first two being houses, according to its website, Cream did not play there
@@poisonsumc7426 ahhh back in 68/69 there was a place in Boston, called the Ark.. If memory serves it is one of the places Cream played.. very few folk showed up, as they had never heard of them. sadly I was like 15 or so and could not go.
I actually watched that summer show at my grandparents' farm in NC (I lived in DC at the time). That's how I got interested in guitars, particularly Ovations.
Fell in love with them and this song on the smothers bros show way back then and it remains, as always, gentle on my mind. Ps john hartford had the softest hands i ever had the good fortune to shake. He and Marie at rest just up the road in a cemetery across from the national on gallatin rd/briley pkwy in nashville
I can't believe I am also turning 69 in a few weeks. Where did the dang time go? I remember very clearly coming into focus and starting to learn about politics and current events at the time this show aired. Unfortunately the Smothers had and extremely left wing point of view with little balance. GIven the state of legacy media outlets today, it's hard to imagine that their POV got them into trouble with more centrist or even right-leaning elements at the network, but it did.
Classic performance. I remember watching the SB's show back in the day as a kid when this was on, also watching GC on the summer series. They had some great talent on both shows.
I love, gentle on my mind. I was a young teenager, fullof hopes and dreams.this song calm my restless soul. Back then we had flower power, Vietnam War, laugh in ( with Goldie Hawn), three dog night, and mama's home cooking. Times were more calm, not like today. Sweet memories. Rip Glenn and John.
Someone once said that Glen Campbell had way more talent than one person outta have. No doubt. Hartford was a great songwriter who never really got his due, and Gentle on My Mind is certainly a masterpiece in its ability to evoke images and emotions. Glen Campbell was truly a class act and I didn’t recognize until more recently how big a part he played in my youth in the 1960s.
" Gentle .." actually it's a copy of Hank Snow's 1959 " Rhumba Boogie". And Hank plays the guitar, as always, in it : ua-cam.com/video/_fxRL1WyXsA/v-deo.html
@@artcflowers That's how it works. Take a song, alternate a little to the right and left and there's a new tune. I love H. Snow, he was a great singer and composer and what a guitar player he was. He made 2 instrumental Lps with Chet Atkins in the early 60s. You can hear it here. ua-cam.com/video/k2qcDlNxK5M/v-deo.html
@@catholiccowboy8545 i have my Pops' lps, hank snow amongst them! John Hartford had the softest hands i ever shook. I loved the smothers bros and the glen campbell shows.
Wow that's a long time ago. The song is special to my daughter and I she is 23 and while she was gone in the Navy we shared the song and it would always tear me up
Saw John H in at a random outdoor,summer folk music festival in the middle of Nowhere, IN, in the middle of a Saturday, in the middle of the 70s. He played fiddle and sang while clog dancing on a large piece of plywood. He’d gone full bore back to his roots as a riverboat country troubador. Very impressive to watch…cardiovascularly if nothing else!
Glen and John Hartford were just starting out. Their song, Gentle on my Mind, turned out to become of the greatest popular songs of all time, an enormous success.
Actually, it's John's song. Also Glen was a studio musician prior to this... he was part of the Wrecking Crew... ua-cam.com/video/gn35akH09Z8/v-deo.html
I love playing Gentle on My Mind on my banjo when I perform. I saw John Hartford a couple of times in Jacksonville, Florida, and did dueling faces at a small venue called Apple Jacks.
Big Fan of both John Hartford and Glen Campbell, and it's great seeing them together. The second song on this clip, "Thank U Very Much" was originally recorded by The Scaffold, and was written by Mike McGear/McCartney. Tom, Dick and Glen re-worked some of the lyrics for this broadcast.
The irony of this whole situation is, Glen Campbell actually took their job the next year. Smothers Brothers were two in your face political, and they gave Glen his own Glen Campbell Good Times show the next season.
No doubt that they were walking a fine line with the network for their political commentary. They were always in trouble. Righteous rebels, those two. Bloody brilliant.
