I have an acoustic Kris Kristofferson version of this classic that breaks my heart every time I hear it, and a version by the Modern barbershop Quartet that I can’t find on YouTube, so I’m just going to put a few videos for this out there. Here’s an acoustic version by Pink, who shows up often in a search on just the song title:
She’s got a good Joplin growl to her voice. If I hadn’t seen her singing that, I might have been fooled. Now here’s Sheryl Crow dueting with Kristofferson in a more rocking version:
Crow does not have a growl in her voice, but she has enough depth. I like the arrangement. Here’s a much younger Kristofferson singing with Rita Coolidge:
Kristofferson is the only singer I’ve ever heard clearly enunciate the line “Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’, but it’s free”. Coolidge has a nice voice, but it doesn’t quite fit this song. There’s too much backup, too. Finally, here’s Kristofferson with Johnny Cash and a little bonus Willie Nelson.
I mean, honestly. They’re all too giddy singing this, but how can you blame them? And how can you not feel a little giddy yourself when Nelson walks onstage to join them?
Nice group of versions. Can’t complain much about the choices, Kris Kristofferson definately nailed that song, which made his career as a songwriter, and as a performer.
I’m a little surprised that the first artist to make a hit of Kristofferson’s song is not in your list, Roger Miller. He’s the guy I first heard sing it, and made me like it: https://youtu.be/i9K81Rjdivw