46 Years Ago: Glen Campbell Gets First Gold Single With ‘Wichita Lineman’

theboot.com ^ | 1-22-14 | Gayle Thompson

[FlJoePa]

A day late, but Jimmy Webb and Glen Campbell. Some say this is the greatest song ever written. I don't go that far, but it's awfully damn good.

Use this thread to post your favorite Glen youtube videos from over the years.

Though he's obviously in 24 hour care in Tennessee right now, he's also been honored with nominations for both Country Song of the Year (Grammy's) and Song of the Year (Oscar's). I care not a whit about awards shows, but I admit to hoping he wins them both. "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" is a tough song, but one that needed to be sung. Glad he could sing it.

Raise Alzheimer's awareness.

[Lizavetta]

".... and I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time...."

Quite possibly the best lyrics ever.

[Autonomous User]

I Bought the 45 thinking it was a song about a football player.

True story.

[cardinal4]

Yes, that’s a great song as is “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, but my all time favorite is “Gentle On My Mind”..

[jaz.357]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fwOTDaO4bg

[nothingnew]

Great song, great artist and I'll miss him.

FMCDH(BITS)

[windsorknot]

Beautiful song. I pray to God for a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

[nothingnew]

".... and I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time...."

True.

FMCDH(BITS)

[PapaNew]

Is Glen still around? He became a born-again Christian awhile back, got into some addiction problems and got out by God’s grace and then hit Alzheimers. His rough road will end in Glory.

I like that song Wichita Linemen.

[laplata]

Is Glen still around?

---

Yes, but unfortunately, he has alzheimers.

[OwenKellogg]

His rough road will end in Glory.

---

I’m at a loss for words at how beautiful that statement is. Thank you.

[guyfromjrz]

My dad was utlity line man. He loved his job. He still does contract work, and he puts the hooks on when needed. He is seventy. He is great guy and got him Glen Cambels greatest hits because we used to sing rhinestone cowboy when I was little guy in his GTO and the song came on. I didn’t know about the lineman song. He thought I bought for the lineman song. I like the lineman slung just as much now.

[FlJoePa]

He will be missed terribly and his genius is either misunderstood or under-recognized. The man never read a note of music in his life, yet he was arguably the star of the Wrecking Crew and could pick up nearly any instrument and play it immediately. Mind boggling, God-given talent he possesses.

Another reason to love him is that he had retro-fitted cowboy boots (with golf spikes) back when he hosted the LA Open that he would actually play in.

Glen and Carl Jackson - Dueling Banjos

[PapaNew]

Here’s a really good live performance with Glen doing some nice guitar work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjzTNWWO7U0

[jazusamo]

Yes, that's a great song and Glen was great singing it. Here's another of my favorites by him.

By The Time I Get To Phoenix

[FlJoePa]

I have that dvd (SD Symphony) and it is phenomenal. Anyone that remotely likes Glen and his music should own it. One could argue that he was at his best there - yet no one noticed.

[Fast Moving Angel]

Before he was famous, Glen did the guitar work on an album called Sunset Surf -- all instrumentals. I loved it and had it on vinyl but somehow lost track of it, and not long ago made it my mission to find it. Thank God for the internet -- I found it in Japan, although I see that Amazon has it now.

In case anyone's interested:

http://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Surf-Various-Artists/dp/B0082DTFO4

[PapaNew]

Do you know where and when that performance took place?

[jocon307]

“Some say this is the greatest song ever written.”

OK, I love this song, but if you’re not from Witchita and you’re not a lineman I find it hard to think you’d feel that way.

But, in all fairness, the other day I heard “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” and I really did think that might be the greatest song of all time. Certainly one of the most heartfelt and truly sad.

[MisterArtery]

I think he also did a stint with the Beach Boys and was with The Champs when they made Tequila.