Photo: Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0
Kris Kristofferson's top 10 songs list showcases one of the most famous names in the world of entertainment. Originally known as a songwriter, Kris Kristofferson also celebrated a successful recording career. Kris Kristofferson found early success as a songwriter composing several number one hits for various artists in the late 1960s. In 1970, Kris Kristofferson released his first studio album filled with his own versions of his hit songs and more. During his career, Kris Kristofferson collaborated with many musicians, including a number of albums with his wifeRita Coolidge. In 1985, he founded the band The Highwayman sJohnny Cash, Waylon Jennings i Willie Nelson.
Kris Kristofferson has also appeared in many films as an actor. His most famous role was his collaboration with Barbra Streisand in the 1975 filmA star is born. A brilliant performance that some believed was inspired by his relationship with himJanis Joplin, although the film was indeed a remake.
The Top 10 Kris Kristofferson Songs list contains a variety of Kris Kristofferson songs that focus on his material as a songwriter with a few exceptions. List includes songs recorded by Kris Kristofferson as well as some of the artists who made his songs famous.
#10 – Lord of the Borders
We open our list of the top 10 Kris Kristofferson songs with one of the songwriter's most underrated songs. Brilliant song"Lord of the Borders",was released on Kris Kristofferson's third solo album also titledMaster of borders. The album was released in 1972. This is dark, moody and so seductive. The song was written by Kris Kristofferson Stephen Bruton, Donnie Fritts and Terry Paul.
# 9 - Highway
We had to include this. This beautiful song that won a Grammy award called"Robber,"recorded in 1985 with the band The Highwaymen, it was a legendary collaboration between Kris Kristofferson,Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, Four legendary artists who came together in a group that was a kind of illegal version of the Traveling Wilburys. Four of the greatest country music stars of all time form an all-time supergroup. The four legends released three albums as the Highwaymen. A wonderful song"Robber,"written by another singer-songwriter legend named mr. Jimmy Webb. This went straight to number one on the country music charts.
#8 – The kidnapper
At number eight on this top 10 Kris Kristofferson songs list is a great Kris Kristofferson song"The snatcher".The song was released on Kris Kristofferson's self-titled debut albumChristopherson. Featured here is an excellent version by Waylon Jennings.
# 7 -Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down
"Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” is one of the best Kris Kristofferson songs ever written. Kris Kristofferson composed the song in 1969. It was originally a hit by singer Ray Stevens. However, it was memorableJohnny Casha version that surprised everyone with how excellent the song was. Johnny Cash's version was number one on the Billboard country music chart in 1970.Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down» was declared song of the year by the County Music Association in 1970.
#6 – Lover please(s Ritom Coolidge)
This wonderful duet withRita Coolidgeappeared on the albumFull moon. This is one of the few songs on this list that was recorded by Kris Kristofferson and not written by Kris Kristofferson. However, this video he posted with his wife Rita Coolidge was so touching that we had to include it on this list. The music industry also agreed on how brilliant Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge's version was. They won a Grammy Award for the recording in 1975. The song was released on an albumsecession.
#5 - Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Do Again)
Halfway through our list of the top 10 Kris Kristofferson songs, we turn to Kris Kristofferson's first self-released single on the chart. This is a beautiful song. It was a top 30 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. It fared even better on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number four in 1971. The song was released on the album The devil with the silver tongue and me.
#4 – Why me
While Kris Kristofferson has had many number one songs, they have always been performed by other artists. Kris Kristofferson's biggest self-released single was his great song"Why me."The song was released on his 1973 album titledJesus was a Capricorn.The song was released as the third single from the album. It reached number one on the Billboard County Music Charts and broke into the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
#3 – For the good times
The next three songs on this Kris Kristofferson playlist were released on Kris Kristofferson's 1970 debut album.Christopherson. However, some of them were already recorded by other musicians who had huge singles with them. Kris Kristofferson's legendary song"For the good times,"First recorded by Ray Price in 1968. Raye Price benefited greatly from Kris Kristofferson's recording"For the good times,"as Price finished with the number one record in the country"For the good times,"on the Billboard country music chart in 1968.Al Greenwould also have a big hit with the song in 1970. Many others would record the song includingFrank Sinatra,Elvis Presley,Jerry Lee Lewis,Johnny Cash.
# 2 -Help me get through the night
As we wrap up our list of the top 10 Kris Kristofferson songs, we turn to a classic Kris Kristofferson song"Help me get through the night."The song was released on Kris Kristofferson's album of the same nameChristophersonIn 1970, however, country singer Sammi Smith would have a major hit single with the song. Sammi Smith released a song"Help me get through the night"as a single in 1970. Her version went straight to number one on the Billboard country charts. It also became a top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It became the singer's signature song. The song was recorded by hundreds of artists fromElvis PresleydoGlen Campbelldoto many others. A song"Help me get through the night"won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1971.
#1 - Me and Bobby McGee
Top 10 songs by Kris Kristofferson We close with one of the most famous songs that Kris Kristofferson ever composed. A song "Me and Bobby McGee” written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, however, it was widely covered early on when it was first released. The first cover of the song was recorded by a country artist named Roger Miller. The country artist scored a top 20 hit on the Billboard County Charts with the song in 1969. However, people would discover the song because of the bigJanis Joplinversion recorded in 1971.
Janis Joplinrecord a song"Me and Bobby McGee” to be included on her albumPearl.Unfortunately,Janis Joplinhe died just a few days after recording the song. Janis Joplin never saw how big the song would become.by Janis JoplinThe version went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It became the singer's only hit record.
"Me and Bobby McGee” he also recordedGordon Lightfootwho had a top 20 hit with the song in Canada in 1970. Kenny Rogers and his band The First Edition released a version of "Me and Bobby McGee» in 1969.Jerry Lee Lewishad a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. While the list of artists who recorded the song exceeds the space limitations of this article, those we'd like to mention also include excellent versionsGrateful Dead,Joan Baez,Melissa Etheridge,Loretta Lynn,Johnny Cash, The Highwayman, and of course the beautiful version released by the song's composer, Kris Kristofferson.
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