"Kentucky Woman" is a 1967 song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond.
Background Diamond recorded "Kentucky Woman" as his last hit single for Bang Records. The song was mixed in monophonic, which is the common version heard on all Neil Diamond compilations featuring original Bang singles. The only known stereo mix was done in 1978 for a Frog King/Columbia House album called Early Classics, which has never been released on CD.
Chart history Released in October 1967, it reached number 22 on the U.S. pop singles chart,Neil Diamond's charting singles Retrieved September 28, 2011 number 58 on the Australian charts, and number 6 on the Canadian charts.Neil Diamond's song chart entries Retrieved September 28, 2011 Chart (1967–68)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)58Canada RPM Top Singles29New Zealand (Listener)10US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 22US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 22, 196712
Deep Purple version
Another well-known version is the 1968 recording by Deep Purple. The group's cover had vastly different instrumental feel, if not vocal line. It was their second single release in 1968. It managed to reach #38 on the Billboard Hot 100,Deep Purple's charting singles Retrieved September 28, 2011 #21 Canadian RPM charts, and #27 on the Australian Singles Chart where it was released as a double A-Side with "Hush."
The single version is an edit of the album version and runs 4:04. Cash Box said that it has a "heavy dance beat and a splendid instrumental burst". A remastered version appears on the two-CD 30th anniversary album 30: Very Best of Deep Purple and runs 4:43.Deep Purple, The Very Best of Deep Purple Retrieved September 28, 2011 Both those versions end on a fadeout. The album version, which does not fade out at the end, runs 5:31.
Deep Purple played "Kentucky Woman" live on tour in 1968 and 1969, even after Ian Gillan and Roger Glover joined the band in the summer of 1969. It has never been on Deep Purple's set list since. The song was also featured in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film and soundtrack for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Other notable versions Waylon Jennings also released a version on his 1968 album, Only the Greatest.Waylon Jennings, Only the Greatest Retrieved September 28, 2011 Gary Puckett & The Union Gap also released a version in 1968 on their debut album Woman, Woman (Gary Puckett & The Union Gap album). Diamond re-recorded the song for his 1996 country album Tennessee Moon. He performed the song with Jennings on a TV special to promote the album.
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