Stream 45 TURNS 45 - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS -"NEITHER ONE OF US" by Musicmankevin | Listen online for free on SoundCloud

Introduction:

“Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)” is a timeless ballad that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of a fading relationship. Released in 1972 by the legendary vocal group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the song became a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Soul Singles chart and number two on the Hot 100. It remains one of their most beloved and enduring songs, solidifying their place in music history.

The song’s enduring appeal lies in its poignant lyrics and Gladys Knight’s emotionally charged vocals. The lyrics capture the universal struggle of two people clinging to a love that is slipping away, each hesitant to utter the dreaded words that would signal the end. The song’s power comes from its honesty and vulnerability, as it expresses the fear of losing a connection and the hope that somehow, the love can be rekindled.

“Neither One of Us” was not only a commercial success but also a critical one. It won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1974, further solidifying its status as a classic. The song’s impact extended beyond its initial release, influencing countless artists and continuing to be covered by musicians across genres.   

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THE LAST TIME THE CROWD ROSE FOR MERLE HAGGARD — HE WOULD NEVER WALK ONSTAGE AGAIN. They carried him through the doors wrapped in the very flag he once sang about — and in the stillness that followed, there was something almost audible… a fragile echo only lifelong listeners could feel in their bones. Merle Haggard’s story closed the same way it opened: unpolished, honest, and deeply human. From being born in a converted boxcar during the Great Depression to commanding the grandest stages across America, his life unfolded like a country ballad etched in grit, regret, resilience, and redemption. Every lyric he sang carried the weight of lived experience — prison walls, hard roads, blue-collar truths, and hard-earned second chances. Those who stood beside his casket said the atmosphere felt thick, as if the room itself refused to forget the sound of his voice. It wasn’t just grief in the air — it was reverence. A stillness reserved for someone whose music had become stitched into the fabric of ordinary lives. One of his sons leaned close and murmured, “He didn’t really leave us. He’s just playing somewhere higher.” And perhaps that’s the only explanation that makes sense. Because artists like Merle don’t simply vanish. They transform. They become the crackle of an AM radio drifting through a late-night highway. They become the soundtrack of worn leather seats and long stretches of open road. They live in jukebox corners, in dance halls, in quiet kitchens where memories linger longer than the coffee. Somewhere tonight, a trucker tunes in to an old melody. Somewhere, an aging cowboy lowers his hat and blinks back tears. And somewhere in that gentle hum of steel guitar and sorrow, a whisper carries through: “Merle’s home.”