Tag Archives: Glen-Campbell

Glen Campbell’s Remarkable Life And Catalog Celebrated With Box Set Due This Summer

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Glen Campbell – The Legacy [1961-2017]
Whether cutting his teeth as an in-demand session musician for the likes of The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, The Righteous Brothers, Merle Haggard and so many more as part of The Wrecking Crew, to his rein of the 70’s country charts as a solo performer few artists represent country / pop crossover success like Glen Campbell.

On June 21st Capitol/UMemn will celebrate Campbell’s incredible career with an expanded edition of his long-out-of-print, career-spanning box set (originally released in 2003.)

Glen Campbell – The Legacy [1961-2017] is a four-disc anthology reflecting his storied six-decade career chronicling his hits as well as his late-career renaissance with songs from 2008’s Meet Glen Campbell, 2011’s Ghost On The Canvas, 2014’s soundtrack to his revealing and emotional documentary, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, and 2017’s Adiós, released shortly before he passed away from complications from his long, public battle with Alzheimer’s.
The box set includes a stunning 60-page booklet and updated liner notes by well-known music scribe Joel Selvin who wrote the original liners.

Opening with “Turn Around, Look At Me,” Campbell’s first single released in 1961 shortly after he moved to Los Angeles from Albuquerque to break into the music business, Glen Campbell – The Legacy [1961-2017] includes songs from nearly all of the sixty plus album’s he released in his lifetime, providing an outstanding overview of this influential, rare talent.

The collection traces his early evolution from early career bluegrass tune “Kentucky Means Paradise,” the honky-tonk oldie “Too Late To Worry – Too Blue To Cry,” Buffy St. Marie’s protest anthem “Universal Soldier” and “Guess I’m Dumb,” written and produced by his friend Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys who Campbell substituted for on tour when Wilson bowed out, to his first works with producer Al De Lory, who helped him hone his signature sound with the song that would kickstart his recording career and put him on the map: the 1967 John Hartford-penned masterpiece “Gentle On My Mind.” As Joel Selvin writes in his illuminating liner notes, “Despite a modest chart performance, ‘Gentle On My Mind’ did turn out to be the definitive record of Campbell’s career, the point where he not only took charge of his own artistic destiny but became his own creation.”

The next hit was a song that would end up being a turning point for him. “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” which both introduced a new lush sound for Campbell and a shined a spotlight on a little known songwriter from Oklahoma named Jimmy Webb. The song, which along with “Gentle On My Mind,” helped him make history at the 1967 GRAMMY® Awards by sweeping the song and performance awards in both the pop and country and western categories, was a crossover success that spent an incredible six months on the charts and catapulted Campbell to fame. It also began a fruitful lifelong partnership between the musician and songwriter that would last more than five decades and include some of Campbell’s biggest hits such as “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston,” which kicks off disc two.

The late ‘60s and early ‘70s were especially prolific for Campbell who, in between starring in his hit TV show “The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour” and becoming a movie star opposite John Wayne in the western “True Grit” (of which he recorded the Oscar-nominated theme song) and his feature film follow-up, “Norwood,” released four albums in 1970 and three more the following year. The Legacy collection includes many of the tracks released during this period including Webb’s “Where’s The Playground Susie,” and “MacArthur Park,” “I Wanna Live” (a number one country hit), and several songs recorded with labelmate Bobbie Gentry including “Let It Be Me,” Scarborough Fair/Canticle,” and the Everly Brothers hit, “All I Have To Do Is Dream.” There’s also Campbell’s version of Roy Orbison’s “Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream),” the sweeping Gordon Lightfoot-penned title track from his album “The Last Time I Saw Her” and a medley with Anne Murray of “I Say A Little Prayer/By The Time I Get To Phoenix.

The second half of the box set features Campbell’s trademark song “Rhinestone Cowboy,” which earned him his first number one record and became his theme in many ways, and his sprightly spin on Allen Toussaint’s “Southern Nights.” More than four decades later Campbell’s rendition of “Southern Nights” would prominently feature in the film and soundtrack to “Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2” introducing a whole new generation to his music. Other highlights include “God Only Knows,” Campbell’s beautiful take on Brian Wilson’s opus, “Sunflower,” a breezy #1 hit written by Neil Diamond and “Highwayman,” which eight years after recording the Jimmy Webb song, Campbell would introduce to Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. They not only used the name for their supergroup but also won a GRAMMY®.

