My 100 Favorite Charted Country Songs: Steel Rail Blues

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The dreaded “pattern flip” is threatening to bring cold and the dirty S word to the region next week. That’s next week. Right now it’s time for another song from my list of favorites that made the Billboard chart. Today I present the evidence of what I’ve said about Gordon Lightfoot for eons. Steel Rail Blues - George Hamilton IV I was introduced to Gordon Lightfoot, the songwriter, through the numerous covers of his songs that made the country charts when I was a kid. This is one of them. Back then, Lightfoot was a relative unknown, having released his first album in 1966. However, that album made a splash, because four of the songs on it were covered in country music: “Ribbon of Darkness” by Marty Robbins, “For Loving Me” by Waylon Jennings, and “Early Morning Rain” and this song by George Hamilton IV. A couple of things about “the International Ambassador of Country Music,” as Hamilton was known. First and foremost, he is NO RELATION WHATSOEVER to the actor named George Hamilton. NONE. (I met Hamilton the singer, and he didn’t look like he’d ever had a tan. ) Secondly, all of his hits in the 50s were pop hits, including what’s probably one of his best-remembered songs, “A Rose and a Baby Ruth.” His last charted pop hit was “Abilene” in 1963. That was also his first (and only) country chart topper. So thanks to George Hamilton IV, and others, I came to know Gordon Lightfoot’s music. A love affair that’s lasted going on 60 years now. While this song wasn’t that successful, the follow-up, a cover of Lightfoot’s “Early Morning Rain,” was a top ten hit. Hard to pick between the two. PS: George will be back on the list with a much slower (sorry, Jim) song later. Steel Rail Blues Written by Gordon Lightfoot Recorded by George Hamilton IV From Steel Rail Blues, 1966 Peak chart position: #15 Today’s rock song: “Someday, Someway” I gambled the ticket away: