Kenny Rogers had a pretty decent career before he went solo in the ’70s and became a big-time star. He started out singing with groups in his native Houston during the 1950s then, in 1966, joined the folk group the New Christy Minstrels as a bassist and singer. A year or so later, he and several other Minstrels left that group to form their own musical combo, which they called the First Edition. Mr. Rogers sang lead for that group and they had a number of hits, including the previous classic songs of the day, “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” and “Something’s Burning.”
But before those two singles hit the charts, Kenny and the First Edition had a big hit with today’s classic song of the day, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).” Released in January of 1968, this psychedelic rocker went all the way to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Just Dropped In” was written by country artist Mickey Newbury as a bit of a lark, a satirical take on the burgeoning drug culture of the time. It was first recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis, of all people, and then by Teddy Hill & His Southern Soul. It was the First Edition, however, who made the song a bona fide hit.
Mike Post produced the single for Reprise Records, and he enlisted members of L.A.’s Wrecking Crew to augment the First Edition members on the recording. That’s Glen Campbell playing the backwards guitar solo on the track, with Mike Deasy playing acoustic and Hal Blaine on drums.
The song—and the group’s—success was helped by scoring an appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. That appearance is today’s daily bonus video of the day. Trippy, man!
