My favorite Jimmy Webb composition is sung beautifully here by Glen Campbell in its television debut.
When as a teen the Oklahoma-bred Webb told his father he was striking out on his own to be a songwriter, his father said, "This songwriting thing is going to break your heart." Happily it turned out the Grammy-laden Webb was the one to do all the heart breaking with his lovely lyrics:
That is still a badass song.
Posted by: csason at March 6, 2008 05:03 AMI was a kid when that was a radio hit. Something haunting about it. I later worked at an aging AM radio station that played lots of songs with a similar vibe. It's even more moving at 4 a.m.
Can't put my finger on it, but those songs do something to me.
"Yesterday" by Roy Clark is another. Totally unrelated, except in my mind.
I was a fighter on Realm of Magic
And I spilled of lot of blood
Killing giant orcs on a distant German MUD
I chase your shade through the hallways
I leave your carcasse supine
And this 50th level fighter
Is still online
Geez, James, you know it's going on 15 years since we met in Midgaard? Heh.
I remember the Shayla song you wrote for me. Wish I still had it. That was about 6 hard drives ago.
"Shayla worked in a library
Shelf reading History
She knew her numbers
One day she gets her final pay and she goes far away"
That's all I can remember. Did it go on longer (my version, not Blondie's)?
I always like Jimmy Webb songs. I'm always partly surprised when I find another one is his--partly not because he writes melodies I like, but partly because he has such range. It amazes me that the same man wrote "Highwayman," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."
Posted by: James at March 7, 2008 12:26 PMI met Glen once. He is a very good guitar player..I noticed in this video he must have insisted on playing that 'Cashesque' baritone break..the Jazzmaster (I think..or a custom Mustang) doesn't fit in with the acoustic line I have heard him play.
He and Kenny Rogers did a show in Lakeland around 1986, and he was in the pro shop of Wedgewood golf
course the next morning..lucky me, I happened to bump into him. He was very amiable, unlike Kenny
who for the record, was a complete ass.
1986..that was around his Tanya Tucker times (?)
Glen may have been "on the line" then.
Not sure about Tanya..actually I think this was 'Beyond Tanya' days..but you would hardly recognize
Glen or Jerkoff without makeup..totally different people.
Lesson: The high life is costly..very costly.
Posted by: csason at March 8, 2008 09:26 PMGod, he was such a stud. Who could SING! I was madly in love with him until I saw Johnny Hartford. GAH-rrrowl.
Posted by: panhandle cooter at March 13, 2008 12:02 PM