San Francisco Mabel Joy
Encyclopedia
"San Francisco Mabel Joy" is a song written by Mickey Newbury
, and is one of Newbury's most notable songs, an opinion shared by the artist himself. The song first appeared on Newbury's 1969 concept album Looks Like Rain
, a milestone album in the burgeoning songwriter movement in Nashville at the end of the 1960s/beginning of the 1970s. Newbury's original version is a slow folk song which relates the moving saga of a Georgia farm boy's experiences in LA. The song plays an important role in Newbury's legacy, it served as the title for his 1971 concept album Frisco Mabel Joy
, though it was not initially included on the album, a new version was featured on 1973's Heaven Help The Child
and 1988's In a New Age
, a live version was included on 1973's Live At Montezuma Hall
and Live in England.
Twenty one artists have recorded versions of "San Francisco Mabel Joy." Joan Baez
included the song on her 1971 double album Blessed Are...
, Waylon Jennings recorded the song on his 1973 breakthrough Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
, and Kenny Rogers' version was featured on his 1978 smash The Gambler
. Other artists who've recorded "San Francisco Mabel Joy" include John Denver
, David Allan Coe
, and Kacey Jones
.
According to Newbury, the song was selected in 2000 as one of the top 100 folk songs of the past one hundred years.
Mickey Newbury
Mickey Newbury was an American songwriter, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
, and is one of Newbury's most notable songs, an opinion shared by the artist himself. The song first appeared on Newbury's 1969 concept album Looks Like Rain
Looks Like Rain
Looks Like Rain is the 1969 concept album by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. After recording his debut album with RCA, Newbury was dissatisfied with the resulting album and left RCA to pursue a style closer to his tastes...
, a milestone album in the burgeoning songwriter movement in Nashville at the end of the 1960s/beginning of the 1970s. Newbury's original version is a slow folk song which relates the moving saga of a Georgia farm boy's experiences in LA. The song plays an important role in Newbury's legacy, it served as the title for his 1971 concept album Frisco Mabel Joy
Frisco Mabel Joy
Frisco Mabel Joy is the 1971 concept album by Country singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. This was the second of three albums Newbury recorded at Cinderella Sound. The album includes the original version of "An American Trilogy", which Elvis Presley later performed in his Las Vegas shows with much...
, though it was not initially included on the album, a new version was featured on 1973's Heaven Help The Child
Heaven Help the Child
Heaven Help The Child is the 1973 album by Country singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. The album was Newbury's third consecutive release recorded at Cinderella Studios...
and 1988's In a New Age
In a New Age
In a New Age was released in 1988, the first recording released by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury since 1981's After All These Years...
, a live version was included on 1973's Live At Montezuma Hall
Live at Montezuma Hall
Live At Montezuma Hall is the first live album from singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury recorded at Montezuma Hall at San Diego State University in 1973. Featuring Newbury performing solo with an acoustic guitar, the album is notable for touching renditions of many of Newbury's excellent songs and...
and Live in England.
Twenty one artists have recorded versions of "San Francisco Mabel Joy." Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
included the song on her 1971 double album Blessed Are...
Blessed Are...
Blessed Are... was a 1971 album by Joan Baez, and her last with Vanguard Records. It included her hit cover of The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and work by Kris Kristofferson, the Beatles, Jesse Winchester and The Rolling Stones, as well as a significant number of Baez' own...
, Waylon Jennings recorded the song on his 1973 breakthrough Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean is an album by Waylon Jennings, released on RCA Victor in 1973. It was, after Good Hearted Woman and Ladies Love Outlaws, the third in a series of albums which were to establish Jennings as one of the most prominent representatives of the country movement, reaching #8 on...
, and Kenny Rogers' version was featured on his 1978 smash The Gambler
The Gambler
The Gambler may refer to:In music:*The Gambler , a 1978 album by Kenny Rogers**"The Gambler" , a 1978 song featured on the Kenny Rogers album*The Gambler...
. Other artists who've recorded "San Francisco Mabel Joy" include John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
, and Kacey Jones
Kacey Jones
Kacey Jones is an American singer-songwriter, producer and humorist. After co-writing the Mickey Gilley hit I'm the One Mama Warned You About, she found success as a performer through the band Ethel & The Shameless Hussies, with whom she released her first album...
.
According to Newbury, the song was selected in 2000 as one of the top 100 folk songs of the past one hundred years.