The final disc of the collection, which includes Campbell showcasing his love for gospel and his faith with a stirring live rendition of “Amazing Grace,” and flexing his incredible guitar skills on “Classical Gas,” has been expanded to include songs from his albums released in the 2000s. Included from his acclaimed 2008 album, Meet Glen Campbell, which saw the icon tackle contemporary and classic songs, is his inspired covers of the Foo Fighters “Times Like These,” Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” and Jackson Browne’s “These Days.” 2011’s Ghost On The Canvas is represented with a spirited take on the Paul Westerberg song of the same name while 2013’s See You There is represented with “Waiting On The Comin’ Of My Lord.”

The last song Campbell ever recorded was “I’m Not Gonna Miss You.” This touching goodbye to his family and fans co-written by him and producer Julian Raymond and recorded with members of The Wrecking Crew, is one of the many high points that round out the box set. The song featured in the documentary “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me,” which chronicles Campbell’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and his final tour, won the GRAMMY® Award for Best Country Song and was nominated for Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards. The retrospective culminates with three songs from Campbell’s bucket list album Adiós, recorded while fighting his disease and released in 2017 to universal acclaim: a banjo-filled take on “Everybody’s Talkin,’” country weeper “It Won’t Bring Her Back” and the bittersweet title track, which brought Campbell’s career full circle by reuniting him one last time with his lifelong collaborator Jimmy Webb.

Glen Campbell – The Legacy [1961-2017] pays honor to Campbell’s exceptional legacy and celebrates the timeless music of one of the best singers and musicians the world has ever known with a lovingly compiled, comprehensive collection that is a must for longtime fans and anyone who wants to learn more about Glen Campbell’s singular musical journey.

Pre-order GLEN CAMPBELL – THE LEGACY [1961-2017]

GLEN CAMPBELL – THE LEGACY [1961-2017] TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE
1. Turn Around, Look At
2. Kentucky Means Paradise (The Green River Boys featuring Glen Campbell)
3. Too Late To Worry – Too Blue To Cry
4. Universal Soldier
5. Guess I’m Dumb
6. Burning Bridges
7. Just To Satisfy You
8. Less Of Me
9. Gentle On My Mind
10. Crying
11. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
12. Tomorrow Never Comes
13. Hey, Little One
14. I Wanna Live
15. Turn Around And Look At Me (New Version)
16. The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde
17. Let It Be Me (Glen Campbell & Bobbie Gentry)
18. Scarborough Fair / Canticle (Glen Campbell & Bobbie Gentry)
19. Wichita Lineman
20. Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife
21. Reason To Believe

DISC TWO
1. Galveston
2. Where’s The Playground Susie
3. If This Is Love
4. True Grit
5. Try A Little Kindness
6. Honey, Come Back
7. One Pair Of Hands
8. All I Have To Do Is Dream (Glen Campbell & Bobbie Gentry)
9. Everything A Man Could Ever Need
10.It’s Only Make Believe
11. Pave Your Way Into Tomorrow
12. MacArthur Park
13. Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)
14. The Last Time I Saw Her
15. I Say A Little Prayer / By The Time I Get To Phoenix (Medley) (Glen Campbell & Anne Murray
16. The Last Thing On My Mind
17. I Knew Jesus (Before He Was A Star)
18. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
19. Houston (I’m Comin’ To See You)
20. Bonaparte’s Retreat
21. The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress

DISC THREE
1. Rhinestone Cowboy
2. Country Boy (You Got Your Feet In L.A.)
3. Arkansas
4. Don’t Pull Your Love / Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (Medley)
5. Southern Nights
6. Sunflower
7. God Only Knows
8. I’m Gonna Love You
9. Can You Fool
10. Highwayman
11. Somethin’ ’Bout You Baby I Like (Glen Campbell With Rita Coolidge)
12. Any Which Way You Can
13. I Was Too Busy Loving You
14. Faithless Love
15. A Lady Like You
16. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (Glen Campbell With Steve Wariner)
17. I Have You
18. If These Walls Could Speak
19. Unconditional Love
20. She’s Gone, Gone, Gone
21. Show Me Your Way (Glen Campbell & Anne Murray)
22. Only One Life
23. Somebody Like That

