Another Ten Songs You May Not Know Are Covers: Me and Bobby McGee (#4)

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It's not "officially" Kris Kristofferson day, even though I highlighted him earlier in the day and now he's getting the spotlight again. He's a terrific songwriter (and a questionable singer....but that's nothing new). For today's big hit song that was actually a cover he again gets front and center. Here's the song. #4: Me and Bobby McGee This song is so Janis Joplin that it's hard to believe Kristofferson didn't write it explicitly for her! According to Picky Wedia, this was one of Joplin's final recordings before her October 4, 1970 death. Kristofferson had no idea that Janis had even recorded it until after she died. And, in light of her death, the song went to #1 in early 1971 and is unquestionably a standard in rock and roll, and what could easily be considered Janis Joplin's signature song. Did you know she was the tenth person to record the song? And did you know that, according to Bill Haley's biography, Kristofferson's favorite version was the Bill Haley & the Comets rendition? Finally, did you know that the first hit version of the song came two years before Janis Joplin's? Oddly, Roger Miller -- no slouch of a songwriter himself -- recorded it (maybe as a favor to Kristofferson, who was still a struggling songwriter working as a janitor in a recording studio [when he wasn't piloting helicopters and landing them on Johnny Cash's lawn to pitch songs to him ]). The Roger Miller rendition reached #12 on the Billboard country charts in 1969. In fact, Miller's recording predates Kristofferson's by a year! Other artists who recorded the song include the Statler Brothers, Sam the Sham (no kidding!), and Kenny Rogers & the First Edition. But it's still Janis' song. I think even Kristofferson would admit that, even if he likes another version better. Me and Bobby McGee Written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster Originally recorded by Roger Miller, 1969 Famously covered by Janis Joplin, 1970 Feeling near as faded as my jeans (told you this morning Kristofferson is a great songwriter):