For the Good Times (song)

Last updated
"For the Good Times"
Single by Bill Nash
A-side "We Had All The Good Things Going"
Released1968
Genre Country
Label Smash
Songwriter(s) Kris Kristofferson
Producer(s) Jerry Kennedy
Official audio
"For the Good Times" on YouTube
"For the Good Times"
Single by Ray Price
from the album For the Good Times
B-side "Grazin' in Greener Pastures"
ReleasedJune 1970
RecordedMarch 1970
Genre Country
Length3:47
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Kris Kristofferson
Producer(s) Don Law
Ray Price singles chronology
"You Wouldn't Know Love"
(1970)		"For the Good Times"
(1970)		"I Won't Mention It Again"
(1971)
Official audio
"For the Good Times" on YouTube

"For the Good Times" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson, first recorded by singer Bill Nash in 1968 before appearing on Kristofferson's own debut album in June 1970. After a recording by Ray Price became a #1 hit single in June of that year, the song established Kristofferson as one of country and popular music's top songwriters while giving Price his first chart-topping country and western song in 11 years. [1]

Contents

"For the Good Times" continued to be recorded by a number of artists in subsequent years, to popular success. It became a staple of soul singer Al Green's concert repertoire in the 1970s, [2] also featuring as a studio recording on his 1972 album I'm Still in Love with You . [3] A version by Perry Como spent 27 weeks on the UK Singles Chart peaking at #7 in August 1973 and spent 13 weeks on the Irish Singles Chart, peaking at #1 for 2 weeks in November 1973. [4] [5]

Composition

Kristofferson wrote most of the song in 1968 while on a work-related road trip from Nashville to the Gulf of Mexico. [1] It recounts the end of a love affair, based on a real life experience of his, [6] in a manner that popular music scholar Steve Sullivan said "conveys sadness, acceptance, and longing". [1]

An early recording of the song was by Bill Nash on Smash Records in 1968. [7] Kristofferson's own recording appeared on self-titled debut album in April 1970. [8]

Ray Price's recording

Ray Price recorded the song on March 16, 1970, [1] accompanied by an orchestra in Nashville's Columbia Studio A. [6]

Price's recording was released as a single and made its chart debut on June 27, 1970, topping the country and western chart for one week and reaching #11 on the pop singles chart. [1] "For the Good Times" was Price's fifth #1 single and spent 19 weeks on the chart. [9] It was also his only release to hit the Top 40 of the pop chart. [10] Originally Price's label, Columbia Records, had released the song as the "B" side of the single, but switched to promoting "For the Good Times" after Wayne Newton recorded his own version of the tune. The flip side, "Grazin' in Greener Pastures," did receive credit on the country music chart. [11]

At the 1971 Academy of Country Music awards, "For the Good Times" won in the category of "Song of the Year" (for Kristofferson as composer) and "Single of the Year" (for Price). [12] In 2014, Rolling Stone named Price's recording #18 on its "40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time". [13] Kacey Musgraves has said it "might be the saddest song of all time. It really breaks my heart." [1]

It was featured in television commercials promoting ESPN's coverage of the 2014–15 College Football Playoff. [14] [15]

Charts

Chart (1970)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [16] 32
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles1
U.S. Billboard Hot 10011
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks10
Canadian RPM Country Tracks2
Canadian RPM Top Singles13
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks10

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kris Kristofferson</span> American country singer

Kristoffer Kristofferson is an American retired country singer, songwriter, and actor. Among his songwriting credits are "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", all of which were hits for other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Boy Named Sue</span> Song by Shel Silverstein, Johnny Cash

"A Boy Named Sue" is a song written by humorist, children's author, and poet Shel Silverstein and made popular by Johnny Cash. Cash recorded the song live in concert on February 24, 1969, at California's San Quentin State Prison for his At San Quentin album. Cash also performed the song in December 1969 at Madison Square Garden. The live San Quentin version of the song became Cash's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his only top ten single there, spending three weeks at No. 2 in 1969, held out of the top spot by "Honky Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones. The track also topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Easy Listening charts that same year and was certified Gold on August 14, 1969, by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me and Bobby McGee</span> Song by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster

"Me and Bobby McGee" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and originally performed by Roger Miller. Fred Foster shares the writing credit, as Kristofferson wrote the song based on a suggestion from Foster. A posthumously released version by Janis Joplin topped the U.S. singles chart in 1971, making the song the second posthumously released No. 1 single in U.S. chart history after "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. Gordon Lightfoot released a version that reached number 1 on the Canadian country charts in 1970. Jerry Lee Lewis released a version that was number 1 on the country charts in December 1971/January 1972 as the "B" side of "Would You Take Another Chance On Me." Billboard ranked Joplin's version as the No. 11 song for 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Swan</span> American musician and songwriter

William Lance Swan is an American country singer-songwriter, best known for his 1974 single "I Can Help".

"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson that was recorded in 1969 by Ray Stevens before becoming a No.1 hit on the Billboard US Country chart for Johnny Cash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Highwaymen (country supergroup)</span> American country music supergroup

The Highwaymen were an American country music supergroup, composed of four of country music's biggest artists who pioneered the outlaw country subgenre: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Between 1985 and 1995, the group recorded three major label albums as The Highwaymen: two on Columbia Records and one for Liberty Records. Their Columbia works produced three chart singles, including the number one "Highwayman" in 1985.

<i>The Silver Tongued Devil and I</i> 1971 studio album by Kris Kristofferson

The Silver Tongued Devil and I is the second studio album recorded by singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson. It was produced by Fred Foster, released in July 1971 on Monument Records and followed his critically acclaimed debut Kristofferson.

