THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

919-Dean Martin-Gentle on My Mind.

1969-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.54. These are some of the most poetic words ever expressed in a ‘Pop’ song, and what does ‘The King of Cool’ do? He starts humming.

‘Gentle on My Mind’ was written in 1967 by the ‘Folk,’ ‘Country,’ and ‘Bluegrass’ composer, and singer, John Hartford, who was born John Cowan Harford on December 30th, 1937, From the 1980’s onwards, Hartford had non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he died of the disease at the Centennial Medical Centre, in Nashville, on June 4th, 2001, at the age 63. It was Hartford who recorded the first version of ‘Gentle on My Mind,’ for his second studio Album release ‘Earthwords & Music’ from 1967, and when it was issued as a single it peaked at Number 60 on the American Billboard Country Music chart. The best known version of the song in America was recorded by Glen Campbell, (1936-2017) (see also best songs 846 and 197) who after hearing the song on the radio went out and bought a copy, and re-worked the song in the studio with members of ‘The Wrecking Crew’ participating. Campbell said that he felt the song is ‘An essay on life,’ and went on to say that he was ‘Knocked out’ by the scenery it describes. When Campbell began hosting ‘The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,’ in 1969, a show that ran for 91 episodes, Campbell used ‘Gentle on My Mind’ as the theme song for the show. In the UK, the best known, and most successful recording of the song is by Dean Martin, whose version peaked at Number 2 in 1969.

Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7th, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, United States, he was a lifelong heavy smoker, and died of acute respiratory failure resulting from emphysema on December 25th, 1995, at the age of 78. Martin first tasted success in 1946 when joining forces with the American comedian Jerry Lewis, (1926-2017) to form a singing and comedy variety act as ‘Martin and Lewis,’ that appeared on radio, television, and in films, through until Martin ending the partnership in 1956, in order to pursue a solo career. Dean Martin would go on to become one of the world’s most popular performers, and is probably best remembered as a member of the ‘Rat Pack,’ along with his fellow performers Frank Sinatra, (1915-1998) (see also best songs 877-567-469-120 and 73) and Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990) (see also best songs 567.) In 1965 Martin began hosting ‘The Dean Martin Show,’ which ran for 264 episodes, through until 1974. Another notable television series was ‘The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast,’ which aired in America for 54 episodes between 1974-1984.Martin also has an extensive filmography, making his first appearance as an actor in 1946, and his last in 1984. The discography of Dean Martin includes 37 studio Albums issued between 1953-2005, and 108 singles released between 1946-2022, there are also 20 official compilations available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 28 of those songs have reached the top 40, (not including ‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! which has charted on a further five occasions since 2011) and he has had two Billboard Number 1 singles,’Memories Are Made of This,’ (1955) and ‘Everybody Loves Somebody.’ (1964) In the UK, he has charted within the top 40 on 17 occasions, with ‘Memories Are Made of This,’ being his only chart topper.

‘Gentle on My Mind’ is one of the most covered songs of all time, and when taking all the recordings in to account, it was totted up in 2001 that the song was the second most played song on American radio, in the later part of the 20th Century with 6 million plays, behind ‘Yesterday’ by the ‘Beatles’ (see also best songs 319.) John Hartford has said that he was inspired to write the song after seeing the 1965 film ‘Doctor Zhivago,’ although the songs subject has nothing to do with the films subject, Hartford said that after watching the film, he sat down and wrote the lyrics in about 15 minutes.

The lyrics of ‘Gentle On my Mind’ can be interpreted in many different ways. My own personal view is that the narrator needs to be free, he doesn’t want any commitment, but knows that if he did want to settle down, she will be waiting for him. It is also possible that this situation is just a fantasy he enjoys playing out in his own mind.

‘Through cupped hands ’round the tin can I pretend to hold you to my breast, and find that you’re waiting from the back roads by the rivers of my memories, ever smilin,’ ever gentle on my mind.’