I went to see John Hartford at a crafts fair in West Virginia in 1982. Most people there early were there for the crafts fair. I was there only for John Hartford. He had set up in a field about 50 yards from where the crafts fair was set up. I saw him and walked over just as he began playing. No one else was there. John, his banjo, his mic'ed plywood plank and me. I walked over about 10 yards from him and he played several numbers for his audience of one, including Gentle on My Mind. I was standing there smiling, amazed at the turn of events. As he played he looked off into the distance, but every now and then he'd look at me and wink or smile. After a while, a bunch of other people started wandering over. Amazing experience.
And WV should be into bluegrass big time. I saw him in Dayton Ohio in packed bar's 300 plus people and one club that used their outdoor back yard and he had the field full of people.
I was fortunate to see John with his band in the early 70's in North Texas at WTSU. Could not have enjoyed it more until...somewhere in the SF Bay area around 1980 I saw him solo in a quite small venue. He played guitar, banjo, mandolin, hambone, fiddle , whistled and sang - all while tapping out wonderful rythymms with with his feet on a miked platform. Lucky enough to have seen some great musicians - Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Van Morrison, Townes Van Zant, Guy Clark and others - It is senseless to say who was "best". But when it comes to the warmest, most comfortable, thoroughly enjoyable time, John Hartford by his lonesome has to be at the top of the list. I still mourn his passing.
What an AMAZING video! So many classic BLUEGRASS Legends are there. This video is PURE BLUEGRASS GOLD... I am from Kentucky, the birthplace of Bluegrass. Beautiful music
Although Glen Campbell recorded it and it had huge success with it... He always gave credit to John Hartford as being the songwriter. I remember watching John Hartford on the Glen Campbell show when I was a child... Then I was reintroduced to his music later on when I was a teenager and got into bluegrass
I had chance to see mr. john before he died.at red light café atlanta, packed house. I went met him thanked him for being a mentor and had him sign CD I brought and patted him on his knee He was not shaking hands that evening . that moment makes me cry now. God bless him....
Mike Bubb - bass; Gen Wooten - dobro; Ronnie & Robbie McCoury - banjo & mando respectively. . . reminds me of college days going to the Station Inn on Tuesday nights. . . the memories are at once fantastically beautiful and painful because they are gone and some of the musicians are gone as well.
Love the smile on Vassar's face. John was one of those good forces of nature, cannot see anyone not enjoying him and his music and anyone that played with him.
Its a hot summer humid evening up on top of the Blueridge and folks have been driftin in and out of the campfire circle and yeah the gin bucket as well goatskin has been sipped from by many but funny how it never seemed to get empty. Well a young lassie started pickin no one new her name but it was her giddy up that brought in the others to join in and play. I was fussing with fry pan and spit when a banjo joined in from the back and others began too settle back as the banjo picked up a song and voice we had heard earlier in the eve began the Gentle on your mind. Well the voice just kept on ramblin on and the banjo kept up a quick trot and cowboy boots started to a tappin on the trailer full of wood and it was such a joyous jam happen . The banjo stopped and in the fire light there was John takin a big old swig from the goat skin.That smile and he pipes up mind if I try your slab of bellona it sure do smell good. Thats lancaster countys sweet lebanon and bellona John enjoy got a good smoke to now!! Smoke he says well thats very tasty heres some smoke for you all now, Two Tokes and The Joint Turned Brown was his thank you song. Never will forget that Skyline Bluegrass Festival!
Of course I know Gentle On My Mind, I listened to the late and wonderfully great Glen Campbell singing it, himself an Arkansas man, but when I watched it here and listened to how it should be done bluegrass style I just wept with joy. I love these jam sessions from the south with musicians that were weaned on an instrument and if one of you bluegrass folks wants to treat an Englishman to the real thing when it comes to southern sound - and I mean bluegrass - then you know where I am: invite me and I will be there!
