Kenny Rogers is fondly remembered for the “gambler” persona, his country-pop crossovers, and various duets with stars like Dolly Parton, Lynda Carter, Kim Carnes, and Dottie West. However, there was a time where his persona included long hair, a single earring, and pink-tinted sunglasses.
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What was this psychedelic hippie version of Kenny Rogers up to? Many may remember his work with the First Edition in the 1970s. This rendition of Rogers was dabbling in psych-rock, playing bass guitar and providing lead vocals for the group.
It all started in 1966 when he joined the New Christy Minstrels. He also played bass in this group, but only for about a year before parting ways alongside guitar players Mike Settle and Terry Williams, and operatic lead vocalist Thelma Camacho.
Along with former Bob Dylan band member Mickey Jones on drums, the First Edition was born in 1967. Later, around 1969, the band renamed to Kenny Rogers and the First Edition and gained renewed recognition on the charts.
Kenny Rogers Wasn’t Always The Gambler, He Used to Be A Hippie Too
The First Edition’s biggest hit was “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).” It was first recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1967, with the First Edition’s version dropping in 1968 to critical notice and acclaim.
This was Kenny Rogers’ first Top 10 hit on the Billboard charts, as it peaked at No. 5. While “Just Dropped In…” differs from the First Edition’s other work, it helped the band gain early recognition and partially led to Rogers’ psychedelic persona. It also earned the band their first television appearance on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
Notably, the guitar intro was played by Glen Campbell, but was reversed in post-production. This created the psychedelic effect that bolsters the song’s allusions to LSD. Generally, Kenny Rogers had a smoother tone at this point than in later years, giving the First Edition’s work a chill, stoner-psych vibe.
But Did He Live the Hippie Lifestyle?
Near the end of the 60s, the First Edition scored another hit with “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town,” written by Mel Tillis. At this time, Kenny Rogers was deep in the hippie persona, sporting long hair, the earring, and the sunglasses. According to a 2000 interview with author Rob Tannenbaum, Rogers looked the part, but he didn’t really live the lifestyle.
“Well, I was around in the hippie times,” he admitted. “I had the look — long hair, the earring, and I wore those pink glasses. What’s scary is, I thought I looked great. Why didn’t someone tell me?” Rogers then added, “But I never lived that lifestyle.”
He did admit to doing a little drugs, though. “You know, I smoked some hash a couple times,” he said. “This was when television went off at midnight. They came to get us the next morning. We were sitting at the foot of the bed, watching the test pattern. I don’t know how long we’d been there. But it was one of the better test patterns.”
Featured Image by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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