THE WICHITA LINEMAN COMES HOME

Singer, forner session guitarist and occasional Beach Boy GLEN CAMPBELL talks to Ken Sharp about an amazing career that spans more than 50 years

At the age of 72, Glen Campbell is exactly where he wants to be. His recent album, Meet Glen Campbell, is a remarkable return to form, showing the Arkansas-born guitarist embracing the present and paying homage to his glorious past with winning interpretations of songs by the likes of John Lennon, Tom Petty, U2, The Velvet Underground, The Replacements, Green Day, The Foo Fighters, Jackson Browne and Travis. The album is immaculately produced by Julian Raymond, who frames the songs in an intimate setting, with lush strings, banjos and pedal steel as part of his arsenal. It’s a familiar sound that’s redolent of Campbell’s iconic work.

Music fans first met Glen Campbell over 40 years ago. Time spent playing clubs in Arkansas and Albuquerque, New Mexico helped hone his staggering six-string chops. Moving to Los Angeles in 1960, Campbell quickly established himself as a much sought-after studio guitarist, laying down his best licks on sessions for the likes of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Phil Spector and The Beach Boys. In the mid 60s, he would also serve as an auxiliary Beach Boy on the road, subbing on bass for the band’s road weary resident genius, Brian Wilson.

The stylish ballad, Gentle On My Mind (1967) gave Campbell his first taste of major success. Not long after, his career revved into …

by GLEN CAMPBELL
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