Customer Reviews

All the Best

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Folks, I agree that this CD doesn't "sound" like a CD. Yet it offers a priceless stroll down the lane we all remember as AM radio.

These are original recordings that were mixed down for AM airplay when AM ruled as a pop music medium.

Songs like "It's Only Make Believe", "Wichita Lineman", "Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife" (a beautiful waltz), "Try A Little Kindness", "Where's The Playground Susie", "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and many others round out this excellent collection of Glenn Campbell's glory days.

The original innocence of these songs shines through as it did many years ago. This album offers warmth and stereo sound that was lacking in most radio receivers of the day.

If you're looking for a decent Glenn Campbell collection that hasn't been redone, remixed, remastered nor ruined, this is the CD for you. We are very pleased with it.

I was anxious to get this album so asa to have most of Glen's music on one cd.Plus the fact that it is supposed to be remastered really hooked me. What a disappointment! The sound is terrible! How can it be worse than his GH CD from 1987.I bought Wichita Lineman Remastered from the same label "Capitol" and it sounded great. One reviewer called it thin and tinny but I would add and even worse is muffled. What a blunder. I'm out 20 bucks.

I wouldn't consider myself a fan of country music, and am probably not the best person to review this album because I'm not familiar enough with the genre to do it justice. That having been said, some of the biggest cross-over hits of the 60s and 70s are on this CD. Even if you only listen to the first seven tracks, Campbell's biggest hits, you'll have had your money's worth. It's great hearing these songs again, especially the under-rated "Rhinestone Cowboy." I might guess that if someone were more familiar with Campbell's career they might point out this CD is very skimpy on his music from the 80s and 90s. But if you're looking for the songs that made him famous, they're here.

I've been a great fan of Glen Campbell for many years and the song that I love the best is "Wichita Lineman."

Although the sound quality of the cd isn't perfect, I suspect it's a lot to do with the quality of the original source tapes which may have deteriorated too much. Saying that, I have heard a lot worse and even allegedly remastered cds that have sounded a lot worse e.g. "Sports" from Huey Lewis and the News. Sound quality aside which really isn't all that bad, the track selections are quite good except for one of my personal favourites that's not on this disc, Dylan's "If Not For You."

If you are looking for a cd that's more or less representative of the best that this artiste has done over his career that's not too expensive and is on one disc, this is probably it. I know that despite the sound limitations, I still enjoy listening to this disc that's destined to remain among my favourites for years to come.

Glen Campbell is now an under-appreciated talent, as his superstar - even mega-star - status was prime in the 60s and 70s. However, the songs he recorded, both as top session musician on others' recordings, and his own recordings as a singer, stand the test of time. I could wish the selection of songs included one I'd seen him perform on television - MacArthur's Park - and I could wish this CD compilation had the selections in chronological order to better appreciate the sophistication of the talent and the choices he made. One has to assume, like most compilation CDs, the song list order is not designed to feature the artist but to grab the attention of a casual shopper, who typically doesn't glance beyond the first 5 song listings. Therefore, the most famous 'classic' Glen Campbell's are represented, as is the distinctive mournful quality of his voice, a rather strong vocalist, probably underrated even at the time of his greatest fame. Unfortunately, one would wish the cover versions of other performers' classics - "Let It Be Me," for one - were more adventurous in the arrangement. A literal version doesn't serve anyone. I would have preferred a version of the song(s) as if Glen Campbell had never heard them done before and how he would have interpreted/arranged the song(s) to suit himself. Some people find Campbell's voice too "vanilla" but really he is the icing on the cake. With the strange lilting sadness in all his vocals, even the upbeat song classics like "Southern Nights," his voice is never icky sweet, but just right. In fact, can anyone really imagine any other singer doing justice to "Witchita Lineman" or "Galveston" with the mournful quality of his voice alone? Even though many of the arrangements of songs are too syrupy - elevator music, as it's known - Glen Campbell the vocalist is surely unique, and that attribute will stand the test of time. If you just want to have a single rather comprehensive disk on hand, of this artist, then this is the one to grab - that's the reason I bought it.

As others have noted, the songs on this CD are great... but the sound quality is a bit below par. Not that you can't enjoy the music anyway, but it may be annoying for true audiophiles.

I am 53 and have waited a long time for a good comprehensive collection of Glen Campbell. The music is timeless. I work in an office with young people (23-31 yrs). We take turns playing CD's. All of them said what a great CD this is and they request it regularly. It is one of my favorites. The music is first rate. The recording quality is mediocre; which is why I gave it four stars instead of five. Nevertheless, the music sounds as good or better than when it was recorded 30 years ago.

This album is well worth the purchase price due to the integrity of the lyrics. The music is a bit dippy in some of the pieces, including Witchita Lineman, but all the favorites included on this disc are well worth the time to listen to and enjoy. No matter what you think of Campbell, this soup is good food. :-)

Glen Campbell is an American Folk Hero. His list of hits makes for a familiar and altogether pleasant litany - Gentle On My Mind, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, Galveston, Rhinestone Cowboy, etc, etc. Hear them all on this definitive package.


Reviewer #1 -- Did The Thought Police brainwash you into believing these are anti-feminist songs ? PC relativism...bah.

I bought this knowing full well I was taking a chance going by other reviews but wanted it anyway because it does have the best selection of any single Glen Campbell compilation. After listening to it I now understand what all the criticism is all about-the sound quality is not what I expected. In this day and age there is NO excuse for a mediocre-sounding CD and this one definitely is. The liner notes say that it is remastered by some joker but it seems that little care was given in the remastering process. It is truly an amateurish job. Don't get me wrong-this is NOT a terrible-sounding recording. In fact, 15 years ago this would have sounded just fine, but this is a 2003 issued CD, and it should sound better than this.