Glen Campbell Songs Ranked
Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor and television host. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television from 1969 until 1972. He released 64 albums in a career that spanned five decades, selling over 45 million records worldwide, including twelve gold albums, four platinum albums, and one double-platinum album. In 1967, Campbell won four Grammys in the country and pop categories. For “Gentle on My Mind”, he received two awards in country and western; “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” did the same in pop. Three of his early hits later won Grammy Hall of Fame Awards (2000, 2004, 2008), while Campbell himself won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. He owned trophies for Male Vocalist of the Year from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM), and took the CMA’s top award as 1968 Entertainer of the Year. Campbell played a supporting role in the film True Grit (1969), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. He also sang the title song, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Here are all of Glen Campbell songs ranked.
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10. Ghost On the Canvas (Ghost On the Canvas, 2011)
“Ghost on the Canvas” has a real spiritual quality to it. It is really an open book, where the author (Glen Campbell) takes you on a journey through his life. He doesn’t sugar coat his missteps or failings, but learns from them. I don’t know if I’ve heard a more spiritual or heartfelt album than “Ghost on the Canvas”.”
9. All I Have to Do Is Dream (Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell, 1968)
“This beautiful song became popular by The Everly Brothers, however I also love Glen Campbell’s version. Both versions are amazing anyway! Both vocals work well for this pre-Christmas of 1969. Not many cover versions of a song are better than the original, but this is an exception.”
8. Rhinestone Cowboy (Rhinestone Cowboy, 1975)
“Rhinestone Cowboy” was a particularly special song for Campbell, and it shows. It’s the story of a man of humble origins swallowed up by his own legend and fame, silently shouldering doubts that he can ever satisfy his public. He doesn’t quite know if he can ever please a swarm of people who don’t know his real character. Campbell takes that anxiety and puts it into one of his very best vocal deliveries ever.”
See more: Glen Campbell Albums Ranked
7. Try a Little Kindness (Try a Little Kindness, 1970)
“Glen was a prolific recording artist and this is one of the over 80 albums he recorded during his illustrious career. Try A Little Kindness is an album full of country, folk, and easy listening songs that you’ll remember and love for a life time.”
6. Galveston (Galveston, 1969)
“As with many of his other releases, Campbell had a wonderful ability to take songs with a lonely theme and make them just swoon with melody and verve. This is an excellent example. Campbell’s vocals are at full range : strong, smooth, and melodic at the same time.”
5. Gentle On My Mind (Gentle On My Mind, 1967)
“Glen Campbell had such a wonderful natural talent that he used with the help of his father and uncle to learn the special techniques that make his guitar playing so special. He learned to harmonize singing with his family and acquired the near perfect pitch that he enjoyed when signing alone or with anyone who could keep up.”
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4. By the Time I Get to Phoenix (By the Time I Get to Phoenix, 1967)
“The song tells a story, which you can visualize like a movie in your head as Glen Campbell sings it. Beautifully written by Jim Webb and beautifully performed by Campbell with just the right amount of pathos and (maybe?) regret. One of those records that you just can’t imagine anybody could sing any better. Isaac Hayes tried, but misfired. It’s Glen’s song forever.”
3. It’s Only Make Believe (The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album, 1970)
“A pretty straight cover of the old Conway Twitty hit, (where do these country singers get their names?), it affords Campbell the opportunity to show his vocal range as he goes up the scale in pursuit of his daydream , resolving itself satisfyingly in the delivery of the title phrase.”
2. Reason to Believe (Wichita Lineman, 1968)
“This is an amazing album from a great American singer. Sometimes poignant, sometimes angry, sometimes desperate, sometimes scared, the emotion Glen puts into these songs is real, never forced.”
1. Wichita Lineman (Wichita Lineman, 1968)
“A towering song, written and produced by Jim Webb with Glen Campbell this time as his amanuensis. A dissertation on love and loneliness, it moves to an altogether different level when the lines “And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time”, cut through the abstraction, as beautiful a description of love as you’ll ever hear.”