My 100 Favorite Charted Pop Songs: Drift Away

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How about this after the Loretta Lynn song? “It’s all part of life’s rich pageant,” as R.E.M. quoted Inspector Clouseau for an album title. Actually, there is a little bit of a country music connection to this song, but you’d never know it by listening to it. Here’s today’s song. Drift Away - Dobie Gray The connection comes from this song’s writer, Mentor Williams. He was primarily a country songwriter, having penned “A Few Old Country Boys Like Me,” a hit for Randy Travis and George Jones. He was also country singer Lynn Anderson’s domestic partner. One thing that doesn’t fit country music necessarily is that he was the brother of pop songwriter Paul Williams…but then, Paul was in Smokey and the Bandit, so…. And this song was covered in country music by Narvel Felts (he changed it to “I wanna get lost in your country song,” if you’re interested [or even if you’re not ]). “Thanks for the joy that you’re giving me.” That line explains my relationship with music so perfectly. Drift Away Written by Mentor Williams Recorded by Dobie Gray From Drift Away, 1973 Peak chart position: #5 Today’s country song: “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Give me the beat, boys: