Ephemeral requiem

The incomparable Roy Clark sings a Bill Anderson classic.  The song launched Clark's career in 1963 as his first to chart.  I have wonderful memories of this song from a well-worn 8-track that played in my Dad's '66 Scout 800, on weekends at the deer lease, or just trips to the hardware store.

While not part of the narrowly defined 'purist' years of the "Nashville Sound", the strings and overdone choruses (in the original release) fit the standard definition of the genre. The "Bakersfield Sound" was a backlash and influenced not just country artists (Merle Haggard, Buck Owens), but also the sounds of artists/acts such as the FBBs, early Eagles, CCR, the Byrds, and the Grateful Dead.  The 'Outlaw Country' of the '70s also nudged musical styles in a different direction (personal note:  Good Hearted Woman was the song that caused me to actually pull that black plastic button on the in-dash radio to pre-set a CM station, KSCS, on my car radio).

Dig those 'burns!

   Here's another version, embedding disabled.  Just look at all the talent in that room, including Bill Anderson!

   Contrary to a rumor (started here), the song is not a paean to a kidnapped Charlie McCarthy from his partner Edgar Bergen - not, I guess, that there's anything wrong with that.  Bergen always seemed to be upfront regarding his relationship with McCarthy.