WICHITA LINEMAN
"Wichita Lineman" is a song written by American songwriter Jimmy Webb in 1968. It was first recorded by American country music artist Glen Campbell and widely covered by other artists. Campbell's version, which appeared on his 1968 album of the same name, reached #3 on the U.S. pop chart, remaining in the Top 100 for 15 weeks. In addition, the song also topped the American country music chart for two weeks, and the adult contemporary chart for six weeks. It was certified gold by the RIAA in January 1969. The song reached #7 in the UK. In Canada, the single also topped both the RPM national and country singles charts. (More from Wikipedia)
Glen Campbell handled the lead guitar on the first single by the Rip Chords, "Here I Stand". Most people know of Campbell's string of fine hits in the mid-1960's – "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Gentle on My Mind", "Galveston", and many more – but might not realize that he was one of the best session guitarists around for many years previously and had the most successful individual career among the loose aggregation of session players known as the Wrecking Crew Campbell recently embarked on a farewell tour after acknowledging that he is suffering from Alzheimer's.
(July 2011)
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His old friends from the Wrecking Crew lent a hand on several of his records; for instance (from Wikipedia): "[Carol Kaye] also came up with the famous intro on Glen Campbell's greatest hit 'Wichita Lineman'." I have collected numerous albums by Glen Campbell over the years, and they are all first-rate from beginning to end.
(February 2015)