Following this appearance 1968 when the Smothers Brothers show took their summer break, Glen Campbell replaced them with the Summer Brothers Smothers Show.
John Hartford was a huge talent - musician, poet, writer, steamboat captain - and a great human being. I miss him.
We need more steamboat captains.
And clogger
Me too. Gone too soon.
@@chaz2120 On a miked up piece of plywood.
I asked him when I met him (John Hartford) what it took to be a #riverboatpilot? He recommended I not do it… He said there were way too many dangers, including horny males. I trusted him, so listened to him, and took his advice. ❤
RIP, John and Glenn. Thanks for the talent you shared with us.
And Tommy
💝
And the lines.
Glen was incredibly gracious and always credited the song writers. Don’t ever see that today
He should have credited Hank Snow too for his 1959 song " Rhumba Boogie" witch is " Gentle ... ". : ua-cam.com/video/405cmqNay5s/v-deo.html
@@catholiccowboy8545
🤔yeah, I checked it out…
Not Really, but everyone’s entitled to their opinion 😌
@@janicedenisar3008 ... No really, it's true.
@@catholiccowboy8545You're a bit off base there, my friend. Rhumba Boogie is NOT Gentle On My Mind. No way.
@@douglasscharnberg3883 ... I'm on base and it's a homerun.
Glen Campbell: Member of the famous "Wrecking Crew" of studio musicians, lauded by many professionals as one of the greatest guitar players of all time, part-time member of the Beach Boys, singer songwriter, 29 songs in the top 10, with 50 years experience before we lost him. John Hartford: Grammy award winning singer songwriter, could play banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin with the best, expert river boat pilot, poet, author, music historian, the man could play a fiddle, sing, and clog at the same time. He was called a one-man band. Needless to say, these two phenomenal artists created a huge stir among their fans when it was announced that Glen would host a TV show. They are missed. Keep playing in heaven, boys.
I was 10 years old when this song hit the airwaves. It conjures up memories of that time...the Vietnam war, flower power, The Cowsills, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, The Doors, and so many more other memories of the time!
Bringing tears. Miss the talent God took home.
Just shows that God likes good music, too. RIP, Glen.
I turned 9 years old that summer and the best part of that year was the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the Glen Campbell Show. They and John Hartford and Steve Martin were why I picked up a guitar and why decades later I spend way too much time humming and strumming!
As a banjo picker, inspired by John Hartford, among others, I disagree with you. It is impossible to spend too much time humming and strumming...or just pickin' and grinnin'!
Pat Paulson for president
I saw John Hartford perform live in 1982. He was such an engaging, versatile and energetic performer. Even his shoes were wired for sound.
Saw him in the very late 70's and I believe he used mikes attached to some plywood.
Saw him at Mole Lake
@@allanmccullough8550 Could be, but I remember him going off the stage and dancing in the audience, hence my belief that his shoes were somehow mic'd.
Glen Campbell a class act who gives the writer the first line.
Witch writer ??? Because actually " Gentle .." it's Hank Snow's 1959 " Rhumba Boogie". ua-cam.com/video/_fxRL1WyXsA/v-deo.html
Growing up I didn’t appreciate the greatness of Glen Campbell. But John Hartford is even greater yet.
@@joedaley-pk3to Hank Snow playing and singing " Gentle on my Mind " in 1959 : ua-cam.com/video/405cmqNay5s/v-deo.html
What a cool video to capture this masterpiece performed by the brilliant composer, Johnny Hartford.
Glenn put country music into the mainstream with the Glenn Campbell Good time hour! I watched it when I was a kid and Glenn had a natural ability in front of the camera. He was a great artist and one of the best guitar players ever! He was respected by the Greats from Sinatra to Elvis and his talent will be missed.
Interesting fact: Glenn couldn't read music. He learned in the mountains, where you just pick up an instrument when you're a kid and start playing. To the end of his career he had to have someone else play written music for him before he could play it himself (with appropriate upgrades, of course).
I loved learning that, because I learned several instruments (guitar, banjo, mandolin) that same way.
Proud member of the Wrecking Crew, and temporarily part of the Beach Boys.
