To many, Campbell was a jovial, upbeat, "white bread" sort of singer that, at the peak popularity of his career, had his own television variety show, which from 1969 to 1972 he opened up each episode on his guitar announcing, "Hi, I'm Glen Campbell!". And while the hits that he had in the late 1960's contrasted with the rock music and counterculture that was prevalent at that time, creating sort of a down home "clean cut" imagine, those who knew more about the singer, knew that he was innovative and was very talented behind many of the hit records of the 1960's, well before he established himself as a star.
His first recordings came in 1958, but he charted for the first time three years later with "Turn Around, Look at Me" (later a hit for The Vogues). He was also a member of The Champs of "Tequila', although his stay was brief and joined as a member only after that big hit. But it was around this time he had gained notoriety as a session musician, playing on hit records with others that became known as the "Wrecking Crew". In 1963 alone, for example, he played on almost 600 songs. He also played on the landmark Beach Boys' 1966 album Pet Sounds, and he even toured with that band around that time.
But he started gaining success in his own right, going the country music route with some early hits like "Gentle on My Mind", and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", two of his signature songs at the time. Finally, by late 1968, he had his first bona fide pop hit "Wichita Lineman" which hit #3 in January, 1969. That song, as well as many others, were written by Jimmy Webb, a key songwriter in that era, known for writing 'MacArthur Park" and several other songs. He also wrote Glen's follow-up, "Galveston", a #4 pop hit in the spring. Little did I realize at the time, that this song was about Vietnam, which seemed to contrast his image at the time; however he had altered some of the lyrics to make it a little more positive. The song deals with a soldier deployed overseas, that among the gunfire going on around him, he turns his thoughts to his Texas hometown.
It was around this time that he got his own variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour which showcased many of his new music as well as a vehicle for other pop and country acts at the time, such as Johnny Cash, The Monkees, Neil Diamond, Linda Ronstadt, Merle Haggard and many others. Campbell continued having hits that year, including "Where's the Playground Susie", "Try A Little Kindness" and "True Grit", the latter from a movie that he was featured in, alongside its star John Wayne. Minor hits continued through 1970 as the show gave him and other acts exposure. The show had survived CBS' "rural purge" in 1971 in which many rural-themed shows like "Green Acres", "The Jim Nabors Show" and "Lassie" were canceled.
But, as often happens with shows that are on each week, Campbell suffered from overexposure, as the hits started drying up. After all, why buy records when you can watch him each Wednesday night? Eventually, the ratings slipped and his show was canceled in June 1972.
Campbell had a couple of minor hits which were favorites of mine in the next couple of years, like the gospel tinged "I Knew Jesus", and the sentimental "Houston (I'm Coming to See You)". And then came "Rhinestone Cowboy".
It was the glitzy mid 1970's now, and that song was a perfect comeback for him. The song became his first #1 in late summer of 1975 and many consider it his signature song, as well as his nickname. Another hit, the #11 "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in LA)" followed, with a similar theme. After that came a medley of "Don't Pull Your Love" and "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", prior hits by Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds and The Casinos, respectively. That record was prominent for me as I heard it on my memorable Spring Break week down in Daytona Beach in April 1976. A minor country hit called "See You Sunday" came next. My Mom liked that one as it was about a divorced man who can only see his children once a week, similar to our family situation. During this period, he did appear as a guest on many of the variety shows that aired, keeping his exposure high. He also hosted an annual PGA Golf tournament, the Glen Campbell Los Angeles Open into much of the 1980's.
Spring Break in 1977 saw me going back to Daytona, and his last big pop hit was totally appropriate: "Southern Nights" was heard many times on my car radio heading down on I-95. It was his second and final #1 pop hit. Campbell followed with a couple more minor country hits. Sadly by that time he had addictions to drugs and alcohol, and in the early 1980's he was in a high profile relationship with country singer Tanya Tucker who was at the time in her early 20's, while Campbell was in his mid 40's. But by 1982 he had married Kim Woolen, his fourth wife, who was able to help him clean up his life.
