Glenn Campbell - new found respect

Roy Clark was/is a great guitar player.

so is Glen. Session guitar player before his solo career. His songs written by Jimmy Webb are timeless masterpieces, thanks Pdspecl.

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.

I always very much enjoyed The Glenn Campbell Good Time Hour.
At 44 years of age, he felt he could handle the young 21 year old Philly
named Tanya Tucker...... hence the "Rhinestone Cowboy" :)

I also much enjoy a number of his early LP's.

He's a really good guitarist, and was Brian Wilson's first replacement as touring bassist in The Beach Boys.

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

Great artist. I constantly play the duet album he did with Anne Murry. The second track, a mix of say a little prayer/Phoenix, is a classic.

Very talented man.

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.

I've always had respect...my recent post that most likely spurred this thread...........

I can't remember what the name of the album was, but I was very impressed at his rendition of Macarthur Park.

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.

One of my favorites & his album "Christmas" gets a really big share of air time during the holidays.

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".

Roxy54, above, mentioned Campbell's contributions as part of 'The Wrecking Crew.' Also, the comment that he was self-taught. Does anyone know if Campbell read music?

Always liked him.

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...

He's an incredible guitarist.

fwiw - Amazon is running a "5 Classic CD" special for a number of artists. Glenn Campbell is one of them. The 5 pack includes the big 4 that that Rar1 mentions + another called, "Meet Glenn Campbell".

I saw Glenn Campbell live in '68 (Hemisfair, San Antonio) and he was an amazing talent. And, he was a Beach Boy for a while (early sub for Brian), which gets him extra points in my book.

C1ferrari,
I don't know if he read music, but many of the best musicians don't.

I would think crucial if one were a session musician.

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.

As mentioned, Roy Clark is another monsta guitarist! His live record with Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown is terrific! Currently, the country artist who's 'secretly' a world-class guitarist is Vince Gill, an outstanding geetar player!

Another famous player who, when asked if he read music, replied "Not enough to hurt my playing". They say Buddy Rich didn't, but he didn't have to, did he!

And talkin' 'bout country artists, can Charlie McCoy blow a harp, or what?

Monster guitarist Tommy Emmanuel reads neither standard notation or tablature, which I find remarkable.

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.

He's using both sides but is just a little prejudiced. :^)

A related article -- the last paragraph is about Glenn.

Good read. I agree that all guitar players (even us hacks) should be revered.

Revered indeed! Pickin a guitar is at least one of the ways to meet women :)

Glen Campbell played in Frank Sinatra's orchestra. He used a capo which enabled him to play in any key, and for that reason he was much sought after. I would not have thought that the use of a capo was that rare.

I heard an analog master track -- 1/4", 15 in/s -- of Lindsey Buckingham playing an acoustic guitar for an extended time...no splices/edits -- flawless.

Heard Willie Nelson...I think it was this morning on the radio...stating distaff -- hehe -- intrigue was a fundamental motivation for becoming a guitar player... :-)

Arnettpartners, it's a matter of style--bluegrass players use capos frequently, but jazz/big band players don't use them at all (ordinarily).

ok. interesting, Tost.