@@normsaunders4980 Launched John Denver. At some point, Glenn becomes a six-degrees game for the pop music of a whole era, whether country, folk, or rock.
To watch a young Campbell singing about memories is very touching
Ah the gentle ballad now that was music....yesterday when I was young! 🎶
What an incredible performance from a time that we will never ever see again Ever PERIOD!!!!!!!!!
My father had Hartford's Earthwords and Music album when I was a preschool kid. He would play the whole thing over and over in the house on weekends, and I always waited with such anticipation for this song to be up. I was a teenager before knowing it was Glen Campbell who had made it famous, but for me John Hartford's original will forever be the best version.
You were lucky to have such a dad.
This song was the perfect musical sound for that era..
So nice to see the song writer, Johnny Hartford, getting credit too; Glen was such a master at the guitar and had a voice like butter. When I hear Glen singing "the back roads of my memories" I think about his illness. I lost both parents to dementia, and I get choked when I play this one.
I read somewhere that after Glen Campbell became sick it was terrible, but if he was handed his guitar he played like nothing was wrong with him. The doctors said it was muscle memory. I know that had to be heartbreaking and beautiful for anyone that witnessed that.
I saw John Hartford in 1973. Great show.
WITHOUT DISPUTE, ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS EVER. *****
This and Wichita Lineman: two songs that were completely different from all other popular music, and both recorded by Glenn.
What a wonderful time for music… It never gets old.
This needs so many more views. The breathtaking performance and watching TV history happen. So comforting to see this again.
I'm so glad I was born in 1954.
And me just one year later.
Let’s not forget April of 1956! I played a mandolin from age 7 to 15 and the times were changing!
And I on May 11, 1954. We got to experience all the great music talent. How lucky we were.
November 24 1953 here. Still enjoying listening to and playing the best music from that era.
1955 Bergstrom AFB Austin Texas.
The greatest Americana tune ever written.....thanks Mr. Hartford and Mr. Campbell.
Looking back, I think I had it right at age 12 when I was crazy for the superb singing of Glenn. After that, it was on to rock and roll.
It all starts with the composer
That "IT all starts with the composer"! "IT" was and is HIS creation with lived translations into the open minds' emotions, that tugs our common humility of savored memories.
I will never forget being at the Color Cruise near Chattanooga, on the Tennessee River. I began to hear Mississippi Dew and it was John's unmistakable voice! As I was trying to decide where it was coming from, I heard a steam whistle and looked to see a steamboat approaching the landing with John out on the starboard wing bridge playing and singing.
Glenn Campbell just an amazing artist.. hugely underrated.. Genius guitarist, vocalist and interpreter of song.
Who underrated him?
@@robs5688 the fact that hes not brought up as one of the greatest artists regularly is underrated..
Only recently did I learn who wrote the song. Mr. Campbell did a wonderful job when he recorded it. Mr/ Hartford did an outstanding job composing it. This is an iconic American song that history will treat very well.
I remember John being a regular on Glen's show.
One of the best songs ever!
One of my greatest thrills was to meet #JohnHartford in person. He was a true gentleman, gift to the world of playing music, fiddling, I never washed my fiddle after he played it. ❤
What a blast from the past! I got to see John Hartford live at a Fiddler's convention around 1973.
They are both missed! RIP to both of you!!!!!
This was a never forgotten moment in my life.
I finally got to see John at the Ryman when he opened the show for the historic return of the Everly Brothers !
That would be a wonderful show!
@@krisevans5022 Wasn’t it?
@@krisevans5022 Thank you. ☺️
I miss remembered.
Loved Glen Campbell. He was from my home state. Beautiful smooth voice
One of the best songs ever composed
Excellent rendition of the song!
I owned John Hartford's Aereoplain album. Very much tongue-in-cheek humor and wonderful bluegrass/country material and talent. Opened and closed with 'Turn Your Radio On'. Hartford was simply loaded with talent.
R I.P. Tommy Smothers and Glenn Campbell, your incredible talent will never be replaced by anyone now or Ever PERIOD!!!!!
