Hartford recorded "Gentle on my Mind" and its flipside "Washing Machine", both of which were produced by Felton Jarvis.[12] The single was released in May 1967.[13] RCA, however, decided not to promote Hartford's recording because they did not consider it to be a country song.[14] Cashbox listed the single under their "Best Bets"; the magazine forecasted in a review that Hartford could get "heaps of spins" with his "poetic folk-country-flavored ballad".[13] "Gentle on My Mind" peaked at number 60 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs.[15][16]