DISC FOUR
1. You’ll Never Walk Alone
2. People Get Ready
3. Amazing Grace
4. Lean On Me
5. Times Like These
6. These Days
7. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
8. Ghost On The Canva
9. Waiting On The Comin’ Of My Lord
10. I’m Not Gonna Miss You
11. Everybody’s Talkin’
12. It Won’t Bring Her Back
13. Adiós

Top 6 Roots Music Moments at the 2016 Grammy Awards

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58th-Grammy-Logo

Grit, heart and soul found it’s way between the sequins and glitter of the 58th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Folks that have been bustin Asa’s for years, and sometimes decades, get recognition (and hopefully a bump in music and ticket sales) and a chance to stand toe-to-toe with ther accomplished msusiaans and remind the sometimes jaded industry audience why music will always tie us into a shared human condition.

Here are some highlights:

The Steeldrivers

After four nominations The SteelDrivers proved the fifth time is the charm. The Nashville-based bluegrass badasses won thier first Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album for their fifth realese ‘The Muscle Shoals Recordings.’
The critically-acclaimed album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart and achieved the highest first-week sales in the band’s history.

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn’s eponymous album picks up the well-deserved Best Folk Album Grammy.

http://youtu.be/WV-Z1cfcVl8

The excellent documentary ‘Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me” wins Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media.

Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark Jr., and Bonnie Raitt play steal the show with this BB King tribute.

http://youtu.be/soijapAt6no

Aside from being part of the great tribute Chris Stapleton snagged 2 statues
Best Country Album (for Traveller) and Best Country Solo Performance (for the album’s title track). He shared the spotlight with producer Dave Cobb. He even called Taylor Swift out for “glitter bombing” him.

Jason Isbell made up for the snub of his 2013 ‘Southeastern’ by winning 2 Grasmmys during the event’s pre-telecast. Best Americana Album for ‘Somethng More Than Free’ and Best Americana Roots Song for ’24 Frames.”

Isbell thanked his wife, singer, songwriter Amanda Shires, who provides harmonies on the track; his manager Traci Thomas, his long-time band, the 400 Unit; producer Dave Cobb and those who voted mentioning humbly “It’s a real honor” to accept the award. At the end of his speech, Isbell also thanked Muscle Shoals, Ala., for “teaching me how to play music.”

Well done sir, no one deserves it more.

57th Annual Grammy Awards – Showing Our Roots

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Brandy Clark & Dwight Yoakam 'Hold My Hand'

The cultural trade show known as the 57th Annual Grammy Awards is now history. 83 golden antiquated media playback device replicas were handed out to some of the most talented musicians in the world.

But the event is anything but antiquated. The Grammys have been pushing the boundaries of social and streaming media for some time, improving every year and rivaling events like The Oscars and The Superbowl for social activity. The Grammys know how to create, and amplify, buzz.

Though I did not take part in the excellent Grammy social program as I had the past 4 years, I was graciously asked by Entertainment Tonight to live blog the event for ETOnline.com. and I did cover the pre-telecast (rechristened the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony) at the Twang Nation twitter feed. That’s nearly 8 hours of tweeting, blogging, posting in all.

But this is not a social marketing site. Its about the music, and there was lot’s of it. Much of it great.

First , the winners.

The big winner in the Americana and roots category was Rosanne Cash. Cash, who had been an awards presenter earlier in the day, took home awards in all the categories she was nominated in. winning who won best American roots performance, American roots song for ‘A Feather’s Not A Bird’ and Americana album for “The River and The Thread.” “Reagan was president last time I won a Grammy,” Cash beamed, referring to her win for
“I just showed up for work for 35 years and this is what happened.” Cash’s last win was in 1985 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me.”

Other notable wins were Mike Farris’ first nomination turned into a win for win for Best Roots Gospel Album.

Bluegrass supergroup, The Earls Of Leicester – Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Shawn Camp, Johnny Warren, Charlie Cushman and Barry Bales – won for Best Bluegrass Album for The band’s self-titled release. “We’re very humbled by this,” Douglas said during his acceptance speech. “These guys worked with me — I’ve wanted to do an album like this since the first time I picked up a musical instrument … This is what it’s all about — Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.” “Proud to bring Flatt & Scruggs to a new audience. I think we now have a mandate to do more.”

