Lest We Forget…

Glen Campbell is Badass

The Inky Jukebox is sad to learn that the original Rhinestone Cowboy, Glen Campbell, is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

In a 50-year career, he has put out a whopping 70 albums and sold 45 million records. He was a member of the Wrecking Crew (alongside Leon Russell), that band of session musicians responsible for some of the greatest songs ever recorded. He also sported many of the least flattering haircuts in the history of mankind and favored shiny tuxedos and huge bow ties. He has a face whose architecture appears chipped right out of Mount Rushmore.  We love him anyway.

Here are The Inky Jukebox’s Essential Glen Campbell tracks

Galveston

One of The Inky Jukebox’s favorite songs. Here, he performs it on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, a treasure chest of vintage variety show TV. Why aren’t shows called that any more? Check out the beautiful tone he gets on that gorgeous Gibson.

Witchita Lineman

A song The Inky Jukebox never travels by car without. This showcases what a gifted singer he is. God, we love that note he hits. You know the one.

Rhinestone Cowboy

What a great song. What a lousy video.

For a start, he’s singing about walking along Broadway when he’s clearly ambling along some country road. Then there’s the whole dream sequence dressed up like Siegfried and Roy pretending he’s playing to a crowd inside a dusty old pen. There’s been a load of compromisin’ / on the road to his horizon alright.

By The Time I Get To Phoenix

A classic performance on what appears to be a set left over from an early Star Trek episode, complete with sunrise light effect and semi-competent lip-synching.

And in case anyone thought ole Glen hung up his spurs a long time ago, check out how ridiculously hip his recent work has been: covers of Green Day and Foo Fighters!

Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

Times Like These

And finally: What a great picker!

Hope your mind stays gentle, Golden Bear.