What does it sound like?:
Having heard the song Wichita Lineman on the radio I idly tweeted about what a great song it is. Expecting my usual tumbleweed response Kim Wilde retweeted it (clang!!) and suddenly lots of people were telling me how it’s their favourite song. Including Jo who used to post at the old place. She wrote
There’s a piece of cine film of me saying it’s my favourite song. I was 3 years old. Still nothing has overtaken it for me. (I called it the ‘need you’ song.)
It’s a given that most people know and love the song but what about the album it came from? I’ve been listening to it all week and these are my thoughts. Glen Campbell was born in 1936 so was 32 when the album was made and a quick Wiki shows me that he’d already had a remarkable career before that. Playing as a session musician for pretty much everyone from Dean Martin to Elvis Presley. Top fact. By 1963 at 27 he had played or sung on 536 recorded songs. This became important to me because the album is really quite dark in parts and didn’t fit with my naïve idea that Campbell was just some plucky 20 year old country singer. The fact he’d clearly already lived some life made the album start to make sense.
There’s not much more to say about Wichita Lineman the song that hasn’t already been said. It’s pretty much perfect and everything seems to be working together. Lyrics, arrangement, vocals in perfect synchronicity to produce one of the great songs. The fact they follow it with a fairly ordinary cover of (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay didn’t bode well but then. Oh my goodness.
If You Go Away is just gut wrenching. Campbell’s vocal heart breaking over a simple arrangement of a Jacques Brel song. I’ve heard Jacques Brel mentioned here, mostly in relation to a Marc Almond covers album. If You Go Away ensures that once I’ve finished with Glen Campbell, Jacques Brel will be my next stop (recommendations welcome). It’s the kind of song that would literally stop you in your tracks if caught unawares. If you’ve ever had your heart broken tread very carefully.
After that start we get Ann a straight up country song. Appropriate for 2022? Probably not but as a historical reminder of how different life was in the ‘60s pretty accurate I’d say. I mean he clearly loved her and it’s quite sweet in it’s own way but not exactly how women want to be viewed in 2022.
I know I’ll never meet another hunk of woman like my Ann
Cause she makes me feel like a great big man
I’m a gonna go tell her mama what I think about her say thank you ma’am
For giving me your daughter Ann
She sure is stacked from her toes to the pretty little nape
Of her neck she’s packed like a seed in a grape she’s smooth as marble skin
When I see her I believe I’m a real young guy
And every time I go to work I think I might die if I can’t hurry home again
If the good Lord worked all night a makin’ me a female plan
I’d say no thanks Lord I’ll just keep Ann
We then get The Bee Gees song Words. Again a pretty standard cover version. It blows my mind a bit that The Bee Gees were providing songs like this in 1968 when in my head they are 70s icons. When I heard it here I’d assumed it was a Campbell song that they had later covered but nope, they were knocking this kind of brilliance out for fun in 1968.
Side one ends with a Campbell written song The Fate Of Man which is a really depressing haul through the life of a man. Campbell almost narrates mapping out various failings, disappointments and ailments from 20, a leap to 50, 60, 70 and finally 80 before closing with
But if he’s kept the commandments as he’s travelled through life
He’ll have a home in heaven where there’ll be no strife
He’s worked all his life to get things the way he wants them
He comes here against his will and he goes away disappointed
Well thanks Glen, I’ll bear all that in mind. Sheesh.
At this point in proceedings we get another remarkable song. The Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife is a lament to a lady who gave up her dreams to become and everyday housewife. Reminders come at her thick and fast from her wrinkles to an old photo album and imagining her house dress becoming the gown That broke all their minds back so many years As another snapshot of 60s life for many women through the eyes of a man who realises that her disappointment is on him. An everyday housewife who gave up the good life for me So sad but another little time capsule to the world as it was fifty odd years ago. I must add that it’s a beautifully arranged song and perfectly sung by Campbell.
The Straight Life is traditional country song with the protagonist dreaming of giving up the straight life for tequila down Mexico way but his dreams are broken when
Suddenly all my silly thoughts disappear,
She comes to me softly with crackers and beer,
Winkin’ and blinkin’ and blowin’ in my ear,
Runnin’ away with my mind.
