Abilene - A spin off so Cotton doesn't hijack a good thread

[Charles L. Cotton]

Voted for current area, Houston/Galveston...although I wish I was home, Abilene. Sigh.

"Abilene, Abilene, prettiest town I've ever seen. Folks down there don't treat you mean, in Abilene, my Abilene.. . . "

I bet you youngsters can't tell me who sang that one, much less when.

Chas.

(I don't mean to hijack the thread, it's a good one, but I couldn't pass this up.)

[HighVelocity]

It was Waylon Jennings wasn't it?

[anygunanywhere]

"Abilene, Abilene, prettiest town I've ever seen, wish to the Lord that I could be in Abilene, my Abilene. . . "

I bet you youngsters can't tell me who sang that one, much less when.

I know the song. Now that you brought it up, the thing will be in my head all day. At least it isn't Gilligan's theme.

The real issue is...I am having a senior moment and can not place the artist. Wait....GHIV.

[Charles L. Cotton]

It was Waylon Jennings wasn't it?

Yep, and it appears several others did too. I shot my mouth off too quickly; I can't recall who sang it in the mid-60's. Oh well, I guess this is a good lesson in life; the youngsters don't know and we old farts can't remember.

Chas.

[anygunanywhere]

GHIV=George Hamilton IV

[Charles L. Cotton]

GHIV=George Hamilton IV

That sounds right. At least I think he wrote it and may have been the first to record it.

Chas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

JLaw:
Are we making you homesick?

Chas.

[anygunanywhere]

I must be honest. The mind has not reached normal caffeine levels yet, so I might have come up with that on my own eventually on a good day.

I googled it.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Now that you brought it up, the thing will be in my head all day. At least it isn't Gilligan's theme.

You know, you're right. I can't get that song out of my head! JLaw, it's all your fault!

Chas.

[couzin]

Bob Gibson late 1950s - banjo picker.

What do I win??

[Charles L. Cotton]

Bob Gibson late 1950s - banjo picker.

What do I win??

The admiration and respect of all of us at TexasCHLforum.

Chas.

[sensei]

GHIV=George Hamilton IV

That sounds right. At least I think he wrote it and may have been the first to record it.

Chas.

He made in popular when I was in High School. Some time between 1960 -1964. Don't know for sure if he wrote it.

Ray Glass

[jimlongley]

GHIV - but I am late with that one.

Covered by many.

[couzin]

OK - I am of years but I thought I remembered this tune so I got busy with a web search (I have learned to do that...). Gibson apparently wrote the tune in 1956 and recorded it in 1957, and, according to the City of Abilene (KS) website, wasn't thinking of either TX or KS but a woman?? The co-author, John Loudermilk wrote a number of songs for Hamilton, who recorded his version of Abilene in 1963, after several others had already done so. The following links seem to confirm all of this. Don't ask me what I had for breakfast yesterday though...!

http://www.countrypolitan.com/bio-georg ... ton-iv.php

http://www.abilene.com/visitors/visitor ... esong.html

http://members.chello.nl/~k.vanderhoeven/JDL.html#abi

[couzin]

This was a fun little diversion...