Nickel Creek and Punch Brother founder Chris Thile and bassist Edgar Meyer won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for their album, ‘Bass & Mandolin.’ The duo have been performing together sporadically for more than a decade. ‘Bass & Mandolin’ was also nominated for Best Instrumental Composition for the album track “Tarnation” and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

After an ripping performance of 8 Dogs 8 Banjos on the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony stage, Old Crow Medicine Show encored with a win for Best Folk Album, for ‘Remedy.’

“We started our 18th year of making music together this year, and we want to thank Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie for lighting the way,” singer/fiddler Ketch Secor said from the podium.

Glen Campbell won his sixth Grammy of his extraordinary career for Best Country Song. The ailing country legend won for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” the bittersweet song Campbell penned with Julian Raymond for the 2014 documentary ‘Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me,’ won against songs by Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw with Faith Hill.

Best Historical Album went to the excellent Hank Williams The Garden Spot Programs, 1950. Colin Escott & Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer.

One of the most talked about surprises of the evening was Beck’s win for Album of the Year for his 12th album ‘Morning Phase.’ Though I could quibble about Beck’s moody-folk/pop masterpiece
winning a Best Rock Album award earlier in the evening (rock?) there’s no arguing that Beck is a musician with an artistic vision, with little apparent care for the charts and industry. A rare vision richly deserving the honor of a high-profile award.

Apparently after the win twitter spiked with ‘Who is Beck?’ Supposedly by people genuinely unaware of the artist. The rest was Kanye West.

The stand out performance was Best New Artist nominee Brandy Clark sharing the stage with her idol and recent tour mate Dwight Yoakam. The two performed a lovely rendition of “Hold My Hand” from the Best Country Album nominated ’12 Stories.’ Perched on a round stage with no extravagant light show, two simple guitars and two warm voices. It was the most low-key performance of the 2015 Grammys and the one that best personified what most matters, and is often lost, in theses events.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu9-3yC012g

Glen Campbell “I’ll Be Me” Official Movie Trailer

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GLEN CAMPBELL I'LL BE ME Official Movie Trailer

One of the most heart-breaking moments of my life was seeing Glen Campbell accept his lifetime Achievement Grammy due to the already evident effects of his Alzheimers. Talking to him and his wife, Kim Woollen, afterword gave me hope. As dire as his future looked he was still in good spirits and was surrounded by people who love him.

Below is the trailer for the Glen Campbell documentary, ‘Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me,’ which will be released on Oct. 24 in New York and Nashville.

‘I’ll Be Me’ features footage from Campbell’s Goodbye Tour mixed with stories from artists and celebrities who know and love him, including Blake Shelton, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, Steve Martin, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Clinton, the Edge, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Webb and Jay Leno.

The documentary won the Gibson Music City/Music City Films Grand Jury Prize at the 2014 Nashville Film Festival, where it premiered. It was directed by James Keach and produced by Keach and Trevor Albert.

More information can be found at the film’s official site.

Glen Campbell Cancels Australian Dates

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Country music legend Glen Campbell is canceling his upcoming Australia and New Zealand tour with Kenny Rogers due to health reasons, the Associated Press reports.

A spokesperson for Campbell, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year and currently on his farewell tour, said isn’t up for “the very long flight that it would require.” The Australian shows would have been his last international stop. Campbell is still scheduled for U.S. dates
throughout the summer and into the fall.

Glen Campbell was a recipients of the GRAMMYs Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Awards and recently played the legendary Hollywood Bowl for his last concert in his home of Los Angeles

Here’s is campbell’s “A Better Place,” with a cameo from Queen of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures member Josh Homme.

Glen Campbell Looks Over His Legacy In “A Better Place” Video (feat/Josh Homme)

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“A Better Place,” the second video from Glen Campbell’s critically acclaimed album “Ghost On The Canvas” has premiered. The video features a special guest appearance from Joshua Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss, Them Crooked Vultures), and is directed by Kii Arens and Jason Trucco.

Legendary singer, picker, television star, Country Music Hall of Fame member and one-time session man for the Beach Boys, Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year and is currently supporting his final studio album “Ghost On The Canvas” (Surfdog Records) his “The Goodbye Tour” to say a fond thank you to his loyal and loving fans.

