I had the pleasure of seeing Mel (the featured act in my eyes) open for Freddy Fender many years ago at the Circle Star Theatre. I also have this album.! R.I.P. Mel 💖
Mel Tillis - great song. When he talked he stuttered but, when he sang he did not stutter! A line in the song about a "crazy Asian war" and the time of the song's release led to the assumption that the song was about a veteran of the Vietnam War, though this was never stated in the lyrics. However, Tillis stated that the song was about a veteran of World War II WW2 the war my dad fought on the heavy cruiser USS Louisville CA 28 from 1943-46 - TAKE CARE!
It should have been a big hit for him or Waylon, but i don't think either released a single ...this recording was plenty good to be a hit single in '67 when it was released on an album.
Wicker Bill ...we didn’t get much TV Country in the U.K. back then,but Ruby was shown on our Top Of The Pops. Can’t remember liking or disliking the song,but would NOT have liked Kenny and his long hair and facial appearance....so wouldn’t have bought the record. But of course I ended up with Mel’s and Johnny Darrell’s!
Couldn’t let it rest Bill...before Kenny’s was released,I’d already got it by Mel,Johnny AND Waylon. Rogers did get to #2 in the U.K. Pop charts December 1969.
@@Grahamgusbull I have Johnny and Waylons versions too but prefer Mel's to either of those...and then The First Edition's country-rock version came out and straddled the charts.
I would love to have the money from the royalties from this song I don't know how many different artist have recorded this one I've heard it by several country music artist as well as bluegrass artist
The song was inspired by a crippled soldier who fought in World War 2, not the Vietnam War (thus the reference to the legs being bent and paralyzed, and the reference to the "Asian War.")
Mel Tillis - great song. When he talked he stuttered but, when he sang he did not stutter! A line in the song about a "crazy Asian war" and the time of the song's release led to the assumption that the song was about a veteran of the Vietnam War, though this was never stated in the lyrics. However, Tillis stated that the song was about a veteran of World War II. WW2 - The war my dad fought in on the heavy cruiser USS Louisville CA 28 - 1943-46. TAKE CARE!
@@tonytrotta9322 My father (Quention C. Orick) was drafted into the army in 1958, and was stationed in Germany until his discharge in January 1964. He was a spearhead tank member. He died at age 81 in 2022. He is buried at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery of Holly, Michigan. May he R.I.P. Also, thanks for clearing that line up about "Ruby" being set in World War 2 rather than Korea. I knew it wasn't about Vietnam, though the song was popular as that war raged on starting in 1967 when the song was first recorded by Johnny Darrell. Waylon Jennings and Bobby Goldsboro also recorded the song in 1967 two years before Kenny Rogers big hit version. Mel recorded it as a demo in 1967, but Kapp failed to issue it as a single (they chose "Stateside" and "Who's Julie" instead.) Mel's version finally got released as an album track on Kapp's "Mel Tillis's Greatest Hits" compilation in 1969 shortly after Kenny Rogers had the biggest hit with the song. Thus "The crazy Asian war" referred to Japan, not Korea or Vietnam.
@@robertorick6383 Wow! Thank you for the great story about your dad. Thank you for his service. I always liked this song and thought one day they would make a movie of it. Thank you for the history of the song. I know where Great Lakes is for it's not too far from where I live. My dad Enrico Trotta who passed in 2017 at 92 served on the Louisville and witnessed (52) sailors and Rear Admiral Theodore Chandler buried at sea due to (3) kamikaze hits in the Pacific. One of the main gun turrets (damaged by kamikaze) was found in 2016 in the Nevada Desert used for atomic bomb testing. There is a Y-tube showing the kamikaze hitting the turret with 500 lb bomb and gas. Take care friend and God Bless you and your family and your Dad.
