This blog is the fifth in a series that explores the use of harpsichord in popular music. (Part 1 the 1940s and 1950s) (Part 2 the 1960s) (Part 3 the 1970s) (Part 4 the 1980s and beyond)

Hillbilly or country music gained popularity beginning in the 1920s. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Hollywood films popularized cowboys and western music. Though the genres were different, the same radio stations played this music which gave rise to the term country and western. This was later shortened to simply country music.

As technological advancements influenced jazz and pop music, country artists began to incorporate a greater range of sounds and instruments, such as electric guitars, trumpets, and drums.

Many sub-genres developed such as western swing, rockabilly, and honky-tonk. Styles such as the Nashville Sound and Countrypolitan emerged later. Modern country music has since branched out into more sub-genres—Americana, country pop, country rock, and outlaw country. 

From the 1940s onward, there has been a greater diversity of sounds and instruments used in country music. Right along with the fiddle, steel guitar, banjo, harmonica, and mandolin—the harpsichord is included on occasion—even as far back as the late 1950s. I admit that I found this very surprising. 

Country Songs that Use Harpsichord

Billie Jo Spears

“Home Lovin Man” (1968)

Bobby Bare

“The Streets of Baltimore” (1966)

Buck Owens

“Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass” (1969)

Connie Smith

“Gentle On My Mind” (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_zAr4Gfrmc

Deana Carter

“There’s No Limit” (2002) was written by Deana Carter and Randy Scruggs. The track uses electric guitar with occasional harpsichord fills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aJ6HdtLJvw

Dick Curless

“The Heartline Special” (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdOOvYNbigM

Dolly Parton

“Dumb Blonde” (1966)
“More Than I Can Say” (1987)
“Down from Dover” (1969)
“Your Ole Handy Man” (1967)

Duane Eddy

“Spanish Twist” (1962)
“House of the Rising Sun” (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZjRbiq9KDA

“Groovy Kind of Love” (1966)
“Love Minus Zero/No Limit” (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftVoCPvFRy4

Flatt & Scruggs

“If I Were a Carpenter” (1968)

Floyd Cramer

“Hold On Girl” (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wchkKASXnhU

Frankie Laine

“El Diablo” (1959)

Freddy Fender

“Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” (1959)

Gene Clark (with The Gosdin Brothers)

“Think I’m Gonna Feel Better” (1966)

George Jones (and Melba Montgomery)

“Multiply the Heartaches” (1963)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUKJzLqvzkc

Glen Campbell (and Leon Russell)

In 1966, they did an entire album featuring guitar and harpsichord. Glen Campbell is playing twelve string guitar and Leon Russell in on harpsichord. The album is: The 12 String Guitar of Glen Campbell. (Sometimes known as Glen Campbell Plays 12 String Guitar.) The tracks on this album are:

“Cottonfields” 
“The Man With The Golden Gun”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikN6O0cUGv0&list=OLAK5uy_mX69HMTRHn_8lLyVJifx2_dPp-B_DbdjI&index=2

“Walk Right In”
“Gospel Harp”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dFwUSFrwT8&list=OLAK5uy_mX69HMTRHn_8lLyVJifx2_dPp-B_DbdjI&index=4

“Virginia” 
“Greenback Dollar”
“If I Had a Hammer”
“Cherry Beat”
“Greenfields”
“Tender And Fair”

Henson Cargill

“Four Long Seasons” (1968)

Jeannie Seely

“Let It Be Me” (1966)

Jerry Lee Lewis

“Seasons Of My Heart” (1963)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d_iXx8iNuE

Jerry Reed

His album, The Unbelievable Guitar and Voice of Jerry Reed, was released in 1967. Jerry Smith and Ray Stevens play harpsichord. These tracks are from this album.

“It Don’t Work That Way”
“Guitar Man”
“You’re Young”
“I Feel For You”
“If I Promise” 
“Long Gone”
“If It Comes to That”
“The Claw”

Jerry Wallace

“Primrose Lane” (1959)

Jim Reeves

“Stand At Your Window” (1960)

Johnny Cash

“The Blizzard” (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ushuiTscrpk

Johnny Darrell

“With Pen in Hand” (1968)

Kenny Rogers (and Dottie West)

“You Needed Me” (1978)

Lee Hazlewood

“She Comes Running” (1968)
“What’s More I Don’t Need Her” (1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IuLIDozESM

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

“Holding” (1967)
“I’ll Search the Sky” (1967)
“Buy For Me the Rain” (1967)

Roy Orbison

“Blue Bayou” (1963)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kri4VH_Mdd4

Slim Whitman

“My Heart Is In the Roses” (1968)

Sonny James

“Only the Lonely” (1969)

Trisha Yearwood

“Come Back When It Ain’t Rainin’” (2000) Steve Nathan is playing harpsichord.

Waylon Jennings

“Just To Satisfy You” (1964)
“How Much Rain Can One Man Stand” (1968)

I am surprised and fascinated that harpsichord has been used in so many tracks and in many different genres of music. It is a versatile instrument—the sound can be similar to a guitar, but yet has a distinctive timbre all its own. Sometimes it is buried in the mix and barely audible. Sometimes it takes the spotlight in the foreground of the arrangement. It can be used to bring to mind “olden” or courtly times. It can be added simply for the rich character it provides.

These five blogs explored the use of harpsichord in popular music from the 1940s until now. I included all the songs that I could find, but I don’t believe my list is exhaustive. If you know more songs that use harpsichord, please mention them in the comments!