What about John? He get no love?
It was one of the greatest ever!
Love these two wonderful talented artists.. May they both Rest In Peace 💕🙏🏻
Simply country music perfection.
Was able to see Mr Hartford in concert at the Ark, and he sang this so achingly wistful, I still remember- he also stayed and talked with people even though he was in such back pain he laid flat on the floor - a truly marvelous gentleman.
At the ark? wow you are old. Perhaps other than me. no one knows what the ark is. .. Did not Cream play thier1st concert at the Ark>
@@thomdombrowski8572 the Ark in Ann Arbor MI is on its third(?) incarnation with the first two being houses, according to its website, Cream did not play there
@@poisonsumc7426 ahhh back in 68/69 there was a place in Boston, called the Ark.. If memory serves it is one of the places Cream played.. very few folk showed up, as they had never heard of them. sadly I was like 15 or so and could not go.
Always loved that song. ♥
I actually watched that summer show at my grandparents' farm in NC (I lived in DC at the time).
That's how I got interested in guitars, particularly Ovations.
I love the deep feeling that comes out of Glenn's voice. Such a pleasure to listen to.
Simply Brilliant!!!
Fell in love with them and this song on the smothers bros show way back then and it remains, as always, gentle on my mind. Ps john hartford had the softest hands i ever had the good fortune to shake. He and Marie at rest just up the road in a cemetery across from the national on gallatin rd/briley pkwy in nashville
I'm so glad you appreciated him the way I did when I was only 11
One of my top 3 songs, but never seen this duet before.
Phenomenal guitarist, Always loved this
Doesn't get any better than this.
Last verse is so poetic - love hearing it every time.
Amazing. Beautiful memories. Turned 69 a few days ago.
Happy Birthday! 🎉🍰🎂
I can't believe I am also turning 69 in a few weeks. Where did the dang time go? I remember very clearly coming into focus and starting to learn about politics and current events at the time this show aired. Unfortunately the Smothers had and extremely left wing point of view with little balance. GIven the state of legacy media outlets today, it's hard to imagine that their POV got them into trouble with more centrist or even right-leaning elements at the network, but it did.
Mine's coming in a couple of weeks. 69.
What a great song.Campbell was an amazing talent.
Thanks for the memories boys, 4/17/24...
🙂🇺🇸 I like the old smothers brothers shows.
Classic performance. I remember watching the SB's show back in the day as a kid when this was on, also watching GC on the summer series. They had some great talent on both shows.
‘Through cupped hands, ‘round a tin can…’ Priceless
What a reflective, savoring, personal, emotional wordsmithing!
This is probably my favorite rendition of Gentle on My Mind by the two wonderfully talented men who made it famous. RIP, guys.
John Hartford was a steamboat captain and wrote may songs about the river and piloting boats on the Mississippi.
awesome just awesome
I love, gentle on my mind. I was a young teenager, fullof hopes and dreams.this song calm my restless soul. Back then we had flower power, Vietnam War, laugh in ( with Goldie Hawn), three dog night, and mama's home cooking. Times were more calm, not like today. Sweet memories. Rip Glenn and John.
Someone once said that Glen Campbell had way more talent than one person outta have. No doubt. Hartford was a great songwriter who never really got his due, and Gentle on My Mind is certainly a masterpiece in its ability to evoke images and emotions. Glen Campbell was truly a class act and I didn’t recognize until more recently how big a part he played in my youth in the 1960s.
" Gentle .." actually it's a copy of Hank Snow's 1959 " Rhumba Boogie". And Hank plays the guitar, as always, in it : ua-cam.com/video/_fxRL1WyXsA/v-deo.html
Well said Glen and this song represented a period in time a lot of us will never forget.
@catholiccowboy8545 similar but not really a steal, close. Hank Snow, always gracious, was one of my Daddo's faves.
