Adios
May 4, 2017 8:32 PM Subscribe
"After Glen Campbell's 2011 Alzheimer's diagnosis, which he followed with the Goodbye Tour and the documentary film I'll Be Me chronicling both, the performer returned to the recording studio one final time to leave family, friends and fans worldwide a remarkable gift. Adiós, the final studio album from the six-time Grammy winner, spotlights some of Campbell's favorite songs, most of which he had never recorded before. But rather than a collection of mere musical afterthoughts, the LP stands among Campbell's best – heartbreaking and imbued with poignancy, but sung with the same pure, sparkling vocals that are a distinguishing hallmark. Listen to the album's title track"
So I looked it up - he's 81. But his voice is still strong and clear. Very few singers that I'm aware of still sound that good at that age.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:27 PM on May 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:27 PM on May 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
beautiful
posted by growabrain at 9:32 PM on May 4, 2017
posted by growabrain at 9:32 PM on May 4, 2017
This made my day--thank you. I'm looking forward to the debut of Adios. It's an unexpected treat for me. I was very favorably impressed with the song and I much appreciate all the effort and talent involved in making the album.
posted by Silverstone at 10:18 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Silverstone at 10:18 PM on May 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure why, but I've always thought of Campbell as primarily a singer. I hadn't realized until lately what a guitar virtuoso he's been. Thanks for the bittersweet post, HuronBob.
posted by bryon at 1:14 AM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bryon at 1:14 AM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I grew up listening to the Glen Campbell Christmas Album every year and knew his other hits from the 70s and stuff. Holy crap his voice is really still basically exactly the same!
He was incredibly brave to begin to share his journey, and he's continued with grace and remarkable clarity to share it living in his ever-expanding eternal present.
This is a great track, thanks for posting!
posted by hippybear at 2:20 AM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
He was incredibly brave to begin to share his journey, and he's continued with grace and remarkable clarity to share it living in his ever-expanding eternal present.
This is a great track, thanks for posting!
posted by hippybear at 2:20 AM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
I hadn't realized until lately what a guitar virtuoso he's been.
He was a singing and instrument playing member of the Beach Boys for a while.
posted by hippybear at 2:23 AM on May 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
He was a singing and instrument playing member of the Beach Boys for a while.
posted by hippybear at 2:23 AM on May 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Always one of my absolute favorite Ronstadt renditions, so achingly beautiful, and her bell-like falsetto, and the Brian Wilson harmonies... but this was a wholly different presentation. Dare I say, to me it has a much more "male" characterization? I can picture him singing to himself as he settles his hat on his head and drives off in his pickup, after kissing her goodbye and realizing it was just not meant to be. A little regret, but hey, that's life, and she will always be gentle on his mind... That's a great song, and a great singer.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:01 AM on May 5, 2017
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:01 AM on May 5, 2017
what a guitar virtuoso
I remember some broadcast where they cut over early and caught him in the middle of doing a warm-up piece for the live audience: the Wiliam Tell Overture at blistering speed. Wow.
posted by Segundus at 4:50 AM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
I remember some broadcast where they cut over early and caught him in the middle of doing a warm-up piece for the live audience: the Wiliam Tell Overture at blistering speed. Wow.
posted by Segundus at 4:50 AM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wonder if his voice really needed as much autotune as they threw on it.
posted by emelenjr at 4:55 AM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by emelenjr at 4:55 AM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Saw him on the farewell tour, and it was pretty remarkable. During the stage business he was kind of out of it, and it seemed as though he had some cue cards for the lyrics. But the minute he started playing the guitar, he was all there, and he was strong as ever. I remember thinking that if you could bottle that somehow, you'd have an Alzheimer's cure.
posted by texorama at 5:03 AM on May 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by texorama at 5:03 AM on May 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
I wonder if his voice really needed as much autotune as they threw on it.
I don't hear it, but I don't trust my judgement. It sounds like Glen to me.
posted by allthinky at 6:48 AM on May 5, 2017
I don't hear it, but I don't trust my judgement. It sounds like Glen to me.
posted by allthinky at 6:48 AM on May 5, 2017
Gorgeous. And while I did detect a couple of autotune artifacts, I'd say it's 80% Glen at worst.
Dementia sucks.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 6:52 AM on May 5, 2017
Dementia sucks.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 6:52 AM on May 5, 2017
I hadn't realized until lately what a guitar virtuoso he's been.
He was a singing and instrument playing member of the Beach Boys for a while.
He was a member of the legendary Wrecking Crew before he went solo. He appears a few times in the fantastic documentary produced by Tommy Tedesco's son.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:37 AM on May 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
He was a singing and instrument playing member of the Beach Boys for a while.
He was a member of the legendary Wrecking Crew before he went solo. He appears a few times in the fantastic documentary produced by Tommy Tedesco's son.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:37 AM on May 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
+1 on The Wrecking Crew doc, it's great. Was on Netflix, not sure if it's still on there.
