Much better than the crap out today.

Totally agreed. You had to make something outstanding, with its own caracter, from the heart. Nowadays it has some sort of a formula they use to make it to the charts. Its all shit to me.

This was a television performance. As was the standard of the time it was all pantomime matching (more or less) the studio recording that was played for the taping of the show.

@@kmoecub Nope. If you pay close attention you can tell they're playing live.

Yep, live performance. No doubt. I’m really impressed by the arrangement in fact. Mary Miller on tambourine and Kenny on Bass. Lead guitar used at the end as a percussion instrument to great effect. Very much enjoyable, thank you!

@@kmoecub This is live bud. You obviously have no clue and have never heard the studio version of this song.

@queasylagumo, you are so right if U listen carefully U can tell it's live and different from the record and just doggone GREAT.

Great song! M-m-many p-p-people did not know that M-m-mel suffered a lifelong stuttering problem, 😳 but he could sing PERFECTLY without stuttering!! In addition to the many wonderful songs that he was responsible for, he also fathered a musical 🎼 songstress within her own right, Pam Tillis!! Mel and Kenny were both musical 🎼 wonders that gave this world 🌎 great music 🎶 that will be enjoyed for many generations to come. I can only imagine, the GREAT band and choir of all of the WONDERFUL performers who have left our planet and now sing in the heavens.

Did not know that ... thanks...

Thanks. Was wondering.

❤❤❤ Mel. TILLIS LOVED HE. WILL BE MISSED

But his daughter, Pam, still tours and represents him awesomely.

I salute you also , welcome home ! Nam Vet Tom

Thank You for your service Sir 🇺🇸🇺🇸

My father in law was not disabled but after his second tour in Nam he found his wife was dating her bowling instructor. He never remarried but his three kids had the best upbringing. He was a better single parent than most two parent households. RIP Msgt Don Moore.

The lyrics are sooo damn good, they really tell a tough story of a paralyzed veteran who loves his wife and wants her to stay with him, it's heartbreaking.

For me I'm a Vietnam Vet.

SEMPER FI BROTHER ‼️ WELCOME HOME

Welcome home. Glad you are here

God bless Kenny. I'm not really a country guy, but I always loved Kenny's songs. If I don't hear Ruby a few times year, then life is just not worth living.

Although I am English, I can sympathise. I can remember disabled veterans from the two world wars selling matches on the streets. God bless you and your fellow veterans.

God bless you and all the veterans

It’s way superior to the original !

@@TheSnowmanBKK Yes it is

The band Cake do an excellent cover

No auto tune.

@@larrytate4586 There was no auto tune.

This is how I’ll always remember, Kenny. The First Edition. They were a talented, band.

Uh..."Just Dropped In" to see what condition my condition was in was hardly called "soft rock." Kenny Roger's covered every genre but hip hop!

Mary Arnold.

The lady's name is Mary Arnold, who replaced her roommate Thelma Camacho as the female vocal on this album.

there's a video of her with the Grass Roots, and her tambourine, performing "Sooner or Later" on youtube too...and she was married to "King of the Road"...aka Roger Miller

NICE LEGGS TOO

I believe Mary Arnold became Mrs. Roger Miller.

Hi Sharon💐💐

Korn sly Everitts vidyVako GeLiedMowza!!

It is never very long that I don't find myself singing "Ruby" to myself. Though I didn't go to Nam, it was 'cause they stopped drafting the year I was eligible. But I still feel how it affected the very few friends and neighbors who went, and, came back. They surely were treated badly. They did not get to take it to town.

Legends never die.

That's very true he will live forever threw his music

I've noticed that there are a number of "stars" out there that started out as an instrument player, then when they became the face of the band or whatever, that they put their instrument down and just sing and be the star. It's a shame though. Think about Karen Carpenter, she'll always be remembered as the singer of many great songs, but less people realize what a great drummer she was.

He also wrote a few great songs including one of my favorites ‘Sweet Music Man’ which, if I remember correctly, he wrote about Waylon Jennings.

Ah.... Paul ?

@@dace938 Right? And Greg Lake. And Geddy Lee. And Sting.......

Suzi Quatro and a ton of others!

It’s not like he’s really “playing the bass” much. Extremely simple part. Extremely.