Saw him live 2x at the U of Minnesota...he could fiddle, sing, tap dance all at the same time. Had the auditorium on our feet, clapping and dancing along. He was great...
As much as Campbells cover is what everyone knows and what was played so widely, I can’t help but agree with Hartford, it totally feels right as a two chord fiddle tune.
I recently met David Fromer who told me that Glen Campbell did all of the intricate backing guitar work on a 1964 folk album that David did with his brother Jonathan and a friend named, Elbert. The album is called “Jonathan, David and Elbert” and can still be found on e-bay and other sites. It’s a great folk album and the group should have been famous, but somehow, wasn’t. I sang with David’s younger brother Jonathan Fromer as part of the San Francisco Boys’ Chorus in the mid 1950’s. Jonathan is deceased now but during his adult life, he was a passionate and well known peace activist and some of his performances as an activist can be found online.
I may be in agreement with the fellow who called this the most perfect song ever written. It’s one of my all-time favorites. And here it is by the master himself - John Hartford…
John was from St. Louis in this he talks about how he got started in music seeing Earl Scruggs and Benny Martin at the chain of Rocks park in 1954 it was an amusement park in St. Louis that was on the bluffs over looking the Mississippi river just across the Illinois Missouri border. the old bridge still stands there it was originally part of route 66
I'm not sure this counts as the original version. John Hartford is the songwriter, but as far as I've noticed, usually he played it on the banjo. I'd guess he wrote it on the banjo, too.
John Hartford has been a love of mine for years... Meaning I buy his music. Thank you for posting. So much in his music and stories are relative to me.
This songs royalties allowed John to do what he wanted for the rest of his life. Including becoming a paddle wheel riverboat captain. I love and miss John , his personality and banjo, fiddle, shuffling . One of a kind .
I got to see John Hartford about 5 times in my life. He was never in it for the money. Most musicians do two 30-45 minute sets and maybe one or two en cores. Not John though! He would do two 45 minute sets with maybe 10 minutes in between. Then his en core would run another 45 minutes to an hour and a half. He would have people push the tables back and create a dance floor. He would then start calling out country fiddle dance songs. It wasn't about the money, it was about sharing his love for music. This song, " Gentle on my Mind" was one of the most recorded songs ever. The royalties from it (lower to mid 6 digits annually) allowed him to live the life he loved. John was also a licensed Steamboat Captain and would captain paddlewheelers up and down the Mississippi River for about 6 weeks every year. He also devoted his time, and his money to rehabbing old paddlewheelers to save them. If you love his music look for John Hartford on Steamboat videos here on YT. You will find yourself even more impressed with him. Truly missed by so many.
I went to see John Hartford at a crafts fair in West Virginia in 1982. Most people there early were there for the crafts fair. I was there only for John Hartford. He had set up in a field about 50 yards from where the crafts fair was set up. I saw him and walked over just as he began playing. No one else was there. John, his banjo, his mic'ed plywood plank and me. I walked over about 10 yards from him and he played several numbers for his audience of one, including Gentle on My Mind. I was standing there smiling, amazed at the turn of events. As he played he looked off into the distance, but every now and then he'd look at me and wink or smile. After a while, a bunch of other people started wandering over. Amazing experience.
Yeah that sounds amazing.
He was one of those playing for the joy of it not for an audience. Sure if someone likes it, the better.
I had a similar experience with Dr John in Ft Myers c1990 and let us just say that he was not as sanguine as Mr Hartford in a similar situation.
love him i do i do...his playin moves me to tears...
Sounds good and true gordeaux!
And WV should be into bluegrass big time. I saw him in Dayton Ohio in packed bar's 300 plus people and one club that used their outdoor back yard and he had the field full of people.
Yup, I'm a black man from the Caribbean watching and loving this, always did
Everybody loves John Hartford. Just the way it is.
John isn't dead....he flew of in his steam powered airplane and we haven't seen him since....at least in my mind! Stay high John!
Brilliant song brilliantly performed. I never tire of it. Thank you John for what you brought to the world.