Reason To Believe is another country song of love and loss this time Campbell being the one who suffers a betrayal
If I listened long enough to you
I’d find a way
To believe that its all true
Knowing that you lied straight faced
While I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
So far one brilliant song has lead me to discover some more and take a tentative step into a genre I’ve only really encountered through Mike Nesmith and the occasional country crossover song like Islands In The Stream. What comes next I’m not sure I’m able to do justice to. I will say if you take nothing else away from this please, please find You’d better Sit Down Kids and listen to it. First up it’s written by Sony Bono. Second it starts as a slow, sad story of a man telling his kids that Mom and Dad still love them but they don’t want to argue no more so Dad’s moving away. Standard stuff but very moving and if you’ve been through it, ouch. What happens next though when Campbell goes on to give the kids instructions on how they should behave in his absence is all kinds of mad and I can only assume points to drug use during the recording. It’s not so much a key change as a whole new band change. Suddenly from sombre country stylings as Glen explains why he’s leaving someone thought his instructions should be accompanied by some groovy upbeat 60s big band sound like Tom Jones may have used on Morecambe and Wise. Then without warning it all slows down again before a repeat of the big band groove. By the time it ends with some classic country banjo fade out I was literally laughing out loud at a song about a man leaving his kids. Bonkers, absolutely bonkers.
Thankfully normality is restored with the closing song That’s Not Home a gentle country waltz about leaving home or some such.
What an incredible thing it is. Not what I was expecting but I’m so glad I’ve listened and learned.
What does it all *mean*?
Country is a genre I need to investigate further. Clearly Country music is rooted in hardship, relationships and hurt which was probably the lives of those who created it as an escape from it all. Some of this stuff makes Del Amitri seem like Big Fun.
Goes well with…
Crackers and beer
Release Date:
1968
Might suit people who like…
Country and western. Love and Loss. Crackers and beer.
I’ll save you searching…
You’d Better Sit Down Kids
He was married four times and fathered a total of nine children. The first divorce was in 1959. He only developed a problem with alcohol and cocaine in the seventies. None of this fully explains this performance.
😀
Indeed. it’s become a bit of an earworm though so job done…
That’s insane.
Jeepers.
Two chord hikes and a tempo change in the first minute! Which show was this song originally in and, if not, why not?
Written by Sonny Bono, apparently. Who knew? Not me.
Try George Jones. The second best singer in America (F. Sinatra). Early on a great honky tonk singer, later he did tremendous ballads.
The “I am what I am” album is a great place to start, and I’d love to see one of your reviews on it!
This one is fkin ace.
https://www.discogs.com/release/2599592-George-Jones-Blue-Moon-Of-Kentucky
Fantastic haircut on the cover, too.
And then we could move on to Willie Nelson.
Three fert’ price of one here…
As for Glen he did record a lot of shlock. Absent the Jimmy Webb songs it’s largely unlistenable 60s MOR. Great voice of course.
..and a very nifty guitar player. But yes, there’s a lot of shlock.
Yes really great player. I’ve read interviews with other session players who worked with him and no one knew he could sing for years!
My Glen haul on vinyl:
I have tried I Am What I Am but perhaps need more than the one listen. So much music, so little time..
Warning some shameless self promotion will follow.
Wichita Lineman is my default go to favourite song whenever I’m asked. A couple of years ago I entered a songwriting competition and wrote and recorded this. The premise to the narrative of the song is that Jim and Glen get together to discuss a possible follow up to WL. Featuring our very own @Twang on bass and Fender Rhodes.
It should be noted that my song sank without trace
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/DUSReMvWwyVAufZK9
Nice song Feedback.
I feel obliged to mention that I also entered the competition and got through to the second round! Fame at last! As I had to do a video for it, here it is.
I like that. You sound like Edwyn Collins by the way…
Lineman is up there in my top 5 favourite songs.
Check out Scott 1/2 and 3 for covers of Brel songs.
You won’t be disappointed.
or this…
https://www.discogs.com/release/426793-Scott-Walker-Scott-Walker-Sings-Jacques-Brel
Here’s another take on Ne Me Quitte Pas, the Jacques Brel song normally translated as If You Go Away. This version by Momus is his own translation/interpretation and, for my money, works better and packs a more emotional punch.
