Kelly Gordon was a successful songwriter and sometime singer remembered for writing the popular song That’s Life first recorded by Marion Montgomery and made famous by Frank Sinatra.  In the early 60’s he had released three singles on the Mercury label, but by the middle of the decade he had moved into producing records; his first long player being Ode to Billie Joe. He developed a close relationship with Bobbie and went on to work on her following two albums The Delta Sweete and Local Gentry as well as producing her duets album with Glen Campbell.  

In 1969, he made a return to singing, and released his own album on Capitol called Defunked which featured the original recording of the Bobby Scott & Bob Russell song He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother later made famous by The Hollies. It’s not widely known that the album also contained a great Bobbie vocal (credited as ‘A Friend’) on a track they produced together called Love Took My Heart And Mashed That Sucker Flat.