Kenny Rogers – Lucille

Lucille, song written by Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum, was recorded by Kenny Rogers for the United Artist label, in August 1976, at American Studios, 1111 17th Ave. South, Nashville, TN, in the recording session, along with the Lucille song, three other songs were recorded Kenny was accompanied on the recording by: Billy Sanford (guitar), Dale Sellers (guitar), Dave Kirby (guitar), Fred Carter (guitar), Jerry Shook (guitar), Jimmy Capps (guitar), Johnny Christopher (guitar) , Pete Wade (guitar), Ray Edenton (guitar), Reggie Young (guitar), Steve Gibson (guitar), Pete Drake (steel), Tommy Allsup (bass guitar), Bob Moore and Joe Osborn (bass), Buddy Harmon, Jerry Carrigan and Kenny Malone (drums), Tommy Williams (fiddle), Bobby Wood, Charles ‘Chuck’ Cochran, George Richey, Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins and Larry Butler (keyboards) + strings + Bergen White, Buzz Cason, Don Gant, Johnny MacCrea, Jordanaires, Larry Keith and Steve Pippin (vocal back) .With the production of Larry Butler, the song was released on the 24th of January 1977, and April 2, 1977, reached # 1 on the charts of U.S Hot Country Songs, for two weeks in a row, the song remained 20 weeks on the charts. On April 16, 1977, for two weeks in a row, it also reach # 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. The song reached number # 5 of the pop charts in the USA, also reached number one in: U.K, Yuguslavia and Soth Africa. In New Zealand and Ireland it reached number # 2. He has been one of Kenny Rogers’ greatest successes. It was the first number one for Kenny, it would be the first of a long career of success.

Kenny won the 1977 Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance and was the winner of the CMA award for Single Of The Year.

The song was included in the second studio album by Kenny Rogers from United Artists Records, Kenny Rogers (United Artists Records 1977), the album was released in January 1977, reaching # 1 of the US Top Country Albums charts, the May 21, 1977, for two consecutive weeks, and remained a total of 120 weeks in the charts. The album was certified platinum in the USA and gold in Canada.

About the song:

This song, about an unfaithful wife who abandons her husband and four children at an inopportune moment, was written by Hal Bynum and Roger Bowling. The latter also wrote “Blanket On The Ground” for Billie Jo Spears. Other successes written by Bynum include “The Old, Old House” (George Jones, Bill Monroe) and “Chains” (Patty Loveless).

The song was inspired by real-life events, since Bynum’s marriage was in trouble when he began writing this song. He was struggling with the temptation of another woman’s love breakthroughs and, while his wife was preparing for a trip, Bynum said: “You chose a good time to leave me.” Bowling then helped Bynum alter the song to a bar situation, inspired by the sight of a couple arguing at the Greyhound bus station in Toledo.

An anecdote, Kenny’s mother is called Lucille, a simple coincidence.

Some versions:

Waylon Jennings 1977 (RCA)
Top of the Pops 1977 (Hallmark Records)
The Barron Knights 1977 (Epic)
Gerry Storme 1977 (Tank)
Johnny Chester 1978 (Image)
Country Road 1978 (Sun Music)
Clive Bruce 1978 (Disc Jockey)
The Links 1978 (Link Records)

Kenny Rogers – Lucille Lyrics

In a bar in Toledo
Across from the depot
On a bar stool she took off her ring
I thought I’d get closer
So I walked on over
I sat down and asked her name
When the drinks finally hit her
She said I’m no quitter
But I finally quit livin’ on dreams
I’m hungry for laughter
And here ever after
I’m after whatever the other life brings

In the mirror I saw him
And I closely watched him
I thought how he looked out of place
He came to the woman
Who sat there beside me
He had a strange look on his face
The big hands were calloused
He looked like a mountain
For a minute I thought I was dead
But he started shakin’
His big heart was breakin’
He turned to the woman and said

You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
With four hungry children
And a crop in the field
I’ve had some bad times
Lived through some sad times
But this time your hurtin’ won’t heal
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille

After he left us
I ordered more whisky
I thought how she’d made him look small
From the lights of the bar room
To a rented hotel room
We walked without talkin’ at all
She was a beauty
But when she came to me
She must have thought I’d lost my mind
I could’nt hold her
‘Cos the words that he told her
Kept coming back time after time

You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
With four hungry children
And a crop in the field
I’ve had some bad times
Lived through some sad times
But this time your hurtin’ won’t heal
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille