Customer Reviews

Rhinestone Cowboy: An Autobiography

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Glen Campbell has lived a very interesting life-some good and some bad. His autobiography does not hold back on either portion. From his impoverished Arkansas childhood through his many tumultuous marriages and country music superstardom to his regret-free faded status and ultimate peace, Glen lays it all on the (Wichita) line.

While he does not gloss over his own flaws, the dirty linen of some other players-most notably Tanya Tucker is likewise held up for all to see. Arguably, he should have been less open in revealing maligning details about her, but their relationship kept tabloid readers engrossed for years and it legitimately was a salient chapter in his life. Furthermore, he does not condemn Tanya despite attributing less than wholesome motivations to her interest in him. He seems very sincere when he writes of his one-time paramour "I'm inclined to pray for the woman with whom I shared a poisoned relationship. I have since found another love that offers not the threat of death but the promise of eternal life. I pray that Tanya might find that too."

As Glen experienced his twilight maturation, he achieved the rank of solid citizen. Becoming a Branson regular appropriately accentuates his embrace of Christianity and advocacy of traditional values. By spelling out his staunch opposition to abortion and opposing special rights for homosexuals, he takes some daring positions for a celebrity tell-all, but it is refreshing to see a performer courageously step out of rigid show biz boundaries.

One unintended drawback concerns some details of his childhood. Glen is to be commended for the tremendous respect he displays toward his parents and also for admitting his failures as a father to his older children-even accepting significant blame for his middle-aged son's drug problems. However, he relates some paternal behavior that shows his father possessed a cruel streak. From his laudatory portrayal it is easy to see that was not the image he wanted to present, and he would probably disagree with such an assessment. A more prudent tactic would have been to remain mum on some of these mean actions.

Overall, "Rhinestone Cowboy" is a well-orchestrated rendition of a child born into poor Southern Nights but who eventually went "riding out on a horse in a star-spangles rodeo."

I began reading this book thinking I knew all I wanted to know about Mr. Campbell. I closed the book feeling inspired. It took you through a range of ups and downs with the tumultuous life of this talented entertainer, but it also entertained with funny antidotes and happenings. I read it in my spare time over a 4 day period and sometimes found it hard to put it down. I highly recommend this autobiography.

The title of this autobiography takes it's title from Glen's 1975 number one hit, Rhinestone Cowboy. Many people consider "Rhinestone Cowboy" to be his comeback song.

Little do people know, Glen Campbell never left, he has persevered, played and sang his way into the hearts of his fans for over fifty years.

His newest album "Ghost on the Canvas", will be the last he ever releases. With his recent diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, Mr. Campbell is valiantly fighting it having embarked on his "Goodbye Tour" just this past week.

I have a great amount of admiration for Glen Campbell, he doesn't sugar coat his mistakes or try to pass the blame to others. He takes the place and grows from it, thereby allowing God to mold him into the man he wants him to be.

"Rhinestone Cowboy" traces Glen's life from his birth in 1936 to the mid 1990's, when he was sober, happy, and blessed by God and his family. Everyone knows the wild ride that has been Glen's life. From his wildly publicized relationship with Tanya Tucker to his battles with alcohol and drugs, Glen looks back with regret, but is quick to point out that he is no longer that person.

Many people have criticized this book for the final chapter. In the final chapter, Glen speaks politically on the issues that faced the nation at the time of the book's writing and still do today. Glen is an unabashed conservative, and as an American, he has the right to believe as he wishes.

I truly loved this book, from start to finish, Glen paints a broad picture of his life. He doesn't pull any punches and writes with total honesty. At the time of this writing, a documentary produced by James Keach on Mr. Campbell is in the works as well as a motion picture based on his life. Thank you Mr. Campbell for all the memories, and your honest approach to life in this wonderful book.

First, a little chronology.
This book was written in 1994. I just read it and am writing this review in 2009. That matters because it means I read it knowing about his 2003 arrest for extreme drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and assaulting a police officer.
The reason I say this book is "bizarre" is because unlike any other autobiography I've read, Glen Campbell spends most of it telling us what a thoroughly unlikeable, foul, mean, booze-and-coke-addled, selfish jerk he's been all his life, especially to his many wives, girlfriends and mistresses. (Begrudginly, I must actually praise him for the frankness with which he evaluates himself.)
But, it's okay, he assures us, because Jesus and a good woman have forgiven him, and straightened him out, and he knows that because Jesus is with him, he will never get drunk or stoned or be selfish or make bad choices again. (Jesus must have taken a sabbitical in 2003. Knowing about that event, you have to question his sincerety here.)
But even if you don't like the guy as a person, for the most part, this is still a really good read.
Glen Campbell is interesting to me because he's as fine a guitarist and vocalist as there is. And that short-lived TV show was darned good. But while a few of his musical works are spectacular ("Rhinestone," "Gentle," etc.) the vast majority of his music has been safe, boring, conservative establishment fare.
That's mostly explained by his desperation for material success, which comes through clearly, and is understandable given the terrible poverty of his childhood. Campbell also does a great job vividly describing the brutal and seedy world of the entertainment business.
The chapter on his stormy year with Tanya Tucker - and their non-stop cycle of drugs, sex and fighting (often simultaneously!) - is great fun.
And you can feel his deep sadness at the early death of his dear friend Roger Miller.
But the final chapter goes completely haywire. It's an angry right-wing rant about abortion, gay rights, and school prayer. He states that 98 percent or so of Americans agree with him (he knows this because of a survey taken by Pat Robertson!), and then makes the ludicrous statement that Rush Limbaugh is so successful... because of his fairness!
So given what he wrote in 1994, Campbell seems to be a mostly unhappy, self-centered jerk; and knowing what happened in 2003, something of a hypocrite.
Yet, except for that bizarre last chapter, he's written a darn good book.

RHINESTONE COWBOY is the biography of Glen Campbell written by Tom Carter.
This is more of an authorized biography as Mr.Campbell was the primary source. It's an honest self-assessment of Glen Campbell's mistakes and shortcomings.

The book begins with the Campbell family from Billtown, Arkansas.
They were a large,poor share-cropper family. His parents were a monumental influence on his life.

Glen Campbell's start in music was documented as well as his naivete and the instances where he was too trusting in his gigs.

The behind-the-scenes politics, writers, and general workings of both his own T.V. program and that of the Smothers Brothers Show was interesting.

Where he got some of his songs was another area of interest. He identifies the writer of Rhinestone Cowboy, one of his "career songs".

Mr. Campbell exposed his drug and alcohol addictions. He had a setback in 2003, so the road to recovery in the book wasn't final.
This book puts a human perspective on the country music star and his struggles.
RHINESTONE COWBOY is a book worth reading for any Glen Campbell fan.

This book was great. Glen does not beat around the bush he tells it all as it was!
He does not sugarcoat anything. He tells us about the drugs and how it took him down. he tells us about the women such as Tayna. He also tells us about Sara Davis and how she left her husband Mac Davis for him. And how bad that realtionship was. It is a book filled with the hard cold truth about fame and how it can tear you down if you get a big head like Glen did. I am Glad that Glen got back on track with his life. I wish now Mac Davis would write a book I am a Mac fan as well.

Campbell's book blows the lid off the glamour and aura that surround celebrities, revealing how decadent, arrogant and immature he and many of his fellow stars became, thanks to abuse of cocaine and alcohol. Naturally, Campbell's children paid the highest price. It is interesting to read how his parents never compromised on their values despite their poverty, yet he succumbed to substance abuse while having everything he'd ever dreamed of. His fast life certainly clashed with the timeless beauty of his music.

While he chronicles his personal decline, however, he never really discusses his professional decline. After "Southern Nights" hit No. 1, his Top 40 career went south, ironically just as other pop/country crossover artists like Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers and Eddie Rabbitt were beginning to take off. He remained a chart contender in country until about 1990. His efforts to keep selling records and open doors at radio would have been interesting to read. It would also have been interesting to know what, if anything, many of his most famous songs meant to him. The discography would have been more informative had it included dates and chart positions.

Campbell's excellent taste in music is evident in the classics he recorded during the late 60's and early 70's. But some of his most self-congratulatory moments in the book come when he gushes about his bagpipe rendition of "Amazing Grace" and his annoying habit of inviting various not-famous family members on stage to jam with him. Having witnessed these peculiarities in person, I can say that these are not the high points of his show.

This book will answer some questions and inspire those who have followed his career. Reading about his childhood is especially enlightening. But Gen-Xers like me who learned about him from hearing his oldies on the radio may prefer blissful ignorance about some aspects of his career. I didn't particularly need to know about his stints in Vegas or his memories of cornballs like the Smothers Brothers, Pat Paulsen and Buck Trent.