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June 7
Why today? The Thin Man From West Plains sang “The old home town looks the same as I step down from the train …” into the RCA Victor microphones on this date 45 years ago.
About the record: RCA Victor 47-8622, recorded June 7, 1965, at the label’s studios in Nashville. Released the following month, eventually reaching No. 4 on Billboard‘s country chart. First LP appearance of this version was on The Best of Porter Wagoner, RCA Victor LSP/LPM-3560, released in 1966.
It’s now a country classic, this Curley Putman composition, recorded by the likes of Tom Jones, Charley Pride, Hank Snow, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Trini Lopez and more. But Porter had the first hit Top 5 hit on it, and it’s his version that most country fans think of first. Such an idyllic picture the singer paints, until the last verse — spoken rather than sung — reveals it was all a dream, a date with the death chamber awaiting the prisoner.
In Porter Wagoner’s elder statesman years, hardly a weekend went by without him singing this song on the Grand Ole Opry. He would introduce it with some variation of the following: “I’d like to sing my latest hit — from 1965.” An exaggeration, yes, but it always got a laugh. “Green, Green Grass Of Home” wasn’t his biggest hit. But it was certainly his best-remembered number, and it’s definitely worth hearing again on this, the anniversary of its recording.
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June 7, 2010 at 7:11 AM
Tweets that mention “Green, Green Grass Of Home” | Porter Wagoner « 3 CHORDS A DAY -- Topsy.com
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June 7, 2010 at 6:10 PM
pwdennis
Actually, the first hit on the song was by Johnny Darrell whose recording reached #12 on Cashbox several months before Porter’s version charted. When I think of this song I still think of Johnny Darrell’s version
Porter’s version was pretty good but Johnny Darrell’s was more believable
June 8, 2010 at 8:05 AM
Ken Johnson
I agree with Paul. Johnny Darrell’s wistful, lonely interpretation is excellent. Darrell is a most underappreciated talent in the history of country music. His ability to select great songs was only overshadowed by bad timing and/or lack of promotion on the part of his record label. “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town” and “My Elusive Dreams” are two other excellent Darrell renditions that became far more memorable hits for other performers.
However Porter Wagoner also added another dimension to “Green Green Grass Of Home” with the spoken lines. In my estimation Porter always brought sincerity and believability to his narrations. Because of the emotion that he was able to impart to the spoken word, I always believed that Porter may have made a really good actor. Many country stars attempted to make that transition but could not make you believe their dialogue if their lives depended on it. Watching Porter perform narrations on his syndicated TV show he seemed to assume the persona that the song required. His facial expressions mirrored the emotion in his voice. “Little Boy’s Prayer” serves as an excellent example of his ability to elevate narration to an art form.
June 10, 2010 at 3:27 PM
On my 3 Chords a Day blog … « Take Highway 12
[…] 7 “Green, Green Grass Of Home” — Porter Wagoner considered this tale of nostalgia with a twist to be his career […]