I like Kenny Rogers’ version most Then again I heard it first This sounds light hearted compared to Kenny’s His sounded sinister, especially the last part I heard a friend sing it last night He did it and Kenny justice The MC of the show he was in mentioned that Mel Tillis wrote it Kind of surprised me Mel seemed , to me, a lighthearted guy The lyrics tell a real story
This sounds to me like a pretty ersatz song without any real emotion on the part of the singer. He could be singing about taking Ruby to the dance. That is, until he talks about putting 'her in the ground' with his gun in the last verse, still in his chirpy country voice. This to me is far more jarring, but not more enjoyable, and engenders no sympathy on the part of the listener, unlike Kenny Rogers' version.
@@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic Kapp Records didn't think of it at the time, so they let a possible hit record get away to Kenny over at Reprise Records. Jimmy Bowen also gave Kenny's version a more intense arrangement with the tambourine and drum interplay, and Kenny sounds a bit more tense and petulant than Mel's mellow country crooning with his croaking vocals. That's what probably sold the record. Kenny aced it.
Hi Primrose, yea lotsa people recorded it but Kenny & the First Edition is the favored version....best i could tell Mel recorded this Ruby in December 1966 and first appeared on the "Life Turned Her That Way" album.
This is a decent enough arrangement, but it’s nowhere near the Kenny Rogers/First Edition version, which has a far more atmospheric and sinister arrangement that perfectly suits the dark lyrics.
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I had the pleasure of seeing Mel (the featured act in my eyes) open for Freddy Fender many years ago at the Circle Star Theatre. I also have this album.! R.I.P. Mel 💖
Wonderful song, perfect in my book...🤗🤗
THANKS BILL FOR PLAYING MELE SINGING KENNY ROGERS SONG HE DOING A LOVELY JOB
This is Mel Tillis' song - he wrote it.
Thank you, Mel, kindly
Terrific this guy..RIP 🇬🇧 UK
Mel Tillis - great song. When he talked he stuttered but, when he sang he did not stutter!
A line in the song about a "crazy Asian war" and the time of the song's release led to the assumption that the song was about a veteran of the Vietnam War, though this was never stated in the lyrics. However, Tillis stated that the song was about a veteran of World War II
WW2 the war my dad fought on the heavy cruiser USS Louisville CA 28 from 1943-46 - TAKE CARE!
Brilliantly written song
Mel Tillis was 85 years old, when he died on November 19, 2017 at the time!!!
Thanks for all the nice comments Daniel
The one's who suffer when a death occurs are the one's left behind. Thank God we have their music. RIP Mel
going through my list.......thumbs up.....again....
great and thanks again!
Always preferred this to Kenny’s myself and this Kapp LP,always one of my favourites!
It should have been a big hit for him or Waylon, but i don't think either released a single ...this recording was plenty good to be a hit single in '67 when it was released on an album.
Wicker Bill ...we didn’t get much TV Country in the U.K. back then,but Ruby was shown on our Top Of The Pops. Can’t remember liking or disliking the song,but would NOT have liked Kenny and his long hair and facial appearance....so wouldn’t have bought the record. But of course I ended up with Mel’s and Johnny Darrell’s!
Couldn’t let it rest Bill...before Kenny’s was released,I’d already got it by Mel,Johnny AND Waylon. Rogers did get to #2 in the U.K. Pop charts December 1969.
@@Grahamgusbull I have Johnny and Waylons versions too but prefer Mel's to either of those...and then The First Edition's country-rock version came out and straddled the charts.
Wicker Bill ..agreed...I’m having a binge on Rhonda Vincent this weekend!
Great song i also love Kenny Rogers singing it
Remember this by him very well and still LOVE it! Thanks D.!
You're welcome Ruth, Mel's own version is among my favorites too.
If I had not known that Mel Tillis had written and performed this song, I would have sworn that this was Townes Van Zandt.
THE BETTER ONE WRITTEN BY MEL TILLIS ALWAYS THOUGHT KENNY ROGERS
Eh?
Bill you have me going crazy with the Lyrics of this song. I love you babe!
@Vikki Smith
What? How many do you love, friend? We talked about this, remember?
I would love to have the money from the royalties from this song I don't know how many different artist have recorded this one I've heard it by several country music artist as well as bluegrass artist
Good morning Mary, it has to be a huge amount....which one was you favorite?
