First time hearing GLEN CAMPBELL play 'Wichita Lineman'

[@ltaylor770]

True story. About 25 years ago I was visiting my sister in Branson Missouri and she asked me and my other sister to put on a little concert at her church. It was a tiny country church with a gravel driveway and while we were in the parking lot getting ready to go inside a black Cadillac pulled up and my sister said, “Oh my God, that’s Glenn Campbell”. In shock, we went into the church with maybe 50 other people and Glenn sat on the back row with his sunglasses on. It was a great service, and when it was over Glenn came up and talked to us. He said he was in town to do a show and wanted to go to church and stopped at the first one he came across. He complemented us on our singing and asked which show in Branson we were in. We told him we were simple church musicians and he said it was some of the best singing he had ever heard. That such a famous entertainer would not only go to a little country church but also go out of his way to complement us shows what a wonderful person he was.

[@wendyryder2708]

What a beautiful memory!

[@anitapeludat256]

That gave me goosebumps. What a story!! And memory for you. !!

[@ronaldokeefe9176]

Thanks for a great story!!!🙏❤️😎

[@aprilstewart5929]

My comment: "simple church musicians" are some of the most accomplished musicians I've ever seen. And yeah; I've never heard a bad word about Glenn Campbell.

[@ltaylor770]

@@aprilstewart5929 as a Minister of Music for over 40 years I would agree! I’ve worked with countless singers and instrumentalists over the years whose dedication and love of music I’d put up against anyone.

[@mindfulbynature3418]

My dad was a lineman when I was a little girl & this song always makes me cry. 😢

[@fredselbman3319]

My Dad was as well !

[@docdurdin]

Dave, A lineman works the power lines keeping the electric flowing. Wichita is a city in the State of Kansas, USA. Brings tears to my eyes watching a legend we all loved, now gone. Glen was a session player who played on the most important recording sessions of the 60's and 70's and toured with the Beach Boys before his breakout as a singer soloist.

[@alpenglow4243]

Following the lyrics, this lineman is working on telephone lines and hearing the electrical impulses from people using the telephone.

[@kristinechristlieb1383]

My father was a lineman for Southwestern Bell in the 1950s. He climbed telephone poles and repaired telephone lines. He worked out of Springfield, Missouri, cultural genre very similar to Wichita, KS and just up the road from Branson, Missouri, see above comment. I always thought my dad was very brave. Loved the way he wore his leather tool belt on his hip. WWII Marine Raider. Norman Rockwell did a painting of a lineman.

[@Slyguy96]

@@alpenglow4243 Both are called Linemen

[@TexanUSMC8089]

@@alpenglow4243 He hears the wind in the wire. IT's Kansas and gets windy. He's an electrical lineman.

[@helnopeno]

We appreciate the great musical artists from the past much more than when they were alive. I too tear up when I hear Glenn Campbell. He is a legend and is missed.

[@coloradolover5343]

I played this at my dads funeral. He was a lineman in Kansas, as is Wichita 🥰

[@LTMcG]

OMG - what a tribute ❤

[@LiveFreeAndBeHappy]

Bless his soul. What a legacy!

[@nancycurtis488]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Nancy, 77, who misses her daddy too.

[@dontworrybehappy8080]

That would be a must.

[@richardhooser5096]

That is so awesome. Your dad would have loved that.

[@Robbob9933]

In this sense, a "lineman" is someone who works for the electric utility who maintain and repairs the power lines. The character in this song is in Kansas, one of the rural states

[@DaveWildheart]

Yeah definitely didn't catch on to that one.

[@EgbertWilliams]

Ergo, if it rains, he'd get a "small vacation," but if there's heavy snow, he'll be very busy because that could collapse some of the lines.

[@katrinaprescott5911]

​@@DaveWildheartAn interesting aspect to this song is that he sings about the whine of high tension wires (I can hear you singing in the wire) and the high pitched notes after he says, "is still on the line" is intended to bring that to mind. In the original recording it is much stronger.

[@michlkwitz]

@@katrinaprescott5911 plus this version seems slower to me. And he's playing with the melody which is throwing it off for me a bit.

[@sylvanaire]

@@katrinaprescott5911I don’t think I ever put that together before I started listening to reaction videos to this song, but I can absolutely hear the whine of the wires in that section now that I’m paying attention. 👍👍😄

[@SteffiReitsch]

Campbell was self taught and never learned to read music , yet worked as a professional studio musician, playing only by ear. He was so good they'd just tell him how they wanted it to sound and he'd do it, putting his own spin on it. He was a natural.