@@artcflowers That's how it works. Take a song, alternate a little to the right and left and there's a new tune. I love H. Snow, he was a great singer and composer and what a guitar player he was. He made 2 instrumental Lps with Chet Atkins in the early 60s. You can hear it here. ua-cam.com/video/k2qcDlNxK5M/v-deo.html
@@catholiccowboy8545 i have my Pops' lps, hank snow amongst them! John Hartford had the softest hands i ever shook. I loved the smothers bros and the glen campbell shows.
Wow that's a long time ago. The song is special to my daughter and I she is 23 and while she was gone in the Navy we shared the song and it would always tear me up
Wow! Thank you very, very much, indeed!
What a wonderful trip back in time this is for me. ❤❤❤
Two of the three songs I always associate the this show. Classical Gas by Mason Williams is the third.
Two great guys -- wish they were still with us.
Great times…. I remember the show very well. Then the Goodtime Hour.
I love ❤ ❤ both 😍 Glenn Cambial & the Smothers Brother
very much love this.
Both.have passed now, 😅one greatest songs ever written and played
All three are now gone. Tom Smothers also recently passed
John Hartford, Glen and Tommy all gone now.
I saw this show when it first aired and I instantly became a huge Johnny Hartford and Glen Campbell fan.
Just a fantastic piece of work!!
Clever song! Both great musicians and performers!
Saw John H in at a random outdoor,summer folk music festival in the middle of Nowhere, IN, in the middle of a Saturday, in the middle of the 70s. He played fiddle and sang while clog dancing on a large piece of plywood. He’d gone full bore back to his roots as a riverboat country troubador. Very impressive to watch…cardiovascularly if nothing else!
Yes! He played Rites of Spring at Vandy one year.
I'm pretty sure i saw John Hartford do that playing banjo while clogging also
On UA-cam awesome
I remenber seeing this 56 ( yikes ! ) years ago. I like it even more now
News flash: aside from his Mom and his Grandmom noone ever called John Hartford "Johnny". He was John because we all respected him.
That's the truth. John Hartford is his name.
Seen John Hartford and the Dillard's at Clarion College in the late 70s excellent show but we were wasted.
Glen and John Hartford were just starting out. Their song, Gentle on my Mind, turned out to become of the greatest popular songs of all time, an enormous success.
Actually, it's John's song. Also Glen was a studio musician prior to this... he was part of the Wrecking Crew... ua-cam.com/video/gn35akH09Z8/v-deo.html
I love playing Gentle on My Mind on my banjo when I perform. I saw John Hartford a couple of times in Jacksonville, Florida, and did dueling faces at a small venue called Apple Jacks.
I actually remember this!
Glen Campbell was a great guitar player. Ovation has a guitar with his name on it!! Beautiful guitar.
Glen Campbell owns a lot of pages in the American song book and should probably be on the cover.
glen was very talented. he was an excellent guitar player and picker.
Love the coordinated wardrobe.
Beautiful....
glenn’s voice literally got better smoother and more sultry w age
Still very funny, witty and entertaining in 2024.
And Tommy with a parakeet on his shoulder! That right there sums up the Great Man's off-beat sense of humor!
Have loved this song since I first heard it on the Glen Campbell show...saw him in concert when he sang it too...
Big Fan of both John Hartford and Glen Campbell, and it's great seeing them together.
The second song on this clip, "Thank U Very Much" was originally recorded by The Scaffold, and was written by Mike McGear/McCartney. Tom, Dick and Glen re-worked some of the lyrics for this broadcast.
The irony of this whole situation is, Glen Campbell actually took their job the next year.
Smothers Brothers were two in your face political, and they gave Glen his own Glen Campbell Good Times show the next season.
Very, very groovy!
The lyrics of this song say more that words can tell.
Glen Campbell was on the verge of becoming a major star.
No doubt that they were walking a fine line with the network for their political commentary. They were always in trouble. Righteous rebels, those two. Bloody brilliant.
These lyrics rival anything any poet has ever written.
Quality post. Thanks!
Pure perfection....
Magic
Great
Following this appearance 1968 when the Smothers Brothers show took their summer break, Glen Campbell replaced them with the Summer Brothers Smothers Show.
❤