3. Johnny Cash with June Carter Cash: “Jackson”
The rather verbosely named award for best country & western performance duet, trio or group (vocal or instrumental) went to “Jackson,” that still-crackling instant classic recorded by Johnny Cash and his soon-to-be wife, June Carter.
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
4. Aretha Franklin: “Respect”
The Recording Academy put some much-deserved respect on Aretha Franklin’s name, awarding her both best R&B recording and best R&B solo vocal performance, female.
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5. Sam & Dave: “Soul Man”
The duo Sam & Dave netted a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2019, but its first and only competitive Grammy was for “Soul Man,” which won best R&B group performance at the 10th ceremony. For what it’s worth, that is one more Grammy than the Blues Brothers have won.
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6. Glen Campbell: “Gentle on My Mind”
The country star Glen Campbell’s cover of the wistful John Hartford folk tune “Gentle on My Mind” helped him cross over into the mainstream. The song won a total of four Grammys at the 1968 ceremony: three country awards for Campbell’s version, and best folk performance for Hartford’s original.
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
7. Tammy Wynette: “I Don’t Wanna Play House”
Regular readers of this newsletter know I’m a big fan of Tammy Wynette — see: my Wynette playlist from last year — so I’m pleased to report that Wynette won her first Grammy in 1968, when the gorgeously sung “I Don’t Wanna Play House” was awarded best country & western solo vocal performance, female, an award she’d win again two years later for “Stand by Your Man.”
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
8. Elvis Presley: “Crying in the Chapel”
Elvis Presley first recorded this cover of Darrell Glenn’s country-gospel standard in 1960. When it was finally released in 1965, it reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 (a rarity for a gospel hymn) and briefly reignited the King’s then-flagging pop career. The song was then included on his 1967 album “How Great Thou Art,” which netted him his first Grammy, in the now-defunct category of best sacred performance.
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
