I’m a book blogger and a writer, but beneath those two items you might have noticed that I have a huge love of music of all genres. Despite a suburban upbringing, I have loved country music from a young age.
In the past month and a bit, two of my favorite country singers have passed, Glen Campbell and Don Williams. I don’t know why it’s true, but Glen Campbell’s “Gentle on My Mind” has always resonated with me. It’s a beautiful, restless, traveling tune that begs to be sung, and I do, frequently. I’m pretty sure I gave you the updated version by The Band Perry on one of my posts somewhere abouts. Here is the real deal:
Glen Campbell was a guitar prodigy at age 10. He played with famous musicians before he ever became famous. On Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night, Glen Campbell played rhythm guitar.
I heard a recording of Guns and Roses doing Wichita Lineman in tribute to Campbell and some woman said: “I don’t know what they’re playing.” I thought, oh, what you’ve been missing.
If you aren’t really a music aficionado, it may comes as a surprise to you that Glen Campbell was considered a great guitarist. The following video, near the end, shows you what he could do with a guitar.
Don Williams was perhaps one of the most unassuming of all country singers. He wrote songs and created great music, but he didn’t wear rhinestones or create country myths. He just sang really good songs. One of his best was “I Believe in You.” Probably one of country’s best love songs, although I know there are many who would disagree with me and suggest that his version of “Amanda” was better.
There is something genuinely wonderful when you listen to this song and hear its message that seems so lost in the current world. You could add so many things to his lyrics and know that he would sing them and mean them. His is a tolerant voice.
And, my favorite song of his, I actually added to one of my stories just a few months back, but here you go:
Both Glen Campbell and Don Williams have scores more songs that talk to the heart and soul of all of us, if we give them a listen.
“I still hear the soft southern wind in the live oak trees…”
“She’s waiting there for me…”
“I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time…”
“Amanda, the light of my life…”
9/10/2017
Sascha Darlington
I had the honour of meeting Glen Campbell once. He was on a visit to Dublin but in the early stages then of the dementia that killed him. He and his wife came into a pub I managed, to eat lunch. He was friendly and approachable, eager to discuss Irish musicians he admired and when I told him Charley Pride was a regular, he smiled and said I could add him to that list, too. Sadly, he never made it back.
He seemed like a regular guy. It’s nice to hear it confirmed. 🙂
“By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and True Grit. And that hair. Yep. He’ll remain ever gentle on my mind.
Oh, yes, True Grit. He was good in that!
I think there are musical periods in each of our lives, ones that reflect our change in past as we mature. But country for me stays firm. I once had an inkling for Fredy Fender, but I am one it now.
oh, what was that song….wasted days and wasted nights!
I like the older country. A lot of the newer country sounds too flashy to me, much like most pop music, glitter and no depth.