I was fortunate to see John with his band in the early 70's in North Texas at WTSU. Could not have enjoyed it more until...somewhere in the SF Bay area around 1980 I saw him solo in a quite small venue. He played guitar, banjo, mandolin, hambone, fiddle , whistled and sang - all while tapping out wonderful rythymms with with his feet on a miked platform. Lucky enough to have seen some great musicians - Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Van Morrison, Townes Van Zant, Guy Clark and others - It is senseless to say who was "best". But when it comes to the warmest, most comfortable, thoroughly enjoyable time, John Hartford by his lonesome has to be at the top of the list. I still mourn his passing.
Dam tootin. John did the same for me in 74.
I'm new to him, but you've piqued my interest. Thank you.
I dearly wish I had discovered John Hartford when I was younger. I love it.
I never heard of this man before an hour ago. How is that possible I ask myself. Thanks RUclips!
Look up "Down From The Mountain" He plays a lot and is MC with many greats.
This is perhaps the most perfect song ever written
Richard Lawrence I’ve been saying that for a long time.
Best lyrics ever written.
I agree. Without a doubt.
Chaplain, God blesses us with folks like John Hartford, Bless him and the Thank the Lord !
And so few people can name the author...
Yes. (But also half of what Dylan ever wrote. I bet john would agree.)
Saw him in Bozeman at a free concert in the 70s with a comedian no one had ever heard of named Steve Martin.
The lyrics are one of the most evocative poems I have ever read.
What an AMAZING video! So many classic BLUEGRASS Legends are there. This video is PURE BLUEGRASS GOLD... I am from Kentucky, the birthplace of Bluegrass. Beautiful music
Kind of, Ireland is birthplace. Kentucky is where they perfected it!!
I had never heard the 'real' bluegrass version until today. I much prefer it.
Although Glen Campbell recorded it and it had huge success with it... He always gave credit to John Hartford as being the songwriter. I remember watching John Hartford on the Glen Campbell show when I was a child... Then I was reintroduced to his music later on when I was a teenager and got into bluegrass
It's a good version, but Glen Campbell perfected it. There is a reason why his version is the more popular one. But it's all a matter of taste.
John Hartford, Doc Watson, Tony Rice - was absolutely top of the world
I had chance to see mr. john before he died.at red light café atlanta, packed house. I went met him thanked him for being a mentor and had him sign CD I brought and patted him on his knee He was not shaking hands that evening . that moment makes me cry now. God bless him....
I saw him in Atlanta at Broadview Plaza at the Great Southeastern Music Hall. Man, it was WONDERFUL!❤️
Mike Bubb - bass; Gen Wooten - dobro; Ronnie & Robbie McCoury - banjo & mando respectively. . . reminds me of college days going to the Station Inn on Tuesday nights. . . the memories are at once fantastically beautiful and painful because they are gone and some of the musicians are gone as well.
Charlie Cushman on guitar
i watched john hartford as a child on country tv and was captivated by his style of singing playing and dancing
Took me a while to read the lyrics, to find it is the perfect song ever written.
Love the smile on Vassar's face.
John was one of those good forces of nature, cannot see anyone not enjoying him and his music and anyone that played with him.
Vasser? I don't see Vasser! Where is he?
A good force of nature that could not be unseen because the guy was a genius!!
I'm pretty sure Vassar (Clements) isn't there
I miss him. He was one of the best. One of my heroes
Nows he's what you would call a real class act!
A man who could write one of the best songs in the world!!
this performance make me always smile so nice
Fantastic Musician and Songwriter.👍
What a lovely person ,,,,,,taken from us far far too early ,,,,,rip john ,,,,,your contribution to music should NEVER be forgotten
Agree !
Agree!!!!
RIP JOHN .. One of the best songs ever pen'd..
I miss him so damn much....helped shape my life!
Love the guy. He absolutely rocks.
John understood less is more you can hear it in the simplicity of his music truly was one of the worlds greatest intertainers
I love John's mannerisms, especially his little eye twitch.
