My list of the songs I'm going to feature each week is filled out a couple years in advance, and for some odd-ass reason I must have been in a Country Music state of mind when I filled it out a few years back because this is the fifth straight song that has a Country flavor to it. For my loyal readers (both of you) who are ready to leave Shitkickersville behind, next week will leave that fine city in the rearview...for at least a week.
Charlie Rich was born in Colt, Arkansas in 1932, and began his career in earnest while he was in the Air Force. After his discharge in 1956 Rich began playing gigs around Memphis and not too long after had a recording contract. He had his first hit in 1960, and struggled thereafter to produce more until he hit a strong patch in the 1970's. It was also at this time that his graying hair earned him the nickname "The Silver Fox." Rich--who was also quite a jazz and blues singer--would go on to have eight #1 singles on the Hot Country Singles Chart, and one on the Billboard Hot 100. For his career, Rich released twelve studio albums (with five #1's on the Country album chart and two top 30 albums on the Billboard 200) and 41 singles. He also won two Grammy Awards, and was the Country Music Association Entertainer of the year in 1974. Sadly, Rich passed away in 1995 at the all too young age of 62 from a pulmonary embolism.
(Not So) Fun Fact: While doing my half-assed research, I wondered why a performer with a career as illustrious as Rich's had not been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Turns out that Rich was the presenter of the Entertainer of the Year Award at the 1975 CMA Awards, and during the presentation he stumbled drunkenly over the nominees, then proceeded to set the envelope with the winner's name on fire before announcing John Denver as the winner. The industry was not amused, and Rich's career promptly took a nosedive. In fact, from 1982-1992 he didn't release any albums and performed sparingly.
"Rollin' with the Flow" was released in 1977 on Rich's album entitled, surprisingly enough, Rollin' with the Flow. It would be the last #1 Country hit of his career, and hit #101 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard pop chart; the album peaked at #19 on the Country album chart.
Every now and again a song comes along that bears very little relation to you or your life (the Velvet Underground's "Heroin" comes to mind, though I am in no way comparing it to this week's tune), but nonetheless it strikes a chord (so to speak) and becomes a loved favorite. "Rollin' with the Flow" is that kind of song for me, as it tells the story of a man who's still raising hell and refusing to grow old...and that was never my life (nor Rich's--he was married to the same woman for forty-three years and had four kids). Still, every time I hear it, it brings me great joy. Rich's vocals capture perfectly the self-satisfied son of a bitch at the heart of the song, and the strings and steel guitar...uh, roll with the flow of the song. It's a hell of a number celebrating the acceptance of the hand we're dealt in life, and that there can still be a lot of joy even if it isn't a straight flush.
Lyric Sheet: "Some might be callin' me a bum/But I'm still out there havin' fun/And Jesus loves me, yes, I know/So I keep on rollin' with the flow..."
Enjoy:
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Peace,
emaycee
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