That’s a question I ask a lot. Yes, the performers first brought it to my attention, but who had the creative spark inside them to write the song?
It’s funny how often song writing credits are more about money than deserved credit. Recently it was reveal the Yoko One wrote most of "Imagine,’ not John Lennon, so from now on both will get song-writing credit. (As an aside, I suspected that “Imagine” wasn’t all John. Beautiful melody, truly insipid, gag-inducing lyrics. Probably Valdimir Putin’s favorite song. “Come and join us and the world will live as one!”)
Anyway, I was surprised discover today how many songs Louise Scruggs & Gladys Flatt wrote for Flatt & Scruggs, including the unforgettable flip side of “The Ballad of Jed Clampett.” The B-side is “Coal Loadin’ Johnny.” Not a hit.
But Louise & Gladys did score a hit with this one!