Customer Reviews

Very Best of Glen Campbell

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If you are not necessarily a country music fan, but are easily seduced (as was the entire country for decades) by the wonderful vocals and soaring melodies of Glen Campbell's pop hits, THIS is the collection for you. Along with the giant Jimmy Webb smash-hits (the sublime Wichita Lineman and By The Time I Get to Phoenix) this collection features other, less huge but no less effective hits, and takes you through the last big singles, including the slightly over the top Southern Nights and Rhinestone Cowboy. But this record is nearly impossible not to love, and is soooooooo easy to listen to, over and over again. Like all great pop songs, produced impeccably, these recordings simply do not age. I would recommend this album to anyone who loved the radio hits that "crossed over", but might not be eager to explore Glen's more bluegrassy, country roots. Exceptional pop music performed beautifully.

Glen Campbell has a large number of "Greatest Hit/Best of" collections available, but this album gives the best overview of his diverse talents.

The big five are here (Rhinestone Cowboy, Wichita Lineman, Galveston, Gentle on My Mind and By the Time I Get to Phoenix)but what makes this collection so good are the second-line hits that are included. Glen's tremendous vocal talents are apparent in the powerful "Hey, Little One". You can almost feel the genuine emotion he puts into the sadly profound "Where's the Playground Susie?" and the insightful lyrics of "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife." Also notable are his powerful interpretations of Dream Baby and It's Only Make Believe, alongwith the nearly disco beat sound of Southern Nights.

Most "Greatest Hits" albums give you two or three real hits and a handful of second rate efforts. The Best of Glen Campbell is a true recital of the artists very best material, one that you'll listen to again and again and again.

Like so many other recording artists who emerged in the 1960's Glen Campbells rise to fame and fortune was meteoric and quite unlikely. It is fair to say that Glen had been around the block a few times when in 1968 he was sort of "discovered" by the Smothers Brothers who were looking for a summer replacement for their highly successful CBS variety show. The nation fell in love with Glen and all of a sudden the network had a huge hit on its hands. "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" returned in January 1969 and Glen Campbell became a household name. But it wasn't always that way.
In the fall of 1961, Glen Campbell released the original version of "Turn Around, Look at Me" on the tiny Crest label. The tune was a local hit and made a small dent on the national charts. In the ensuing few years he would manage a couple of more minor hits and did some work with the Beach Boys. Then in 1967 he hooked up with songwriter John Hartford and recorded "Gentle On My Mind". Now people were beginning to pay attention. And the success of the television show paved the way for Glen Campbell to become a full-fledged star.
"The Very Best of Glen Campbell" features a total of 15 tracks from the years 1967 through 1977. It really was a remarkable run. Enjoy once again favorites such as "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston" and his wonderful duet with Bobbie Gentry "All I Have To Do Is Dream". I am also partial to some of his lesser known hits like "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife", "Where's The Playground Suzie" and most especially the highly uplifting "Try A Little Kindness" from 1969. In addition you will find Glen's two outstanding #1 hits from the 1970's "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Southern Nights"
But alas, this disc does have it's flaws. Originally released on CD in 1990, this collection is missing several tunes I would have liked to have seen included. Songs like "True Grit", "Honey Come Back" and "The Universal Soldier" are simply nowhere to be found. Add to that the total lack of any liner notes and this collection does leave something to be desired. However, I am very pleased to report that Capitol has appeared to rectify many of these shortcomings with the release of "Glen Campbell: All The Best" in 2003. For my money, that one is now the better buy.

A great recording of some of Glen's biggest hits and then some. Great singer! Great songs! Great album.

I listened to Glen Campbell as a child. I'm now over 40 and his songs (and this album) have really held up well. There's a special quality to his voice, and the songs, esp. those by Jimmy Webb, are beautiful and poignant without being saccharine. Campbell is underappreciated by critics.

I was living in Ft. Lauderdale when these songs came out. I can't forget the quality of his tone and range,plus he was new to me and he picked-up a new fan and that spilled over to my wife and three daughters. wonderfull voice and good selection of songs,glenn at his best.

The songs are the right ones but the recordings aren't. When buying the CD nowhere did I see that this was NOT a compilation of original recordings. Even on the CD it's hard to divine the origin of the tracks - but it appears that the tracks were re-recordings of Glen's standards. That said, the songs are done fine but if you're looking for that original sound you have to look elsewhere.

Excellent CD of Campbell's very best tunes, Just as the title says. I picked this one up just a Month ago at My local Record store, New and sealed, but it had been on the shelf forever, and is officially OOP. I intended to get the 2003 BEST Cd, but got scared off by reports here of lackluster sound quality...This CD is fine, sonically, though less dynamic than most remastered Cd's in 2005. But this has ALL the best Tunes, 15 quality cuts, I don't miss Universal Soldier or any of those minor Hits others complained were not here, and these ARE the original Hit versions, despite One reviewer's declaration to the contrary... good CD photo of Glen's Head in the Clouds; No Fat on this One....Eat it up!

One of the single greatest recordings in the history of country music! Brings back a lot of memories!

It's seems almost silly to review this CD - either you are intimately familiar with these songs or, "what planet have you been living on"? (Of course I'm speaking of the 'over 40' crowd here).

To start, "Wichita Lineman" has to be the greatest Country/Pop crossover song ever written. Jimmy Webb's amazing songwriting abilities are only amplified by Glen's never-overstated but powerful vocals. But whether it's "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "By the Time I Get To Phoenix" or "Gentle on My Mind" (OK, John Hartford wrote that one) doesn't really matter.....these songs are all giants in their own right - the fact that Glen recorded them all and made them what they are is only more amazing.

Everyone has different musical taste but I think it can be honestly stated that if you don't like these songs, something is wrong with your ear or your heart.