Joe South, Singer and Writer of Hit Songs, Dies at 72

The New York Times ^ | September 5, 2012 | William Yardley

[EveningStar]

Joe South, a singer-songwriter who wove confrontational lyrics into bouncy pop hits of the late 1960s and early ’70s, including “Games People Play,” “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” and “(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden,” died on Wednesday at home in Flowery Branch, Ga., north of Atlanta. He was 72.

[EveningStar]

Wikipedia

[Revolting cat!]

Oh, the games people play now!

[Revolting cat!]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PojXf-spKKM

[Revolting cat!]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ6tlg92qtw

[Gay State Conservative]

Good God...memories.I remember listening to “Don’t It Make You Wanna Go Home” over and over in Basic Training in ‘69.To this day I get the same feeling in my gut when I hear it as I did 40+ years ago.

[Revolting cat!]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M9se64HoTg

[PghBaldy]

Very sad. A GREAT songwriter. Hush, Rosegarden, Games...

[South40]

Remember him well. RIP

[luvbach1]

“Don’t It Make You Wanna Go Home”,

Agree, great, evocative song and sung with feeling by South.

[DIRTYSECRET]

These are not my people was my favorite.

[Liberty Valance]

Rest in peace Joe South. Great songwriter - great performer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AirBbS4R7Z0
Don’t It Make You Want to Go Home - Joe South - 1969

[berdie]

I loved Joe South and his music back in the day.

I read several years back that he was living homeless in Hawaii. If true...looks like he must have made it back home.

[South40]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iyr4gmVBbI

[HiTech RedNeck]

I guess he sold his songs outright? The royalties should have kept him stinking rich.

[Fiji Hill]

I like his version of The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor (1958), which the Big Bopper (J. P. Richardson) also recorded.

[Oratam]

I beg your pardon . . . .

[higgmeister]

My Son-in-Law works for Southern Poly Tech (SPSU). This evening my daughter told my wife that Joe South attended Southern Tech, way back when, but dropped out to make his music.

I have at least three Joe South songs on my YouTube playlists of less than 200 songs.

Rest well Joe South!

[berdie]

I don’t know, but it’s very possible that he sold his songs.

Back then, I don’t know how savvy musicians were about such things. Didn’t the Beatles have royalty issues?

[higgmeister]

Wow! Lynn Anderson what a lady! Joe South, your life would have been fulfilled if only to partner with her in her success!

[berdie]

Thanks for posting this...I’d forgotten how great those lyrics were.