THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

197-Glen Campbell-Rhinestone Cowboy

1975-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.53. Some artists who have made the wearing of Rhinestones on their stage attire famous include Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond and Liberace, although of course Neil Diamond felt much more comfortable in blue jeans.

Glen Travis Campbell (see also best songs 846) was born on April 22nd, 1936, in Billstown, Arkansas, United States. In 2010 Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and became a patient at a long term care and treatment facility in 2014, he died on August 8th, 2017, at the age of 81.

Glen Campbell began his professional musical career in 1960 as a session musician in Los Angeles, playing with a group of studio musicians who would later become collectively known as ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ (see also best songs 978-846-811-744-672-660-527-486-262- 202-197-192-180-127 and 71)) Campbell played on hundreds of recordings, including the Beach Boys 1966 classic Album ‘Pet Sounds,’ where he played the guitar, and Banjo. Campbell also had his own television show on ‘CBS,’The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,’ between 1969-1972. He made 11 appearances in films between 1965-1997, most notably playing the character ‘Le Boeuf’ in the 1969 movie ‘True Grit’ starring John Wayne. Glen Campbell released 60 studio Albums between 1962-2018, and 115 singles between 1958-2017, with 21 of those songs reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles chart, with two of those tracks making the Number 1 spot. In the UK eight of his singles have made the top 40, with three of those songs reaching Number 4, in total Glen Campbell has sold in excess of 45 million records. The legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb (see also best songs 846-119 and 1) on Campbell’s death said about him,’Any guitar player in the world, from George Benson to Eric Clapton,’ added that Paul McCartney considered him among the best guitar players. “People will realise what an extraordinary genius Glen really was,’

Glen Campbell first heard ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ playing on the radio while he was touring in Australia. He identified with the songs subject matter, decided to learn it, and on his return to the United States he approached his record label ‘Capital’ and told them of ‘A great new song.’ The song he had heard on the radio was written and performed by the singer/songwriter Larry Weiss whose version had made very little commercial impact. The song is about a Country singer struggling to make it big, and it reflected Weiss striving to make it in a singing career. Campbell could also relate to the songs lyrics as his hits had dried up, with him not having a top 10 single since 1970.

Although Larry Weiss failed in his bid to be a famous singer he nevertheless had great success as a songwriter, with other notable successes being the co-writing with Scott English (1937-2018) of ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining,’ becoming a hit when recorded by Jeff Beck, and ‘Bend Me, Shape Me,’ a hit for both ‘The American Breed,’ and ‘Amen Corner.’

I’ve been walkin’ these streets so long, singin’ the same old song, I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway. Where hustle’s the name of the game, and nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain.’