I always got a kick out of his face when he plays the Fiddle
@@robertmcnorth8317 Yes, the way he moved his mouth! Did you ever see this wonderful man live?
I wish so much that I had of. It gets me really upset sometimes that he's gone and I no longer have the opportunity.
Its a hot summer humid evening up on top of the Blueridge and folks have been driftin in and out of the campfire circle and yeah the gin bucket as well goatskin has been sipped from by many but funny how it never seemed to get empty. Well a young lassie started pickin no one new her name but it was her giddy up that brought in the others to join in and play. I was fussing with fry pan and spit when a banjo joined in from the back and others began too settle back as the banjo picked up a song and voice we had heard earlier in the eve began the Gentle on your mind. Well the voice just kept on ramblin on and the banjo kept up a quick trot and cowboy boots started to a tappin on the trailer full of wood and it was such a joyous jam happen . The banjo stopped and in the fire light there was John takin a big old swig from the goat skin.That smile and he pipes up mind if I try your slab of bellona it sure do smell good. Thats lancaster countys sweet lebanon and bellona John enjoy got a good smoke to now!! Smoke he says well thats very tasty heres some smoke for you all now, Two Tokes and The Joint Turned Brown was his thank you song. Never will forget that Skyline Bluegrass Festival!
Miss that man and his songs! RIP, John Hartford of MO.
My favorite thing about these old clips is watching old people being understanding loving and hateful to each other.
Of course I know Gentle On My Mind, I listened to the late and wonderfully great Glen Campbell singing it, himself an Arkansas man, but when I watched it here and listened to how it should be done bluegrass style I just wept with joy. I love these jam sessions from the south with musicians that were weaned on an instrument and if one of you bluegrass folks wants to treat an Englishman to the real thing when it comes to southern sound - and I mean bluegrass - then you know where I am: invite me and I will be there!
This song makes me cry every time i hear it
Northern Georgia. South East Tennessee. Chattanooga city. Wonderful Bluegrass
What a great song by a great man R.I.P
Wow.
What a divine person!
I'd marry him in a heartbeat!❤
Saw him live 2x at the U of Minnesota...he could fiddle, sing, tap dance all at the same time. Had the auditorium on our feet, clapping and dancing along. He was great...
This is one of those songs that you feel vividly in your heart, the music and the words have a feeling...love it
wow!! agree
As much as Campbells cover is what everyone knows and what was played so widely, I can’t help but agree with Hartford, it totally feels right as a two chord fiddle tune.
The words are so real and pure it works either way...one of my favorite songs!
Man. Does it get better than this? All the greats right there. No glitz no showoffs, just real deal music. Thank You
Dean Jackson
Seattle
Ibly the very best rendition of this beautiful song. John Hartford was one authentic bluegrass singer songwriter.
Thanks he was a brilliant musician and songwriter. He is sorely missed.
I recently met David Fromer who told me that Glen Campbell did all of the intricate backing guitar work on a 1964 folk album that David did with his brother Jonathan and a friend named, Elbert. The album is called “Jonathan, David and Elbert” and can still be found on e-bay and other sites. It’s a great folk album and the group should have been famous, but somehow, wasn’t. I sang with David’s younger brother Jonathan Fromer as part of the San Francisco Boys’ Chorus in the mid 1950’s. Jonathan is deceased now but during his adult life, he was a passionate and well known peace activist and some of his performances as an activist can be found online.
My favorite song and I love rockn` roll! Thank you Mr. Hartford!
I may be in agreement with the fellow who called this the most perfect song ever written. It’s one of my all-time favorites. And here it is by the master himself - John Hartford…
Old John sure can sharpen a mean fiddle!
He will be forever on my mind.......
John was from St. Louis in this he talks about how he got started in music seeing Earl Scruggs and Benny Martin at the chain of Rocks park in 1954 it was an amusement park in St. Louis that was on the bluffs over looking the Mississippi river just across the Illinois Missouri border. the old bridge still stands there it was originally part of route 66
Doesn't get any better than that ! R.I.P. John Hartford ! The worlds best back up musicians playing along !