@@jimbo1959 There really is not that many in the big picture. And it is not easy. David Crosby was supposed to be the bass player in the Byrds but couldn't sing and play bass, Glen Campbell said he had a heck of a time when filling in for Brian Wilson when he wouldn't go on the road....Many more that can't then can.

Prince sucks, if you ask me.

I did not know that. I had a big crush on him in high school. Big time.

Hi hope you doing good and staying safe.....!

I remember listening to an 8 track of this on a trip with the family, my mom really loved the ending, especially the way the drums continued after saying, "for God's sake turn around" and they kept it intact performing live. That is one of the best endings I have ever heard. The song really transports you into feeling what the crippled vet felt real or not. There were quite a few bands that came to be comprised of former members of The New Christy Minstrels such as this one and I think Barry McGuire also was a Minstrel, quite a few people that were minstrels became successful afterward. Mary Arnold who I had a hopeless crush on at 12, was not the first female singer in the band so I do not know if she was one of the New Christy Minstrels before that. Seeing this cements the idea that I had great taste in a women's appearance even before my voice changed. Of course we know that even infants respond well to attractive people so the self important media and goofy article writers do not shape tastes and image like they think. The first time I saw this on TV, Kenny was sitting on steps performing it, the song was so believable that when I saw Kenny sitting I thought, "oh yeah, maybe he really can't stand and walk because he's paralyzed and it was his story". It didn't take long to figure out that he was fine and the song was just so good and convincing that I felt helpless for the person the song is from the point of view of.

Never knew he could play bass guitar like that, and singing at the same time. Love that pick sound.

@@fastguned Agreed!

And I believe that is Mickey Jones back there on drums who said "All of it boy" on the movie Vacation. There is a live video of What Condition my Condition was in on here and he is playing the same drumset.

@@fastguned yeah, Kenny played both upright and electric bass while singing with the New Christy Minstrels. Not an easy thing to do.

Dave Rucci, I totally agree. I'm a bass player, and while I can sing some backups, it's hard for me to sing lead while playing bass. You always tend to sing what you're playing, and with bass it's sometimes going opposite from the main melody (bass might be going down while the guitars are going up, etc.). I have mucho respect for the McCartneys, Stings, and other bassists who sing lead.

He slaps on bass too. All while higher than a kite.

Amen 🕊️🌍🌎🕊️

are you okay

Steve Clark Same situation in Los Angeles . Kenny was of my Go To’s when feeling down . I came to this video and saw the RIP on your post and my heart sank just a bit more than it’s current state. RIP Kenny , I hope you didn’t suffer much your final days . Pls tell the big guy upstairs that we sure need help right now. Stay safe everyone..

Could not agree with you more Steve and Janet

Why would you allow yourself to be locked down?

Hi hope you doing good and staying safe.....!

also great fidelity

She did shut it down!

Mary Arnold, she's from Iowa.

gemstonnee Since you mentioned Lucille, were you aware that the song was based on true events? The song actually in a bar in Toledo, across the depot and witnessed the man say, "you've picked a fine time to leave me, "Lucille."" And from that much of the conversation that he heard, Kenny Rogers' career was reborn. Incidentially, his mother's name was Lucille and when the song was released, she didn't like because she thought everybody that heard was going to think that "Lucille" was her!

Hi Vicki💐💐

I got a Fever... more Tambourine.

You should check out their Coming Through The Rye from the midnight special. She brings it to a new level.

Mary Arnold. Yeah she was hot.

Ya,about as difficult as clapping your hands. She was a genius! You wouldn't have made the comment if she was a man. 100%.The most impressive thing in that video is Kenny playing the Bass and singing,now THAT'S difficult.

@@dr.phantom5147 I suppose you've never heard of Jack Ashford? There's your male percussionist. I am genuinely amazed by Mary Arnold. FYI, Playing bass and singing is not hard. Though by the state of your comment I'd say a decent fart would keep you happy. Cheers.

Mary Arnold aka Mrs Roger Miller

Fab. And playing bass and singing at the same time is a real skill!

Great playing. Thumpy and rhythmic.

I agree but Kenny Doesn't. I watched an interview where he says he chose bass because there was a higher demand for bad bass players than there was for bad guitar players. He is or, at the time of interview at least, was a very humble man.

He did play it well Terry Williams even said he did be that Kenny always put himself down.

You must be a Bieber fan!!

Sorry. Don't know who that is. But I know great harmonies when I hear it.