Joshua Homme comments on being featured in Glen Campbell’s latest (and possibly , last) video, recalls, “The video director, Kii Arens, is a friend and collaborator. He asked me outta the blue and I jumped at the chance. I believe his exact words where “Do you want to play the bartender from The Shining in the last Glen Campbell?” and mine were “Of course I do!” He continues, “I’m ecstatic. I’m humbled. I’m lucky. I’m honored. I’d have carried lights and cameras to do it.”

Like a generation, Homme home grew up with Campbell’s songs as a big part of his musical diet at home “”Rhinestone Cowboy” was already a huge hit, “Wichita Lineman” and his work with Anne Murray was being played around the house. It was just part of my soundtrack to being a kid at home. When I got a little older and into picking my own music, I realized Glen Campbell was in The Beach Boys, started hearing his earlier music and seeing the full scope of what an incredible guitar player and recording artist he was too. The amount of sessions and songs is incredible. He is a superstar of music. Between that and his TV show, I began to get a clue that being a musician is more than just playing an instrument.”

This farewell video features Campbell looking back at his life and career. He also sends a personal message to his wife, Kimberley, a former Radio City Music Hall dancer that the Rhinestone Cowboy met on a blind date in 1981. “My love goes out to Kim, my amazing grace. You’ve been by my side through these changing times, and it means the world to me.”

I got to briefly speak to Campbell after he picked up his Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award (his 8th GRAMMY) and he appeared to be in great spirits joking with the crowd and dotting over his lovely wife Kim Woollen. He then went on to perform at the official GRAMMYs show covering several of his best known hits and causing Paul McCartney to bob his and clap along. It makes sense that he too would be a fan. Here’s to a fine man and a lasting legacy.

Contest: Glen Campbell Expanded Meet Glen Campbell Giveaway

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One of the highlights of attending the GRAMMYs this year was meeting the country legend Glen Campbell after seeing him rewarded the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. I was also fortunate enough to see him perform on the telecast and see Paul McCartney jam to his Rhinestone Cowboy during rehearsals. So when I was approached by Capitol/EMI to give away two copies of the expanded version of 2008’s Meet Glen Campbell.

Campbell’s legendary music career that spans more than five decades and has achieved chart-topping, platinum-selling pop and country success singing everyday tales of life, love, work, and heartache.  He has been honored with five GRAMMY Awards and trophies for Male Vocalist Of The Year from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy Of Country Music (ACM).  In addition to being inducted into the CMA’s Hall Of Fame, he has been awarded its top Entertainer Of The Year honors, and the ACM has honored him with its prestigious Pioneer Award.

Recorded at The Recording Studio and Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles, Meet Glen Campbell was produced by Julian Raymond (Rosanne Cash, Fastball, Shawn Mullins, Wallflowers) with engineer/co-producer Howard Willing. The album features musical contributions by Campbell contemporaries as well as younger rock and alt-country artists who joined him in the studio, including Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. and Jason Faulkner from Jellyfish, and Chris Chaney from Jane’s Addiction. Campbell’s sons and daughters, who regularly perform with their father, recorded backing vocals for the tracks.

This expanded edition adds performances of Wichita Lineman” and “Rhinestone Cowboy,” and U2’s “All I Want Is You” from the “AOL Sessions” concert  as well as remixes of “Gentle On My Mind” and “Galveston.”(see the full playlist below)

It’s easy to enter to win; be over 18 and leave a comment below letting me know your favorite Glenn Campbell song. Two winners will be selected at random on Sunday the 19th, at 8pm PST, Be sure to leave your email or twitter handle and I’ll contact the winners. Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Glen Campbell Playlist

1.  Sing                                                   (Travis)
2.  Walls                                                 (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
3.  Angel Dream                                   (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
4.  Times Like These                            (Foo Fighters)
5.  These Days                                      (Jackson Browne)
6.  Sadly Beautiful                                 (The Replacements)
7.  All I Want Is You                               (U2)
8.  Jesus                                                 (Velvet Underground)
9.  Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)   (Green Day)
10. Grow Old With Me                            (John Lennon)

EXCLUSIVE BONUS TRACKS

11. Gentle On My Mind (2008 Remix)
12. Galveston (2008 Remix)
13. Wichita Lineman (AOL Sessions, 2008)
14. Rhinestone Cowboy (AOL Sessions, 2008)

Happy Labor Day – Top 10

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Labor Day originated in Canada from labor unions fighting for a nine-house work day. The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City as a result of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the US military and US Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike. With our current animosity toward all things union, Labor Day has become little more than a reason for a car sale and a three-day last gasp of Summer vacation. Kind of a drag when you realize that we are working harder and getting less now than generations past…

Here are the top 10 songs I believe celebrate the working person as the backbone of America.

