Fifty-four years ago today, on May 17, 1967, Glen Campbell had a career-changing day, although he likely wasn t aware of it at the time. It was on that date that the singer recorded Gentle on My Mind, which was the title track of his August 1967 album. Gentle on My Mind was written by John Hartford. So the rumor goes, the tunesmith penned the track after watching the movie
Doctor Zhivago.
“Everyone’s made a whole lot out of that, Hartford said of his inspiration for the tune. I know it gave me a feeling that caused me to start writing, but as far as saying it came from that, I don’t know. It just came from experience. While I was writing it, if I had any idea that was going to be a hit, it probably would have come out differently, and it wouldn t have been a hit. That just came real fast, a blaze, a blur.”