Excellent excellent excellent.
Top class performance.
We all greatly missing John Hartford.
God bless his great heart & soul. Amen
enjoying family footsteps
Great song, perfect company, and John was one of the best. These years maybe gone for ever.
Gone, but never forgotten!
Greatness will always live forever!
What a genuine person love to see that he stopped to get everyone involved on one of the best songs made
I got to John Hartford, Norman Blake and Vassar Clements in concert together. Fantastic concert
Love JH. I see this older generation (which I am getting closer to) and see perspective and appreciation.
From the worldwide monster from Glen Campbell and the knockout album version by Tammy,here we are back to the original concept....what a song!
the original always the better...
I'm not sure this counts as the original version. John Hartford is the songwriter, but as far as I've noticed, usually he played it on the banjo. I'd guess he wrote it on the banjo, too.
This is singlehandedly is the best thing I've ever seen.
Absolute bloody legend.
So good, I can't get enough.
What a songwriter and fiddler this man was. It is both heartwarming and sad to watch this video.
John Hartford has been a love of mine for years... Meaning I buy his music. Thank you for posting. So much in his music and stories are relative to me.
this is just a beautiful, timeless song
Just...wonderful!
how can you not like this man,,,
First time I ever really comprehended the lyrics of this song it's really beautiful and better this way
Greatest song ever written.
Just an amazing talent.
Greatness, Miss John. ❤❤❤❤
I'm so glad I found this classic rendition.... The best there is, in my opinion!
agree
I just know this man was fun to be around.
Don't write songs like that any more. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
love love so much this song.
An immortal work that enabled legendary status to an truly gifted composer and lyricist.
This songs royalties allowed John to do what he wanted for the rest of his life. Including becoming a paddle wheel riverboat captain.
I love and miss John , his personality and banjo, fiddle, shuffling . One of a kind .
Absolutely one-of-a-kind musician!
John and so many others in this video have passed on but it is nice we have RUclips to see them perform on screen,
What a joy to see John doing this tune with the gang
man that was good.......really enjoyed it
John Hartford also wrote this song. Saw him at Spring Park in Tuscumbia AL
I got to see John Hartford about 5 times in my life. He was never in it for the money.
Most musicians do two 30-45 minute sets and maybe one or two en cores. Not John though! He would do two 45 minute sets with maybe 10 minutes in between.
Then his en core would run another 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
He would have people push the tables back and create a dance floor. He would then start calling out country fiddle dance songs. It wasn't about the money, it was about sharing his love for music.
This song, " Gentle on my Mind" was one of the most recorded songs ever.
The royalties from it (lower to mid 6 digits annually) allowed him to live the life he loved.
John was also a licensed Steamboat Captain and would captain paddlewheelers up and down the Mississippi River for about 6 weeks every year.
He also devoted his time, and his money to rehabbing old paddlewheelers to save them.
If you love his music look for John Hartford on Steamboat videos here on YT.
You will find yourself even more impressed with him.
Truly missed by so many.
This was not that long before he passed from cancer in 2001. But he was so much more thaan just this perfect song.
Thank you
goose bumps
Absolute joy!
OMG .. that was wonderful
Thee best version of a great great song. I just wish that they all had played the song and tune to a frazzle...
Beautiful words.
A classic among classics...
Un genio...!!!!
I so love this.
Amazing from Scotland of course glen Campbell Scottish magnificent
One of the best rip john
So Good from Sweden 👏👏
Genius.
John! I love you very mutch!
Bluegrass Blues of the Past.......
my ears thank you for the pleasure trip
Simply amazing. Thanks for posting this.
Fine backing band there behind him
Adorable!!
Living Here
your song and you are the best
Gentlemale on my list.......on my buckets list.......
extraordinaire !! i love America !!!