John D. Loudermilk - THEN YOU CAN TELL ME GOODBYE

A classic song performed by the writer, John D. Loudermilk. A major pop songwriter during the fifties and Sixties. Many artists had hits with his songs including the Everly Bros, Marvin Rainwater, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, Sue Thompson, Eddie Cochran, George Hamilton iV, Stonewall Jackson, etc.

[@georgeesau3943]

I've been down the KZbin rabbit hole for days with this song , and I keep returning to this. Nothing tops the original.

[@reelinandrockin9022]

A beautiful song. A beautiful arrangement. It really speaks to me.

[@joerees5362]

Back in the early 1960s, while browsing through a bin of punched 45rpm records (those overstocked records that were not selling, which had a hole punched through the label), I came across this one. Having never heard of the song or of John D. Loudermilk, I bought it anyway, since it was only 5¢. Loved it immediately. Later that afternoon, I noticed that he had writer's credit on another record in my collection, so I started going through them all. I found twelve 45's where he was attributed as the writer, and suddenly realized that this clever poet had written a significant part of my favorite music.

[@alancassaro8400]

I have the 45 also. But that version is a full studio production with violins.

[@berryj.greene7090]

Oh yes! What a song, and delivery. RIP Mr Loudermilk and thanks.

[@waynetietz380]

This version is absolutely stunning. It's beyond being great.

[@SpeegBJ]

Because he wrote it and it should be done like this.

[@jgowin66]

I've heard many covers of this song, sung by some great voices, however, this version by the writer, himself, is the most heart-wrenching of all. Rest in peace Mr. Loudermilk.

[@josephpingel2553]

This is a fitting tribute to his death on September 23, 2016. Thank you John for writing all those wonderful songs. You're going to be missed. R.I.P.

[@lmc2375]

21 Sep 2016.

[@wendtsmanwendtsman9597]

Man this is a blast from the passed. His version is perfect.

[@waypylant1]

One of the Great Love Songs of all time!!!!

[@rebeccad5988]

Love the song and video thank you great.

[@SingDude]

My fave version of this song (I also love Bettye Swann, Maria Mckee and the Casinos versions)

[@Tennfatmatt]

Always liked this song, didn't know who wrote it. First heard a local band's hit in Johnson City, TN, C Von Leslie and the Sleepless Knights do it similar to the Casinos version, but with more horns! Anyone have a copy of it from the 60's?

[@terenceboris851]

Wow Loudermilk

[@MrSasquatch44]

Man when I was a kid and you could hear radio all over the U.S. I was always listening to those southern stations and I really liked this guy---way ahead of his time. Great stuff.

[@brianhuxtable4026]

🤜🤛🔊🎶❤🎶💥

[@derekmtheriault]

#ugottalisten2b4udie

[@Tennfatmatt]

RIP John D. Loudermilk. This is a lovely song that only you could know the true meaning of. One of my favorites for many years, along with Tobacco Road. Thanks a million for posting this.

[@lmc2375]

Whomever it was that gave this song a thumbs down needs his ears cleaned, just maybe his clock too : / It's a beautiful song. RIP to JDL.

[@tfwsoll]

Thanks so much for posting this. John D Loudermilk was one of the greatest pop songwriters of the last 50 years and this is one of his best.

[@alancassaro8400]

Yes, the Casinos turned it into a hit, a slightly doo wop throwback, which was nice. But John's performance is completely different, quite simple and beautiful

[@greatunz67]

The Casinos has the biggest hit with it, but of all the versions it's Johnny Nash who really filled it with pure passion. His has some of the most solid and strong vocal work ever heard, it's amazing.

[@Baskerville22]

Such a talented chap, Mr Loudermilk

[@jeffwonder1141]

one of my all time favorites...the lyrics and the melody are very moving.

[@danielebazzani]

The best love Song ever.

[@gregsgot4]

How is it possible for anyone to give this a thumbs down?

[@michaelfebbert737]

John d loudermilk was a great singer songwriter before the term was coined How unfortunate for him

[@jerrybrownell3415]

"A Rose and A Baby Ruth"- George Hamilton IV/ "Tobacco Road"- The Nashville Teeens/ "Norman"- Sue Thompson/ "Ebony Eyes"-The Everly Brothers/"Torture"- Kris Jensen/"Sittin' In The Balcony"- Eddie Cochran/ "Angela Jones"-Johnny Ferguson a few of the hits from this prolific song writer. He has also had hits on his own-"Language of Love" and "Road Hog"

[@StagPreston]

+Jerry Brownell Also: Waterloo, Half Breed (Rick Nelson and Marvin Rainwater), Thou Shall Not Steal (Dick and Dee Dee), Staying In (Bobby Vee) WIndy and Warm (Chet Atkins, Doc Watson), etc

[@lesreed7943]

They go on and on, don't they!

[@ArthurBesanson]

This is My uncle

[@jkdm7653]

Never knew about this version! I've always loved it by the Casinos('69). Thanks.

[@johnknottenbelt2502]

What a purely classical tune ! I remember it from my youth when I started to really listen to lyrics.

[@GeeBee909]

10 THUMPS UP, perhaps the best version of this song ever, by the songwriter himself !!!

[@rgjraccoon]

Never knew this was a Loudermilk song, nor have I heard this version before. The original is still the best! John and Ellie Greenwich/Jeff Barry were monsters of fully realized demo versions (OK, so this might not have been meant as a demo, but..)

[@FourHbcaps]

And Carole King. "It Might As Well Rain Until September" was a demo for Bobby Vee.

[@SpeegBJ]

Beautiful montage, Alan Cassaro....I knew the Casinos, watched them get famous almost overnight, small town kids. That said, I already loved Loudermilk; Tobacco Road was a hit a few years before that I believe. One of the most important American songwriters of the 20th century, IMHO.

[@alancassaro8400]

I've always been a John D fan. He did one song on an album titled "What would you take for me Darling" that has a very similar guitar pattern to the above song. He always had such an easy voice to listen to. I wish a demo would show up of him doing "Ebony Eyes", but no luck.

[@SpeegBJ]

@@alancassaro8400 Oh! Ebony Eyes....to hear him do that!

[@rockingronniewalker1870]

First time I have heard this, superb

[@notholding2]

This song when done by the Casinos of Cincinnati Ohio became a MONSTER hit in 1966!

[@MrLeanonHim]

Chris Dolmetsch I believe it was1967, at least its widespread distribution and play.

[@FourHbcaps]

Late 1966 in Cincinnati, early 1967 nationally. Funny, because songs always became hits elsewhere, and got to Cincinnati at least a month later (an eternity in the short chart life of a single record). As Mark Twain said, "When the world ends, I want to be in Cincinnarti, because everything happens there at least 5 to 10 years after every place else."

[@johnbrengelman1226]

The best version is this.

[@CheckeredPast]

I've heard a few reggae renditions of this song and recently found out the original song writer :) good stuff!

[@maofas]

Yes, there are a lot of good versions of this song, with my favorite reggae version being Doreen Schaffer's.

[@hounsdown1977]

Best version great artist

[@xiemangun6389]

👋👋👋