Kris Kristofferson: the great songs of the songwriter
We Italians have also seen it at the cinema a million times, in a thousand ways – from the “Blade” saga to the tough “Asphalt Trench” by Sam Peckinpah, passing through “The Gates of Heaven” by Michael Cimino to “È a star is born” by Frank Pierson, yet our compatriot public probably doesn’t have the knowledge of who hides behind that bearded face and that long hobo hair.
Kris Kristofferson was a giant of American song, and when you say giant you’re not exaggerating: he wrote songs that became real standards – any examples? “Me and Bobby McGee”, “For the Good Times” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” – and he was in the Highwaymen, the star-spangled country dream team shared with colleagues of the caliber of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
To remember the music of great musician who passed away at the age of 88 we have chosen ten songs that made him legend.
“For the Good Times” (1970)
Originally included on one of his most famous albums, “For the Good Times”, “For the Good Times” was reinterpreted by Ray Price, who again in 1970 managed to send it to the top of the American sales charts, and Perry Como, the whose version, in 1973, enjoyed good success in the English charts.
“They Killed Him” (1986)
One of the examples of the political and social Kristofferson, “They Killed Him” was reinterpreted by two true giants of American song, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan.
“Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” (1971)
“Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” was one of Kristofferson’s greatest hits: never promoted on the country circuit, the song nevertheless became a hit, reread in the years to come by – among others – Roger Miller.
“Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” (1978)
Recorded by the same artist as a duet with his ex-wife Rita Coolidge a year before divorcing, “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” was brought to success seven years earlier by Ronnie Milsap, who recorded another version in ’74 for his album “Pure Love”. Over the years, however, the song was also covered by Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare, Joan Osborne and Sammy Davis Jr.
“Why Me” (1972)
A country-gospel ballad in some ways different from much of Kristofferson’s production, “Why Me” earned the artist the top of the American country chart in 1973.
“The Taker” (1971)
Written together with children’s book author Shel Silverstein, “The Taker” was brought to success, again in 1971, by Waylon Jennings, who recorded a version capable of making inroads with the general public.
“The Pilgrim, Chapter 33” (1971)
One of Kristofferson’s most famous songs, inspired by a meeting the author had with Johnny Cash, “The Pilgrim, Chapter 33” contains one of the most famous lines ever written by the artist, “He’s a walkin’ contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction / Takin’ every wrong direction on his lonely way back home” (“He’s a walking contradiction, half truth and half fiction / He takes every wrong direction possible to get home alone”).
“Help Me Make It Through the Night” (1970)
“Help Me Make It Through the Night” is one of the most re-read songs ever written by Kristofferson: versions of it were recorded by artists such as Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson, Tammy Wynette, Dottie West, Ray Price, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride and many others, including if the one that had the most success in the charts was the cover that Sammi Smith published in 1971.
“Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” (1970)
It is probably the most important song – if only in terms of longevity – ever written by Kristofferson: the first version was published by Ray Stevens in 1969, but it was sent into the empyrean of the American songbook, a year later, in contemporary to that of the author – the rereading of Johnny Cash, which would have made it a classic.
“Me and Bobby McGee” (1970)
It is one of the most important songs of the Seventies, made legendary by the memorable interpretation that Janis Joplin gave in the posthumous album “Pearl” of 1971. Among the many who attempted it, we should remember Waylon Jennings, Grateful Dead, Kenny Rogers, Gordon Lightfoot , and Miranda Lambert.
