Glen Campbell is an unsung hero of rock and roll. Well, at least the less rock-y side of rock and roll. This is the man who played guitar on most of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound work, as well as on songs by Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, The Kingston Trio, Merle Haggard, The Monkees, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Troggs, Frankie Laine, The Association, Jan & Dean, and The Mamas & the Papas. He was also a touring member of The Beach Boys, filling in for Brian Wilson in 1964 and 1965 and played guitar on Pet Sounds.
This was the dude that played guitar on Ol' Blue Eyes' Strangers in the Night, You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' by The Righteous Brothers, and I'm a Believer by The Monkees.
So, while he may not be Tony Iommi or Jimmy Page, the man clearly has some chops and a pretty sound resume. What he does not have, however, is even an ounce of rocking out in this song about a dude running out on his lady. Clearly things didn't work out particularly well because mr Campbell ends up running all the way to Oklahoma. I'm thinking he knocked her up.
Basically, this is Glen Campbell telling some anonymous woman that she is the worst song, played on the ugliest guitar. By The Time I Get To Phoenix is not, however, the worst song. It's just pretty insiduous - the swells of strings, Campbell's mournful vocals, the quietly strummed minor chords in a periphery - it all manages to make you feel pretty sad on both parties' behalf, like you're watching a relationship implode, knowing full well that neither party wants it to happen but that there is also no choice in the matter. There is nothing exculpatory or self-pitying about the song, it's merely Campbell's farewell note. When I first heard this song, I was fully prepared to pan it. Now I quite like it. And repeated listens have caused it to grow on me. It's not necessarily something I would listen to repeatedly, but I can think of worse songs to listen to when you've run out on your lady and are feeling bad about it.
For the record, it's also been covered by Dean Martin, Georgie Fame, Isaac Hayes, Marty Wilde, Solomon Burke, Burl Ives, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Hayes' version runs an incredible 19 minutes, including a full backstory of why the breakup too place.
In a happy twist, Campbell scores pretty well on the Rock Nutter Scale (tm):
- Name: Glen Travis Campbell is about as strange as white bread. An estimated 15% of the male population of the US's Red States have Glen, Travis or Campbell in their name (and 20% of the female population). No points.
- Drugs: Tales of cocaine and alcohol abound. Tick.
- Erratic Behaviour: Married four times and the father of eight children. Numerous near death experiences, heavy spending and public brawls with wife number three as a result of drug and alcohol abuse. Tick.
- Time in Jail: Ten days for drunk driving. Arrested, but not prosecuted, for battery on a police officer. Tick.
- Strange Upbringing: One of twelve children, born in a town with a population of less than 100 in deepest Arkansas. You better believe that was a weird upbringing. Half points.
Not bad, Glen, not bad. You almost snuck past Willie Nelson to be the most crazed country singer so far. But Willie's just cooler, gnaw'mean?
Verdict: Do you think Oklahoma has an extradition policy?
Tomorrow: The Beatles - Penny Lane
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