Campbell kept recording through the subsequent decades. Aside from a well-publicized drunk driving arrest in 2003, he managed to have control of his life, until 2011 when the first signs of Alzheimer's started developing. He toured one final time after he announced he had the disease in 2014, and recorded what many consider his "farewell" song "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" which reached the charts at #90, fifth-three years after his first song.
Just two months ago, Campbell released his final album Adios, and the title track as a single, written by his longtime writer, Jimmy Webb. He has influenced many other artists, most notably Keith Urban, and will definitely be missed.
WINNING: We have a new #1 song on my blog this week as "Winning as Truth", a pro-environmental song by Trapdoor Social, beats out both "It's Time" and "Malibu", both former #1's. Dan Auerbach's "Shine On Me" advances to #2, while the aforementioned Nick Waterhouse and Miley Cyrus songs drop to #3 and #4. Fitz and the Tantrums' "Fool" moves 8-5, giving them their 12th straight top 5 song here.
Portugal. The Man's "Feel It Still" has been sitting atop Billboard's Alternative chart for weeks, and it's slowly making its way near the top on my blog playlist chart as well. In its 17th chart week, it finally enters the top 10 at #7. This gives the Portland Oregon band their biggest SNS hit; "Evil Friends" and "Purple Yellow Red and Blue" both reached #8 in 2013. My friend Gail Bradley this week posted "Feel It Still". The one new entry to the SNS top 20 is Øffguard's "Maybe" which moves 23-17. This puts lead singer Matt Weiss in a small group of artists who have made my top 20 both as a solo artists as well as in a group. Weiss, from Long Island, hit #6 in 2015 with "Black Magic".
Iration, the Santa Barbara California reggae outfit who had a #3 SNS hit in early 2016 with "867" is back with "Borderlines" and is the Top Debut at #86. They are follow close behind by Beth Ditto's 80's trance-like "I Wrote the Book", Chastity Belt, an all-female band from Walla Walla, Washington, are next with "Different Now", a recent Brian Sniatkowski "song of the week". Among the other debuts are the latest by Lana Del Rey, "Lust for Life", from the album of the same name which debuts at #1 on Billboard's album chart this week. George Ezra had a #13 hit here with "Budapest" in 2015 and he returns this week with Don't Matter Now". Bleeker and Joywave also enter with new songs.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100
August 6 / 13, 2017
| This Week | Last Week | ARTIST-Title | Weeks on List |
| 1 | 3 | NUMBER ONE: 
"Winning
As Truth"
Album: Trapdoor Social
|
8 |
| 2 | 4 | Dan Auerbach - Shine on Me | 8 |
| 3 | 1 | Nick Waterhouse - It's Time● | 9 |
| 4 | 2 | Miley Cyrus - Malibu● | 10 |
| 5 | 8 | Fitz and the Tantrums - Fool | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | Twenty-One Pilots - HeavyDirtySoul | 15 |
| 7 | 11 | Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still | 17 |
| 8 | 5 | The Hounds of Winter - I Get You● | 13 |
| 9 | 12 | Pop Etc - Routine | 10 |
| 10 | 9 | Keith Urban f. Carrie Underwood - The Fighter● | 21 |
| 11 | 6 | Foster the People - SHC● | 10 |
| 12 | 15 | Pageants - Lingr | 8 |
| 13 | 18 | Foxygen - On Lankershim | 6 |
| 14 | 10 | LP - Lost on You● | 16 |
| 15 | 20 | Saint Motel - Sweet Talk | 6 |
| 16 | 14 | Jake Owen - Good Company | 8 |
| 17 | 23 | TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
"Maybe"
(Single Only)
|
7 |
| 18 | 16 | Alison Ireheta and Halo Circus - Band-Aid | 10 |
| 19 | 13 | Michelle Branch - Hopeless Romantic | 9 |
| 20 | 19 | Hanson - I Was Born | 9 |
Tremors:
101. St. Vincent, "New York"
102. Demi Lovato, "Sorry Not Sorry"
|
|
Songs
with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week.
● Songs
with 25 or more plays on my iPod.
▲ Songs with 50 or more
plays on my iPod.
The “Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100” is a list
of current and recent song playlist which I am listening to.
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