Roy Clark was/is a great guitar player.
Glenn Campbell - new found respect
I'm soon to be 50 and recall being forced to watch the Hee Haw show as a child. My dad loved that show and on Saturday nights he made sure our one TV was tuned to this show. I recall guest appearances - Cash, Pride, Campbell.... and some many others.
I'm not a Country music nut but do appreciate good music across the spectrum from pop, rock, big band, jazz, blues... and country.
I never realized just how talented Glenn C. is. Check out this you tube performance 'Glenn Campbell In Concert In Sioux Falls. It's from a 2001 show before the ravages of mental illness set in. He was no spring chicken at this point but still had a great voice. His guitar playing is so clean, sharp... but without being over the top or forced. I'm guessing I'll get slammed here by some critics but also think others on Agon will appreciate this Sioux Falls performance. Enjoy!!!!
I'm not a Country music nut but do appreciate good music across the spectrum from pop, rock, big band, jazz, blues... and country.
I never realized just how talented Glenn C. is. Check out this you tube performance 'Glenn Campbell In Concert In Sioux Falls. It's from a 2001 show before the ravages of mental illness set in. He was no spring chicken at this point but still had a great voice. His guitar playing is so clean, sharp... but without being over the top or forced. I'm guessing I'll get slammed here by some critics but also think others on Agon will appreciate this Sioux Falls performance. Enjoy!!!!
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Slammed? No way! The first disc I played when I woke up this morning was "Ghost on the Canvas", which he recorded only a few years ago. I love it all. His voice is great and his guitar playing is beyond reproach as usual. He is a unique talent. I once read that as part of the famous " Wrecking Crew", he held the record for playing guitar on more number 1 hits than any other guitarist. And he was self taught. |
The first LP I purchased was 'Wichita Lineman' in 1969 at age 12. The first 45 single I purchased was 'Galveston'. Glen has been a favorite the whole time. For anyone who wants to do the Glen Campbell deep dive, there are the four big albums ... Gentle on My Mind, By the Time I get to Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, and Galveston. Rich |
I heard a radio interview with Glenn Campbell where he describes being a session musician working his first date with Frank Sinatra. Nelson Riddle rehearsed the arrangements prior to Sinatra arriving. Campbell was the third guitar player and described his parts as not having to play much. When Sinatra arrived Campbell decided to ignore his guitar parts and just focus on Sinatra. He wanted to see how "The Man" worked. Sinatra was all business and quickly started singing with his back to the band. Mid way through the first song Sinatra puts down his headphones and walks over to Riddle and says something to him. The band stops playing and Riddle approaches Campbell and asks, "Frank wants to know why you're not playing your guitar part?" The experience pressed upon Campbell how much focus and attention to detail he would need to have if he wanted to be the man. |
Another fan here. Country crooners are set up to take some hits on this kind of forum, so I understand why the OP felt that he might get slammed. However, Glenn could play and sing and he usually interpreted the songs he was handed in a straightforward, yet effective away. Glad to see that so many folks here can look beyond the label and appreciate the artist. |
Agree with the accolades. Campbell is a terrific musician. As Martykl points out country music artists are bound to take hits on a site like this. The truth is that much of country music, past and present, demonstrates a far higher level of musicianship and attention to craft than a lot of pop music and music that is generally thought to be "hipper". |
A comment taken from You Tube from this show - Yes, and it is almost unfathomable, but I have read in numerous places that as part of the Wrecking Crew Glen Campell played in over 600, yes six hundred session and recording studio session playing all kinds of music and often working 15-hour days. One tiny example is that the group, the Monkees, one of the the "bands" back then played NONE of their music- it was all Wrecking Crew, and list goes on, and on, on, and on, and on... |
One of the great things about this hobby is, if one is really in it for the music, and not necessarily for the equipment, one's musical taste expands. That's not to be "slammed." Its to be celebrated. Glen Campbell was a great guitar player. My family hardly ever missed one of his TV shows. His duets with Roy Clark were awesome. |
Reading in the studio depends on where you are--Nashville has its own notational system which doesn't require reading standard musical notation. But Glenn was in California, I think, which would have required standard notation. He might have gotten by to some degree with chord charts. Carole Kay, who played much of the Beach Boys bass lines in the studio, read standard notation very well. |
My guy Lindsey Buckingham had an interesting quote on why he won't learn to read music: Reading music is a left brain activity and rock n roll is a right brain art form. I read music and completely understand his point as it pertains to "primitivist" rock n roll. I also find it very interesting that Buckingham is a disciple of Brian Wilson and does wonderful (and often inventive) work with harmony, which I'd call a "left brain" musical exercise. Part of what makes rock music so appealing to me is just that dichotomy. |
A related article -- the last paragraph is about Glenn. |