Glen Campbell Albums (59)
'The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 10
Label Capitol
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What The Critics Say
A spin-off of the TV show of the same name, this album is a nice representation of what Campbell was about at the time. In addition to the hit on the album (the cover of Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe"), he dips into the Jimmy Webb songbook for two of the tracks. ~ Jim Worbois, All Music Guide
'Try a Little Kindness'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 12
Label Capitol
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'It's Just a Matter of Time'
Release Date 12/6/2005
Tracks 10
Label Atlantic
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'The Real Men of Country'
Release Date 9/28/2004
Tracks 20
Label Platinum Disc
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What The Critics Say
After nearly two decades as a staple of the Capitol Records roster, Glen Campbell jumped ship to the Atlantic America imprint. Released in 1982, Old Home Town -- his first of three projects for the label -- is very much a reflection of the burgeoning MOR countrypolitan style that was taking over the genre. As the name intimates, Old Home Town is a reunion of sorts. Campbell is joined behind the scenes by producer Jerry Fuller, who was a fellow bandmate in the surf-rock guitar group the Champs. The selections recall the style and substance of his earlier LPs. Among them are some familiar names, primarily a trio of well-known singer/songwriters. Jimmy Webb supplies the lovely waltz-time ballad "I Was Too Busy Loving You," while David Pomeranz's affective and winsome "Old Home Town" was chosen as the title and the album's leadoff track. Campbell's take of the Paris Sisters hit "I Love How You Love Me" is refreshingly modern, with an arrangement that allows Campbell the opportunity to dust off his sturdy yet angelic falsetto. However, it is the inspired update of Paul McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre" that stands out from the rest. Campbell's earnest vocals draw upon his skills as an effective interpreter of sacred songs. Additionally, the multi-instrumentalist shows off a hidden talent for the bagpipes. Yes, the bagpipes. To a certain degree, the bluesy "On the Wings of My Victory" is infused with a soul-filled gospel flavor that few other country & western artists could genuinely replicate. Speaking of, "Blues (My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me)" has a jazzy ragtime feel that almost summons the style of Django Reinhardt's work with the Quintette du Hot Club de France. Comparatively harder driving is "A Few Good Men," one of two tunes contributed by Joe Rainey, who is arguably best known for the rural slice of life "I Love My Truck" -- which Campbell had actually covered several years earlier. Some purists considered this phase of Campbell's career as more water-treading than groundbreaking and his pop leanings no substitute for the earthier fare of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and the so-called "outlaw" contingency. However, in reality Campbell was simply maintaining an approach that had garnered him attention for the past 20 years. The trend would continue on his 1983 follow-up, Letter to Home, as Campbell headed away from Nashville West in favor of the real thing. He landed in Music City U.S.A. supported by a star-studded cast that boasted down-home participation from David Briggs (keyboards), Jerry Douglas (Dobro), and Emmylou Harris (vocals). ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
'A Glen Campbell Christmas'
Release Date 1/1/1999
Tracks 11
Label Unison/TNN Classic Sessions
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What The Critics Say
The best of Campbell's early albums, and also his first real commercial success. Ironically, the title track (written by John Hartford) which started Campbell on the road to stardom, was never intended for release -- he had submitted it as a demo, and Capitol issued it, to everybody's profit. Campbell's cover of "Catch the Wind" is one of the finest covers of a Donovan song ever done, stripping away any hint of the composer's sub-Dylan pretensions and bringing out the song's genuine beauty -- it's folk-pop, in the same manner that Peter, Paul and Mary's cover of Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" was, but excellent folk-pop. This is Campbell's folksiest album, albeit with string orchestra accompaniment, as he covers "Bowling Green," "Mary in the Morning," and the title tune, and you get to hear him do a solo guitar and voice number, his own "Just Another Man." Even the most overproduced stuff here, "You're My World" and Rod McKuen's "The World I Used to Know," come off well, and Campbell is in excellent voice throughout, most especially on a wonderfully restrained and beautiful rendition of Roy Orbison's "Crying." Gentle On My Mind was reissued in August of 2001 as part of Capitol-Nashville's "Cornerstones" series, in an upgraded, remastered edition with crisper sound than the 1996 Capitol CD. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