And speaking of Gentle on My Mind, and guitar virtuosity, listen to his solo on that clip. Wow. (And no pressure, just live on tv surrounded by country music legends, no biggie.)
posted by Bron at 7:55 AM on May 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
And speaking of Gentle on My Mind, and guitar virtuosity, listen to his solo on that clip. Wow. (And no pressure, just live on tv surrounded by country music legends, no biggie.)
posted by Bron at 7:55 AM on May 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Very few singers that I'm aware of still sound that good at that age
Check out Loretta Lynn's Full Circle from last year. She was 83 last year, and it sounds like she could have recorded it in the mid '70s.
posted by HighLife at 8:56 AM on May 5, 2017
Check out Loretta Lynn's Full Circle from last year. She was 83 last year, and it sounds like she could have recorded it in the mid '70s.
posted by HighLife at 8:56 AM on May 5, 2017
There are chunks of his Goodbye tour on Youtube to listen to for comparison, so... yeah, that vocal's been popdusted quite a bit. He has aged, of course he has, and nobody's voice escapes.
He still sounds fantastic on that tour, and is it a crime to give your final album a bit of a polish? It's a fine line to tread, and if he's happy with the results, if it's how he wants to say goodbye, then I'm not going to argue.
posted by Devonian at 9:10 AM on May 5, 2017
He still sounds fantastic on that tour, and is it a crime to give your final album a bit of a polish? It's a fine line to tread, and if he's happy with the results, if it's how he wants to say goodbye, then I'm not going to argue.
posted by Devonian at 9:10 AM on May 5, 2017
Musically speaking, Glen Campbell and songwriter Jimmy Webb were meant for each other.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 9:27 AM on May 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 9:27 AM on May 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Great post. I was struck by the meta-ness of the lyric in Adiós, "Our dreams of endless summer were just too grandiose". Endless Summer being a Beach Boys compilation album featuring Glen Campbell on guitar.
posted by DaddyNewt at 9:44 AM on May 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by DaddyNewt at 9:44 AM on May 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
I just... can't...right now or maybe even ever but I always liked Glen Campbell and I'm glad he was able to leave this gift for his family, friends, and fans. I never imagined what a devastating disease this is.
posted by Room 641-A at 2:15 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 2:15 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
a warm-up piece for the live audience: the Wiliam Tell Overture at blistering speed
And that, boys and girls, is how the Lone Ranger got his theme music...
posted by GeckoDundee at 3:24 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
And that, boys and girls, is how the Lone Ranger got his theme music...
posted by GeckoDundee at 3:24 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Check out Loretta Lynn's Full Circle from last year. She was 83 last year, and it sounds like she could have recorded it in the mid '70s.
Alas Loretta had a stroke a few days ago. Apparently she's alright and is expected to recover. But damn.
As a country music nut (and for a decade a pro country guitarist) I have nothing but respect for Glen Campbell's amazing musicianship as a player and songwriter, although I can't stand most of his popular solo material or the era of music he signifies ("Rhinestone Cowboy" was about the low point of countrypolitan overproduction and is unlistenable to today).
I was more interested to read about Tanya Tucker (holy hell that voice) trying for a comeback. Her career was in no small part derailed by her relationship with him (soaked in alcohol and drugs and domestic violence -- Campbell was a coke addict who OD'd freebasing a couple of times). Amusingly in a recent interview she said he was "the horniest man I ever met," and now at the end she isn't allowed to go see him, not that he would be likely to remember her.
But yeah Glen could pick the damn shit out of a Telecaster, in the same league as Vince Gill and Marty Stuart as singers who are really pickers' pickers.
posted by spitbull at 4:47 AM on May 6, 2017
Alas Loretta had a stroke a few days ago. Apparently she's alright and is expected to recover. But damn.
As a country music nut (and for a decade a pro country guitarist) I have nothing but respect for Glen Campbell's amazing musicianship as a player and songwriter, although I can't stand most of his popular solo material or the era of music he signifies ("Rhinestone Cowboy" was about the low point of countrypolitan overproduction and is unlistenable to today).
I was more interested to read about Tanya Tucker (holy hell that voice) trying for a comeback. Her career was in no small part derailed by her relationship with him (soaked in alcohol and drugs and domestic violence -- Campbell was a coke addict who OD'd freebasing a couple of times). Amusingly in a recent interview she said he was "the horniest man I ever met," and now at the end she isn't allowed to go see him, not that he would be likely to remember her.
But yeah Glen could pick the damn shit out of a Telecaster, in the same league as Vince Gill and Marty Stuart as singers who are really pickers' pickers.
posted by spitbull at 4:47 AM on May 6, 2017
And just circling back on the Beach Boys stand in for Brian Wilson, with a great BW track recorded by Campbell "Guess I'm Dumb".
posted by a non e mouse at 6:45 PM on May 6, 2017
posted by a non e mouse at 6:45 PM on May 6, 2017
« Older The world from above: history and tourism from a... | We all know this is nowhere. Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by she's not there at 9:10 PM on May 4, 2017 [3 favorites]