Darlin’ Companion Was A Johnny And June Hit and A Lovin’ Spoonful Hit As Well
It was one day last week that my friend, Old Time Country Music Hall of Famer Joe Morrison played a great Johnny Cash and June Carter classic 'Darlin' Companion'.
It brought be back back back....but not to the Johnny and June hit. I was about 12 when i first heard, and fell in love with, 'Darlin' Companion'. It was a song done by a pop/folk group called the Lovin' Spoonful.
The Lovin' Spoonful was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000, and while that is certainly a deserved honor, they were so much more than rock and roll. Huge elements of folk and country, Lovin' Spoonful was one of those bands that was hard to categorize. With great pop hits like 'Summer In The City', 'Do You Believe in Magic', 'Daydream' and many others, they were always in the Top Ten of the 1960's pop/rock charts. But all of those songs had that folk/country feel to them.
And it was in 1967 that John Sebastion and the band released a 45 called 'Darling Be Home Soon' backed with 'Darlin' Companion'. I think both songs could have and should have been country hits if not for the fact that...well, the band didn't look country and the timing wasn't right. But give a listen to the Lovin' Spoonful and the original version of the song.
It would be 2 years later, in 1969, that Johnny and June would release the song on the legendary Johnny Cash At San Quentin album.
I love both versions. And it brings back a great musical memory, country or not.
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