Kenny Rogers – Sweet Music Man

“Sweet Music Man”, song written and recorded by Kenny Rogers for the United Artist Records label, on April 23, 1977, at Jack Clement Recording Studio 3102 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN. In the same session, two other songs were recorded: “Maybe in the end” and “Ole lady luck”. In this session, Kenny was accompanied by: Billy Sanford (guitar), Dave Kirby (guitar), Jerry Shook (guitar), Jimmy Capps (guitar), Jim Colvard (guitar), Johnny Christopher (guitar), Larry Keith (guitar), Reggie Young (guitar), TG Engel (guitar), Pete Drake (steel), Tommy Allsup (bass guitar), Bob Moore, Joe Osborn and Mike Leech (bass), Bobby Daniels, Jerry Carrigan and Kenny Malone (drums), Bobby Wood, Charles Cochran, Edgar Struble, Gene Golden, Hargus “Pig” Robbins and Steve Glassmeyer (keyboards), Shane Keister (synthesizer) + strings +, Bergen White, Bobby Daniels, Buzz Cason, Don Gant, Gene Golden, Johnny MacCrae Jordanaires, The Larry Keith, Randy Rogers, Sandy Rogers, Steve Glassmeyer and Steve Pippin (background vocals). With the production of Larry Butler, the song was released on October 10, 1977, and on December 17, 1977, peaked at # 9 on the U.S Hot Country Songs charts, spending a total of 15 weeks on the charts. On December 31, 1977, it reached # 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. Rogers used the song as the B-side for two of his subsequent singles: “Lady” in 1980 and “You Were a Good Friend” in 1983.

Interestingly, the song was first recorded by Anne Murray on March 15, 1976, for the album, Keeping In Touch (Capitol 1976).

The song was included on Kenny Rogers’ third studio album, Daytime Friends (UAR 1977), the album was released on July 25, 1977, on September 17, 1977, reached # 2 on the US Top charts Country Albums, and remaining a total of 68 weeks on the charts. On charts , Canada Country Albums peaked at # 44. The album was certified platinum in the USA and gold in Canada.

Some versions:

Dolly Parton 1977 (RCA Victor)
Tammy Wynette 1977 (Epic)
Billy Jo Spears 1977 (United Artists Records)
Millie Jackson 1978 (Spring Records)
Waylon Jennings 1980 (MCA)
Lee Tower 1990 (Ariola)
Reba McEntire 2001 (MCA)

Miquel Batlle Garriga
mbatllegarriga@gmail.com

Kenny Rogers – Sweet Music Man Lyrics

I wouldn’t listen and I couldn’t see
And all I have left now are words you said to me,
Sing your song sweet music man,
‘cos I won’t be there to hold your hand like I used to,
I’m thro’ with you.

You’re a hell of a singer and a powerful man
But you surround yourself
With people who demand so little of you.

You touched my soul with your beautiful song,
You even had me singing along right with you,
You said I need.

Then you changed the words and added harmony
And you sang the song you had written for me
To someone new.

But nobody sings a love song quite like you do
And nobody else could make me sing along
And nobody else could make me feel
That things are right when I know they’re wrong
(that things are right when you’re wrong with the song)
Nobody sings a love song quite like you.

Sing your song sweet music man
You travel the world with a six piece band
That does for you what you ask ’em to.

And you try to stay young
But the songs you’ve sung to so many people
They’ve all begun to come back on you.

So sing your song sweet music man,
You’re making your living doing one night stands,
That prove to you they don’t need you.

You’re still a hell of a singer but a broken man,
But you’re keep on looking for one last fan
To sing ’em to.

But nobody sings…
So sing your song sweet music man
I believe in you.