Scott Walker has been recommended previously one of the many times I’ve been banging on about Billy MacKenzie. I really must get around to him this time
The recommended compilations are good, but it’s worth doing the albums 1-4 as they’re nice and short and doing them chronologically you see him move from mostly interpreter of songs to true original..
Brian Wilson gave this song to Glen Campbell which I think would have been a perfect fit for Pet Sounds.
Here’s a good article about how Bowie was inspired by Brel
https://collectingbrel.com/2017/04/12/beyond-coincidence-jacques-brel-david-bowie/
Like many of the good folk who are members of our parish, I think Wichita lineman is wonderful. I can listen to it time & again & not get sick of it.
However, whenever I hear GC sing “It’s only make believe”, I dissolve into floods of tears.
I am just an old softy…
Love Wichita Lineman – of the many covers this one is pretty good. Never a great fan of Glen Campbell, but his last few albums – Meet Glen Campbell, Ghost on the Canvas, Adios – were great.
Dylan Jones wrote a whole book about Wichita Lineman.
This is possibly the greatest single artist compilation available and only £6.98!!!!!!!!
This one is also great and sounds incredible.
I like Rhinestone Cowboy almost as much as Wichita Lineman. Always have.
‘Wichita Linesman’ makes up a Glen Cambell triumvirate along with ‘Galveston’ and ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ that are often played at Harkonnen Towers. That’s not to say there are many more great Songs sung by Glen Cambell.
For me the greatest interpreter of Jacques Brel songs is Scott Walker. You can find both on the album ‘Scott Walker Meets Jacques Brel’
You might want to try Vince Gill. A phenomenal guitar player, exemplary singer, who makes often incredible records (and some schlock). I always mentally file him with Campbell.
Recent albums include Bakersfield, Okie, Down to My Last Bad Habit… some good stuff here.
Yes I really like Vince. Never made a bad album IMHO and is ready to vary the style from one to another. Tremendous picker too.
Glen Campbell sings Jimmy Webb songs – a perfect match
That’s my favourite one actually.
I think it’s probably mine too…but only just.
I always think of this song as the flip side to 24 Hours from Tulsa.
Yes, the prequel maybe?
Although Jimmy Webb gets the attention for writing the songs, a lot of credit should go to the producer & arranger of them – Al De Lory (I had to look it up!) who was a fellow member of the Wrecking Crew.
Here’s the story of how Wichita Lineman was made
https://americansongwriter.com/glen-campbell-wichita-lineman-behind-the-song/
I suppose it’s compulsory for me to say that Wichita Lineman is the most over-rated pop song ever.
“I know I need a small vacation”. Sorry, pardon ?
@daveamitri
A very interesting fact relating to your grand project of last year is that Bowie borrowed/stole/was inspired by the ‘Morse Code’ interludes on WL for his own on Starman.
My favourite Glen Campbell story is Frank Sinatra’s reported reaction to seeing this fresh faced new guitarist in the studio on a recording session. “Who’s the faggot on guitar?”
His later albums – Meet/Ghosts on the Canvas/Adios – are all worth a listen and probably available in the 3 for a quid CD deal in your local chazza. Particularly fond of “Meet” – great version of “These days” – which accompanied me on a lengthy US road trip. “Ghosts” and “Adios” were recorded I believe following his Alzheimer’s diagnosis and are very poignant. I recall a documentary also chronicling his final tour which is really sad in places.
Here he is on fine guitar playing form from 1.30 – Roy Clark and Chet Atkins nodding approval:
@Morrison it was the documentary that highlighted to me how good a guitarist he was.
This is a great interview & solo performance of Wichita Lineman from June 2000. (The host is a bit of an idiot though!) At about the 4 min mark, Campbell picks up a guitar & explains the secret of his session playing success.
Excellent! A beautiful rendition.
I think the interviewer did well because Glen was already showing some memory problems. He kept it light and jumped in early to prevent him getting lost (I thought). Damn sight better than Jonathan Ross.
If you think Glen did a good version of “If You Go Away”, have a listen to Nina Simone’s version (Ne Me Quitte Pas). Gulp.
Another gulp