OT: Since Tom isn't going to honor it (all good Tom), today IS Glen Campbell Day (Born 4.22.1936)
- Thread starter MtNittany
- Start date
Jimmy Webb on Glen's passing:
Well, that moment has come that we have known was an inevitable certainty and yet stings like a sudden catastrophe. Let the world note that a great American influence on pop music, the American Beatle, the secret link between so many artists and records that we can only marvel, has passed and cannot be replaced. He was bountiful. His was a world of gifts freely exchanged: Roger Miller stories, songs from the best writers, an old Merle Haggard record or a pocket knife.
He gave me a great wide lens through which to look at music. The cult of The Players? He was at the very center. He loved the Beach Boys and in subtle ways helped mold their sound. He loved Don and Phil [Everly], Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield [the Righteous Brothers], Flatt and Scruggs. This was the one great lesson that I learned from him as a kid: Musically speaking nothing is out of bounds. Of course, he lavished affection and gifts on his kids, family and friends. His love was a deep mercurial thing and once committed he was a tenacious friend as so many in Nashville and Phoenix, L.A. and New York, compadres all over the world would testify. One of his favorite songs was “Try A Little Kindness” in which he sings “shine your light on everyone you see.” My God. Did he do that or what? Just thinking back I believe suddenly that the “raison d’etre” for every Glen Campbell show was to bring every suffering soul within the sound of his voice up a peg or two. Leave ’em laughin.’ Leave them feeling just a little tad better about themselves; even though he might have to make them cry a couple of times to get ’em there. What a majestically graceful and kind, top rate performer was Glen on his worst night!
When it came to friendship Glen was the real deal. He spoke my name from ten thousand stages. He was my big brother, my protector, my co-culprit, my John crying in the wilderness.
Nobody liked a Jimmy Webb song as much as Glen! And yet he was generous with other writers: Larry Weiss, Allen Toussaint, John Hartford. You have to look hard for a bad song on a Glen Campbell album. He was giving people their money’s worth before it became fashionable.
This I can promise. While I can play a piano he will never be forgotten. And after that someone else will revel in his vast library of recordings and pass them on to how many future generations? Possibly to all of them.
Jimmy
Well, that moment has come that we have known was an inevitable certainty and yet stings like a sudden catastrophe. Let the world note that a great American influence on pop music, the American Beatle, the secret link between so many artists and records that we can only marvel, has passed and cannot be replaced. He was bountiful. His was a world of gifts freely exchanged: Roger Miller stories, songs from the best writers, an old Merle Haggard record or a pocket knife.
He gave me a great wide lens through which to look at music. The cult of The Players? He was at the very center. He loved the Beach Boys and in subtle ways helped mold their sound. He loved Don and Phil [Everly], Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield [the Righteous Brothers], Flatt and Scruggs. This was the one great lesson that I learned from him as a kid: Musically speaking nothing is out of bounds. Of course, he lavished affection and gifts on his kids, family and friends. His love was a deep mercurial thing and once committed he was a tenacious friend as so many in Nashville and Phoenix, L.A. and New York, compadres all over the world would testify. One of his favorite songs was “Try A Little Kindness” in which he sings “shine your light on everyone you see.” My God. Did he do that or what? Just thinking back I believe suddenly that the “raison d’etre” for every Glen Campbell show was to bring every suffering soul within the sound of his voice up a peg or two. Leave ’em laughin.’ Leave them feeling just a little tad better about themselves; even though he might have to make them cry a couple of times to get ’em there. What a majestically graceful and kind, top rate performer was Glen on his worst night!
When it came to friendship Glen was the real deal. He spoke my name from ten thousand stages. He was my big brother, my protector, my co-culprit, my John crying in the wilderness.
Nobody liked a Jimmy Webb song as much as Glen! And yet he was generous with other writers: Larry Weiss, Allen Toussaint, John Hartford. You have to look hard for a bad song on a Glen Campbell album. He was giving people their money’s worth before it became fashionable.
This I can promise. While I can play a piano he will never be forgotten. And after that someone else will revel in his vast library of recordings and pass them on to how many future generations? Possibly to all of them.
Jimmy
He was also a member of the Wrecking Crew....group of incredible studio musicians that helped add superb sounds to recordings. There is a great documentary about this group created by Tommy Tedesco's son....definitely worth a watch. I believe it is on Prime video.
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He showed up w/ no guitar and Janie Fricke had an Ovation so he borrowed it, strummed it a bit, and somehow did that. You can see the look of disbelief on Janie's face (my guitar's never done that!). The look Crystal Gayle had was something different I think.
I used to listen to glen when I was 75 yo but then
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Playing bass and singing high in Brian's place. Like Webb said - he was sort of one of them from the Pet Sounds recordings. Brian was as big a genius as there has been in music and he was crushed when GC passed.Once of my favorite Beach Boys!
Earlier than the ALZ - RIP Kris.
The look on KK's face at Webb's line...Glen and Jimmy got him in the feels, and he knows it.
The look on KK's face at Webb's line...Glen and Jimmy got him in the feels, and he knows it.
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Great clip. I recognized but couldn't name many of the artists sitting behind and then admiring Glen and his magical guitar fingers so I had to use Mr. Google.
Seeing Roy Clark and WIllie Nelson watch in awe was amazing.
This recording was done live on "Ryman Country Homecoming" filmed on April 22, 1999 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. On stage along with Glenn were Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson, Roy Clark, Lynn Anderson, Bobby Bare, T. Graham Brown, Ralph Emery, Janie Fricke, Barbara Fairchild, Larry Gatlin, Crystal Gayle, Ray Stevens, Geezinslaw Brother, Ferlin Husky, Dan Seals, T.G. Sheppard, B.J. Thomas, Ricky Van Shelton, Porter Wagoner, and Gene Watson. Chet had been diagnosed with cancer reoccurence and had a brain tumor removed two years earlier. and he had a rough go of it. Him palying the guitar softly behind Glenn is very touching.
Mason Williams was a writer (both comedy and music) for the Goodtime Hour - along w/ Rob Reiner and Steve Martin.
Lots of good stuff to digest in this thread. One of the things that makes the Tom McAndrew board a unique place. Thanks everyone for all the video. Excellent.
He was special. One last video and a reminder to donate your money - or better yet your time - to trusted LOCAL ALZ help centers.
Have a friend who seems frustrated looking after his Dad even though he loves him more than life itself? Give him a day off and change it up for his Dad.
I love Ashley. Larry Gatlin - who you see in the background - gave up a song (part of his time on the show) and insisted Ashley play this. She had previously done Pancho and Lefty and another song.
Playing this w/ her Godfather Carl Jackson I think is a great way to wind down this thread. Thanks for putting up w/ all my GC and appreciating it as much as I do.
Until next year.
Have a friend who seems frustrated looking after his Dad even though he loves him more than life itself? Give him a day off and change it up for his Dad.
I love Ashley. Larry Gatlin - who you see in the background - gave up a song (part of his time on the show) and insisted Ashley play this. She had previously done Pancho and Lefty and another song.
Playing this w/ her Godfather Carl Jackson I think is a great way to wind down this thread. Thanks for putting up w/ all my GC and appreciating it as much as I do.
Until next year.