Liberal Arts Blog — Glenn Campbell (1936–2017) — “Rhinestone Cowboy” (1975), “Try a Little Kindness” (1969), “Wichita Lineman” (1968)
Liberal Arts Blog — Thursday is the Joy of Music Day
Today’s Topic: Glenn Campbell (1936–2017) — “Rhinestone Cowboy” (1975), “Try a Little Kindness” (1969), “Wichita Lineman” (1968)
I had no idea who Glenn Campbell was until my son Alex mentioned him last night and I decided to find out more. Today, a few notes, links, and lyrics to three of his biggest hits.
Born in rural Arkansas, Campbell was the seventh of twelve children and grew up on a farm without electricity “where they barely managed by growing cotton, corn, watermelons and potatoes.”
But he was born into a musical family, had talent, and was performing on radio stations at age 6. He dropped out of school at age 14 but by age 25 he was part of the legendary group of session musicians in Los Angeles called the “Wrecking Crew.”
“He played on recordings by the Beach Boys, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby,Doris Day, Elvis Presley…..”
A string of solo hits started in 1965 with “Universal Soldier” (1965) and by 1969 he had his own CBS television show, “The Glenn Campbell Goodtime Hour” which lasted until 1972. Eventually, “he released 64 albums in a career that spanned five decades, selling over 45 million records worldwide, including twelve gold albums, four platinum albums, and one double-platinum album.”
He was renowned as both a guitarist and a vocalist. He was “married four times and fathered six sons and three daughters.”
Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.
RHINESTONE COWBOY (1974) — written by Larry Weiss
1. “I’ve been walking these streets so long, singing the same old song. I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway where hustle’s the name of the game and nice guys get washed in the rain like the snow in the rain.”
2. “There’s been a lot of compromising on the road to my horizon But I’m gonna be where the lights are shining on me.”
3. “Like a rhinestone cowboy riding on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo, Like a rhinestone cowboy getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know and offers coming over the phone.”
NB: “Well. I really don’t mind the rain and the smile can hide all the pain But you’re down when you’re riding the train that’s takin the long way and I dream of the things I’ll do with a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe.”
Glen Campbell — Rhinestone Cowboy (Official Music Video)
TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS (1969) written by Curt Sapaugh and Bobby Austin
1. “If you see your brother standing by the road, witha heavy load from the seeds he sowed.”
2. “And if you see your sister falling by the way, just stop and say “You’re going the wrong way.”
3. “You’ve got to try a little kindness, Yes, show a little kindness, Just shine your light for everyone to see.”
NB: “And if you try a little kindness, then you’ll overlook the blindness of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets.”
Glen Campbell — Try A Little Kindness
Try a Little Kindness — Wikipedia
Try a Little Kindness (song) — Wikipedia
WICHITA LINEMAN (1968) written by Jimmy Webb, called “the first existential country song” and Bob Dylan said it was “the best song ever written”
1. “I am a lineman for the county and I drive the main road searching in the sun for another overload.”
2. “I hear you singing in the wire, I can hear you through the whine, and Wichita lineman is still on the line.”
3. “I know I need a small vacation, But it don’t look like rain and if it snows that stretch down south won’t ever stand the strain.”
NB: “And I need you more than want you and I want you for all time and the Wichita lineman is still on the line.” (repeat)
Wichita Lineman (Remastered 2001)
Glen Campbell — “Gentle On My Mind” (Live on “Country Homecoming Ryman”, 1999)
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
My spin — then periodically review, re-rank, and exchange your list with those you love. I call this the “Orion Exchange” because seven is about as many as any human can digest at a time. Game?
LAST FOUR YEARS OF POSTS ORGANIZED THEMATICALLY
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IP5ATbqCWPv0WKC4dCDgAiidbFVOaqR_
ATTACHMENTS BELOW:
#1 A graphic guide to justice (9 metaphors on one page).
#2 “39 Songs, Prayers, and Poems: the Keys to the Hearts of Seven Billion People” — Adams House Senior Common Room Presentation, (11/17/20)
YOUR TURN
Time to share the coolest thing you learned in the last week related to music.
Or the coolest thing you learned in your life related to music. Say your favorite song or songs. Or your favorite tips for breathing, posture, or relaxation. Or some insight into the history of music….Or just something random about music… like a joke about drummers. jazz, rock….or share an episode or chapter in your musical autobiography.
This is your chance to make some one else’s day. And perhaps to cement in your memory something important you would otherwise forget. Or to think more deeply than you otherwise would about something that matters to you.