<i>Kristofferson</i> (album) Album by Kris Kristofferson

Kristofferson is the debut album of singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, which was produced by Fred Foster and released in June 1970 by Monument Records. After working a series of temporary jobs, Kristofferson became a helicopter pilot for oil companies in the Gulf of Mexico. While he worked, he wrote songs and pitched them to singers around Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee during his free time. Kristofferson's songs were recorded by country singers Roy Drusky, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roger Miller and later he persuaded Johnny Cash to try his material. Cash invited Kristofferson to perform with him at the Newport Folk Festival, after which Fred Foster signed Kristofferson to Monument Records as a songwriter and recording artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Drusky</span> American singer-songwriter (1930–2004)

Roy Frank Drusky, Jr. was an American country music singer and songwriter popular from the 1960s through the early 1970s. Known for his baritone voice, he was known for incorporating the Nashville sound and for being one of the first artists to record a song written by Kris Kristofferson. His highest-charting single was the No. 1 "Yes, Mr. Peters", a duet with Priscilla Mitchell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Help Me Make It Through the Night</span> 1970 country song by Kris Kristofferson

"Help Me Make It Through The Night" is a country music ballad written and composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson. It was covered later in 1970 by Sammi Smith, on the album Help Me Make It Through the Night.

<i>Breakaway</i> (Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album) 1974 studio album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge

Breakaway is the second duet album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, released in 1974 on Monument Records. It is one of three duet albums by the couple. Unlike Kristofferson solo albums, it features several covers. "I've Got to Have You" and "I'd Rather Be Sorry" had both previously been hits for other artists; they appear here by Kristofferson for the first time.

<i>Natural Act</i> 1978 studio album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge

Natural Act is the third and final duet album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, released in 1978 on A&M Records. The couple would divorce the following year. The album was released while Coolidge's career was at a peak; her recent albums Anytime...Anywhere and Love Me Again had seen much commercial success. Natural Act is Kristofferson's only album to chart in the United Kingdom.

"It's Just a Matter of Time" is a popular song written by Brook Benton, Clyde Otis, and Belford Hendricks. The original recording by Benton topped the Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart in 1959 and peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 pop chart, the first in a string of hits for Benton that ran through 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Me (Kris Kristofferson song)</span> 1973 single by Kris Kristofferson

"Why Me" is an American country and gospel song written and recorded by American country music singer and songwriter Kris Kristofferson.

"Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson and first recorded by Bobby Bare, who included it on his Where Have All the Seasons Gone album in January 1971.

<i>Love Story</i> (Andy Williams album) 1971 studio album by Andy Williams

Love Story is the twenty-seventh studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released on February 3, 1971, by Columbia Records. This was another in his series of cover albums, but the title track, subtitled "Where Do I Begin", was the one song included that he originated.

<i>Youve Got a Friend</i> (Andy Williams album) 1971 studio album by Andy Williams

You've Got a Friend is the twenty-eighth studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams, released in August 1971 by Columbia Records. The album bears a striking resemblance to the Johnny Mathis album You've Got a Friend released that same month. Besides sharing their name, the two albums are both made up of covers of easy listening hits of the time, with 11 songs each, and the two albums have seven songs in common that are positioned in a similar order.

<i>A Star Is Born</i> (1976 soundtrack) 1976 soundtrack album by Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson

A Star Is Born is the soundtrack album to the 1976 musical film of the same name, performed by its stars Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. The album was very successful, holding the number-one spot on the US Billboard 200 chart for six weeks and eventually was certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA for more than four million units shipped and has sold a total of eight million copies worldwide.

<i>For the Good Times</i> (Ray Price album) 1970 studio album by Ray Price

For the Good Times is a studio album by country music artist Ray Price. It was released in 1970 by Columbia Records.

<i>Tammys Greatest Hits, Volume II</i> 1971 greatest hits album by Tammy Wynette

Tammy's Greatest Hits, Volume II is a compilation album by American country artist, Tammy Wynette. It was released on September 6, 1971 via Epic Records and featured 11 tracks. A majority of the album compiled previously-released singles from the late sixties and early seventies. Some tracks were new material, including "Good Lovin' ". Released as the disc's lead single, it topped the country charts in 1971. The album itself reached the top five of the American country LP's chart in 1971 and later certified gold in the United States.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sullivan, Steve (2017). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Volume 3. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 461. ISBN   978-1442254497.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Al Green's Greatest Hits Volume II". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   0-89919-025-1 . Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  3. ↑ Awkward, Michael (2007). Soul Covers: Rhythm and Blues Remakes and the Struggle for Artistic Identity (Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Phoebe Snow). Duke University Press. p. 119. ISBN   978-0822389491.
  4. ↑ "PERRY COMO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  5. ↑ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  6. 1 2 "Kris Kristofferson Talks More About His Songs". CMT. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ "For the good times". Poplartunes.nl. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  8. ↑ "Kris Kristofferson - Self-Titled". No Depression. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 275.
  10. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 505.
  11. ↑ Roland, Tom, "The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits" (Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1991 ( ISBN   0-82-307553-2), p. 43.
  12. ↑ Billboard Apr 3, 1971
  13. ↑ Kreps, Daniel; Menoci, David; Ryan, Linda; Harvilla, Rob; Murray, Nick; Drell, Cady; Powell, Mike; Moss, Marissa R; Harris, Keith; Fisher, Reed (September 26, 2014). "40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone.
  14. ↑ "Ray Price’s 'For the Good Times' Plays in ESPN Commercial" – KMOO-FM 99.9.
  15. ↑ ESPN television commercial promoting 2014–15 College Football Playoff telecasts, courtesy of YouTube.
  16. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 238. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.