1.  Work’in Man Blues –  Merle Haggard – Still a staple in Merle’s set list and a must have in all the best honky-tonks and beer joints across America.

2. Can’t Make it Here – James McMurtry  – In the recent economic downturn it’s become fashionable to pen songs about tough times for a quick buck. None come  even close to the gritty heart of McMurtry’s tale of hard times.

3. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton -This two Grammy Award winning crossover hit was the theme song to the hit film starring Parton, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman. Leave it to  Dolly to make cubicle drudgery sound so fun.

4. Take This Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck – Penned by David Allan Coe about the bitterness of a man who worked long and hard with no apparent reward.  The song was also covered by the Dead Kennedys on their album Bedtime for Democracy.

5. Maggie’s Farm -  Bob Dylan – Dyman made it popular but Maggie’s Farm has a much longer history that includes Lester Flat and Earl Scruggs.Though it has been documented that Maggie’s Farm was Dylan’s declaration of independence from the constructions put on him by the folk movement, it stands just as well as an oppressed employee leaving his thankless boss.

6.  Wichita Lineman – Glen Campbell – Written by by Jimmy Webb and famously covered by Glen Campbell While driving on a deserted highway in northern Oklahoma, Webb spotted a solitary lineman working high on a transmission cable and the idea for the lyric was born.  It has been referred to as ‘the first existential country song’.

7. Working Man – Hank Williams III – Shelton’s narration of the hard times and the endless struggle of blue collar work and his role in society and his family.

8. Dark as a Dungeon – Merle Travis -  Travis’ father was a coal miner in Muhlenberg County, Ky. and this classic song details the risks and drudgery of the work.

9.  Millworker – Emmylou Harris – Emmylou covers this James Taylor song in her signature sublime style.

10. John Henry – Woody Guthrie, Merle Travis, Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash, etc – The enduring American folk tale of man and machine.

Country and roots music has a long history of honoring and reflecting the dignity of work and the labor of Americans from all walks of life.  We celebrate this Labor Day, 2009  with a collection of songs as diverse and enduring as the people they celebrate.

Paul Westerberg Offers to Pen Songs For Glen Campbell

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  • According to the Guardian and Paste Magazine it appears that Paul Westerberg, former lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter of alt-rock band The Replacements, wants to be Glen Campbell’s “next Jimmy Webb.” Webb penned 70’s pop hits like “Up, Up, and Away” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” for Campbell. Those are reported to be the words Westerberg used when requesting his manager to make arrangements to write songs for Campbell’s upcoming album after discovering that Campbell covered the Minnesota band’s “Sadly Beautiful”on Campbell’s latest release Meet Glen Campbell.
  • With a long career as a cracker-jack guitarist and co-hosting the hit country variety show Hee Haw with his friend Buck Owens Roy Clark is not resting on his laurals and will be hitting the road with another old friend, Mel Tillis, for a string of upcoming tour dates.

Johnny Cash Folsom Prison Show Legacy Edition – 10/14

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  • Christmas is not too far away, and the perfect gift for your Country Music aficionado (ah hem) is the Johnny Cash Folsom Prison Show Deluxe Box Set. This Legacy Edition will feature a 2CD/1 DVD will feature the entire two Cash 1968 concerts from the California prison, totaling in 31 previously-unreleased tracks, including songs like “Blue Suede Shoes,” “I’m Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail,” “This Ole House” and even more duets with his wife June Carter Cash. The DVD contains footage from the shows, plus interviews with Merle Haggard, Roseanne Cash and inmates who witnessed Cash’s Folsom concerts. Also featured are liner notes penned by both Cash biographer Michael Streissguth, Steve Earle and Cash himself, which he wrote in 1999. Out October 14th via Columbia/Legacy.
  • The Prophets of Country Doom Those Poor Bastards new release “Satan Is Watching” will be available (fittingly) on October 31st. on CD and Vinyl.
  • Get over to ebay and buy up all the It Burns When I Pee goodies! Norma Jean’s panties aren’t going to be up there forever people!
  • And lastly a little video from the Americana Music Conference:

Glen Campbell – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6myTC0XdUQ[/youtube]