Bobbie Gentry - Apartment 21

There were perfect women in this world. And once upon a time, they even allied with perfect producers. That work went largely unrecognized, so they married rich and retired.

Now, there is Mariah. And the rest is sterile...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rick
• Hall
• Fame
• Bobbie
• Gentry
• Delta
• Lady

[mugwump790]

Albeit involuntary...

[BwanaTube]

In this case the perfect producer was Bobbie herself! By most reputable accounts she was the driving creative force behind these records, despite whatever producer credits may have appeared on these releases at the time.

[mugwump790]

Actually, it was Rick Hall...and no one produced Rick Hall sessions except Rick Hall. That's one very good reason why we paid special attention to this album. There were three Southern legends who fell into the "anything they do is worth checking out" category...Rick Hall, Chips Moman and Bill Lowery. Each has placed several records in my all time Top 100...records which, no matter how hard we pushed, never became huge hits. Each also scored many huge hits with more-mainstream product.

[DrinkingStar]

It was 40 years ago today that I heard this song playing on radio. It was morning and I was getting ready to go to the church to get married. It is the only song I remember that day. I don't recall any songs that were played at our wedding or at the wedding reception. To this day, I still remember vividly this song and what I was doing as it was playing on the radio. Great video and song. Jewel's 'You were meant for me' is the closest song to capturing the sentiment of 'Apartment 21'

[mugwump790]

Excellent comment, thank you! My first (very vivid) memory of Apartment 21 was driving home from a radio transmitter just as the sun came up one Sunday about that same time of 1970. I'd been working all night, including a 150 mile drive to a fire-gutted transmitter across the state for an emergency parts scavenge to fix my transmitter. That station played the record and I listened. When I punched to another of my stations 50 miles away, they also played it. Got my first copy that day.

[Beatkpr]

a great tribute to Bobbie! Thanks for posting it.

[mugwump790]

My pleasure! Every now and then I come across one of these true lost classics that no one has honored yet.

Bobbie, as always, is breathtaking. Lyrics, music, looks, talent and choice of producers.

[irishsetterarchie]

Bobbie Gentry will always be one of the most gifted and beautiful female artist of my generation.

[rpscot]

Loved Bobbie. Loved This Song. Ran out and bought the single the first time I heard it. Still have the single. I covet it. Wish I'd had the money as a kid to buy the LP. She did some awesome work.

[yonaguska4]

Very nice,  Bobby Gentry a brilliant songwriter.

[lclaughton]

You gentleman speak with great wisdom and first hand knowledge...Enjoy reading your comments. How accurate you are. This lady is a most gifted and tallented performer. With her direct hands on contribution to these songs makes her quite unique in itself. What a string of hits to show for it. .What a beautiful woman as well..Any quality female singer would do well to cover this tune!!

[MrFalconford]

maybe the money made them happy

[danielrdrown]

@mugwump790 Yes, it was Rick Hall and that great Fame. Muscle Shoals sound that produced Bobbie's self penned cross-over hit, Fancy, but Bobbie is given a producers credit on two of the 'Fancy' session album cuts.The relative success of the album also enabled Bobbie to totally produce and write her next project, the ambitious 'PatchWork' which has been hailed as a masterpiece in some corners and is perhaps Bobbie's greatest acheivement in a recording studio.

[BwanaTube]

Do you have any info on sessions Gentry might have produced herself? 

[sigh57]

The best existentialist single ever.

[sanjoe86]

@mugwump790 Isn't it amazing that someone can make such a difference in someone's life. I wish I had her talent. Cut another record Girl.