@@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic I would have to say Kenny Rogers version
@@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic
For me... it’s Roger Miller
The song was inspired by a crippled soldier who fought in World War 2, not the Vietnam War (thus the reference to the legs being bent and paralyzed, and the reference to the "Asian War.")
Mel Tillis - great song. When he talked he stuttered but, when he sang he did not stutter!
A line in the song about a "crazy Asian war" and the time of the song's release led to the assumption that the song was about a veteran of the Vietnam War, though this was never stated in the lyrics. However, Tillis stated that the song was about a veteran of World War II. WW2 - The war my dad fought in on the heavy cruiser USS Louisville CA 28 - 1943-46. TAKE CARE!
@@tonytrotta9322 My father (Quention C. Orick) was drafted into the army in 1958, and was stationed in Germany until his discharge in January 1964. He was a spearhead tank member. He died at age 81 in 2022. He is buried at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery of Holly, Michigan. May he R.I.P. Also, thanks for clearing that line up about "Ruby" being set in World War 2 rather than Korea. I knew it wasn't about Vietnam, though the song was popular as that war raged on starting in 1967 when the song was first recorded by Johnny Darrell. Waylon Jennings and Bobby Goldsboro also recorded the song in 1967 two years before Kenny Rogers big hit version. Mel recorded it as a demo in 1967, but Kapp failed to issue it as a single (they chose "Stateside" and "Who's Julie" instead.) Mel's version finally got released as an album track on Kapp's "Mel Tillis's Greatest Hits" compilation in 1969 shortly after Kenny Rogers had the biggest hit with the song. Thus "The crazy Asian war" referred to Japan, not Korea or Vietnam.
@@robertorick6383 Wow! Thank you for the great story about your dad. Thank you for his service. I always liked this song and thought one day they would make a movie of it. Thank you for the history of the song. I know where Great Lakes is for it's not too far from where I live. My dad Enrico Trotta who passed in 2017 at 92 served on the Louisville and witnessed (52) sailors and Rear Admiral Theodore Chandler buried at sea due to (3) kamikaze hits in the Pacific. One of the main gun turrets (damaged by kamikaze) was found in 2016 in the Nevada Desert used for atomic bomb testing. There is a Y-tube showing the kamikaze hitting the turret with 500 lb bomb and gas. Take care friend and God Bless you and your family and your Dad.
I like Kenny Rogers’ version most
Then again I heard it first
This sounds light hearted compared to Kenny’s
His sounded sinister, especially the last part
I heard a friend sing it last night
He did it and Kenny justice
The MC of the show he was in mentioned that Mel Tillis wrote it
Kind of surprised me
Mel seemed , to me, a lighthearted guy
The lyrics tell a real story
This sounds to me like a pretty ersatz song without any real emotion on the part of the singer. He could be singing about taking Ruby to the dance. That is, until he talks about putting 'her in the ground' with his gun in the last verse, still in his chirpy country voice. This to me is far more jarring, but not more enjoyable, and engenders no sympathy on the part of the listener, unlike Kenny Rogers' version.
check out Faron Young.
Mel mentions to Porter Waggoner on his show before singing it that it is a true story and he actually saw his friend go through this first hand.
Roger millers version is the best
Better than K.R. thumbs up...hadn't heard his version in a while...
IMO It should have been released as a single but for some reason no
@@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic Kapp Records didn't think of it at the time, so they let a possible hit record get away to Kenny over at Reprise Records. Jimmy Bowen also gave Kenny's version a more intense arrangement with the tambourine and drum interplay, and Kenny sounds a bit more tense and petulant than Mel's mellow country crooning with his croaking vocals. That's what probably sold the record. Kenny aced it.
Hi Bill Mel does a good version but still prefer Kenny thank you for the great post
Hi Primrose, yea lotsa people recorded it but Kenny & the First Edition is the favored version....best i could tell Mel recorded this Ruby in December 1966 and first appeared on the "Life Turned Her That Way" album.
This is a decent enough arrangement, but it’s nowhere near the Kenny Rogers/First Edition version, which has a far more atmospheric and sinister arrangement that perfectly suits the dark lyrics.