Glen Campbell Greatest Hits

Glen Campbell 'Greatest Hits' (Capitol, 1971)

This collection of greatest hits predates 'Rhinestone Cowboy' by four years which will give you an idea of the longevity and success of Glen Campbell's career. The country music legend has been around, not unlike Cliff Richard, for six decades and is only doing his farewell tour this year. He's been a TV star, played on 'Pet Sounds', been handpicked by John Wayne to star in 'True Grit' and has released more than 70 albums!

This is all undeniably admirable, but I can't say I'm a big fan. Understandably perhaps, for somebody who has such broad appeal and long term success, Campbell deals in very inoffensive middle of the road fare.

'Honey Come Back' is hilarious, the type of track Vic and Bob could pastiche brilliantly, with its spoken word country tale of a heartbroken cuckold which breaks straight into a crooning plea for a lover's return. 'Gentle on my Mind' immediately lifts the quality and the tone and is the stand out until the equally classically country 'Wichita Line'. The cover of 'All I Have to do is Dream' with Bobbie Gentry is also eminently listenable. Although it is all a little pedestrian for my tastes.

Unfortunately, Campbell announced in 2011 that he has Alzheimer's disease so it seems certain that his current farewell tour, with his children as a backing band, will be his last.

I don't know if this is my mum's or my dad's, but I don't remember this, or the other two albums I have, being played when I was a kid. Maybe they'd got over him by the time I came around?

Peace