Meet Glen Campbell

If Glen Campbell wasn't your cup of tea at his peak in the 1960's and '70's, then it's not likely his new album, Meet Glen Campbell, will put a twitch in your Wichita Lineman.

But, wait! I submit these facts for your consideration:

Exhibit A: Glen Campbell played with The Wrecking Crew, the coolest studio band in the history of pop music, music providers for everyone from Phil Spector to the Monkees to the Beach Boys. If you're a Pet Sounds acolyte (which is a cool thing to be these days), then you're hip to Glen more than you realize ('cuz he played the guitar on that record).

Exhibit B: He was rumored to have dated Tanya Tucker when she was first popular back in the 1980's. At the time, she was 22-ish and he was 44-ish. That may or may not be cool depending on your perspective.

Exhibit C: From 1969 to 1972, after filling in for the Smothers Brothers, he had his own TV show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Back in those days a lot of pop stars got to have their own shows (Sonny And Cher, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Billy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn McCoo). But few of them had a guest list that included the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Fats Domino and, the icon of '70's cool Jack (Yak) Lord. OK, so maybe he was kind of cool.

Now, at 72, he's gone back to his old stomping grounds, L.A.'s Henson Studios, and back to his old record company, Capitol, to record a truly beautiful new record. Produced by Julian Raymond (who's also produced Shawn Mullins and the Wallflowers) and backed by, among others, Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, Campbell interprets tunes like Travis' Sing, U2's All I Want Is You and the Replacement's Sadly Beautiful in his own classic style.

Enlisting the help of his sons and daughters, as well, Campbell has turned out a truly remarkable album. His interpretation of the Velvet Underground's Jesus is, alone, worth the price of admission.

If you're particularly partial to Campbell's Jimmy Webb era (or are simply anti-Glen to begin with), then this is not the album for you. But, if you're a fan, or simply open-minded to something a little different, you'll find Meet Glen Campbell extremely saifying on its first listen. By the second listen, you may well fall in love with this beautifully recorded, exceptional lush record of mature, thoughtful interpretations.

Comments

[Wendy Brookes]

As a long-standing fan of Glen's, I fall into your category of being particularly partial to his Jimmy Webb era.... however, I also LOVE MGC!
I am in total agreement with you, that his interpretation of "Jesus" is, alone, worth buying the album for.

Even my 19 year-old daughter, who has always been anti-Glen.... dared to admit she liked his new album.

Glen is not only hugely talented, with an inspiring track record (excuse the unintentional pun!)..... he is very appreciative of his fans and a warm, kind and sincere human being.
Something I think he proves in this wonderful collection of 'Pop/Rock' songs, which after hearing Glen sing them, I realised, were never really 'Pop/Rock' songs after all!