[@70sruleforever37]

He was more than a natural. He was a gift.

[@daventunes3822]

The one-note-repeated motif is meant to suggest the signal sent down the telephone/telegraph lines.

[@GoodieJoy-hh9uc]

Kind of like a telegraph sound, very cool effect!

[@bobbys4327]

The sound was actually made by a keyboard that the song writer Jimmy Webb owned. Jimmy Webb wrote many of Glen's songs. Jimmy also wrote McCarther Park.

[@JoaninFlorida]

God bless the linemen who are here in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Helena. Thank ypu!!!!

[@NC-Mama-Bear]

@@JoaninFlorida Yes!

[@KarenOCallaghan-u5o]

Good luck with Milton

[@amandagish5976]

Thank God for the linemen who rescue us all.

[@ncwoodworker]

And western NC too.

[@psychokitty7268]

Greetings from Palm City, Florida. I love them too.

[@johnplatter6964]

Jimmy Webb one of the greatest songwriters of all time said he saw a lonely telephone lineman working up on a telephone pole off in the distance as he was driving through Kansas on a gloomy gray winter day and wondered what he was thinking. It made him realize that ordinary people have extraordinary dreams. This is one of the greatest songs ever written. "I need you more than want you". Jimmy presented it to Glenn not thinking much of it and it was unfinished lacking a final verse. Later they spoke and Glenn told him he liked the song. Jimmy was shocked and asked what he wanted to do with the missing part. Glenn responded that he just added a guitar solo and the rest is history. It's a haunting song and an absolute classic!

[@hoosierdaddy5050]

“and I need more than I Want You, And i want you for All Time” This is one of the greatest, most beautiful most sincere lyrics of all time. Fantastic of you to notice it !

[@StevenJones-l5r]

Jimmy Webb wrote this song.

[@nielgregory108]

He is only considered one of, if not, THE best studio guitarist.

[@deejohnson4793]

He and Roy Clark!

[@AlexLightGiver]

James Burton. 900 LPs

[@lindawick455]

Wrecking crew

[@Jon-uc6nw]

And he toured as a Beach Boy early on

[@belvagurr403]

Glen died from Alzheimer’s in 2017. Released 64 albums over 50 years, sold 45 million records. Known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

[@CC-gd9wl]

You MUST listen to the studio version with all the beautiful violins.

[@Polyphemus47]

And the lyrics 'as written'. Jimmy Webb is also a virtuoso with words and melodies, in my opinion. The two together are a perfect combination.

[@Sommiel]

There is a video of him doing it on his 60s variety show. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3mpdKh4gaadjtEsi=AazA7tUsnQC0guVB

[@Jkaterchannel]

And the baritone guitar…

[@pamstuckey8349]

YES!

[@llschnitz]

Written by the great Jimmy Webb who has a whole bunch of top ten hits.

[@serenade4739]

I think Jimmy is playing piano in this clip. Take a look!

[@dianevolpe1943]

Greatest one line ever written in a pop song. And I need you more than want you…

[@sarahhornor3989]

@@dianevolpe1943 I agree - with the addition of "and I need you for all time". Most romantic sentence ever written in a song! Just a shame, Jimmy Webb was dating jailbait at the time. She was a 12-year-old model for Yardley Cosmetics that he would marry a few years later and have kids with. Sorry if I burst your bubble but I was bummed when I found out about this upsetting fact. He was 10 years older than her. P.S. They divorced later.

[@MarkJohnson-zy4fd]

A genius Glen Campbell singing and playing a song written by a genius, Jimmy Webb.

[@lauriebox9034]

First time here. This takes me back. 1968, I’m 17 wondering where the world is going, esp with Vietnam raging, the Draft scaring all the young men to pieces. Then over my AM radio comes the clear poignant tenor voice of Glen Campbell. It was calming, sincere and oh so romantic. My young self fell hard for the man, the music and I still miss him. The song was written by the great Jimmy Webb as so many other Campbell songs. So much more to choose from! Thanks for the late night of remembering! tenor

[@DaveWildheart]

That was a lovely comment. Thank you!

[@debbienorris7307]

I love Glenn Campbell, no matter what he sings/plays. A true entertainer. Thx for reacting

[@jaredjones6292]

When I was a child, my mother bought me a small play guitar and it just so happened that the Glen Campbell show premiered that night. From that day forward I'd entertain my friends by grabbing my guitar and say "Hi...I'm Glen Campbell." He inspired me for many more years. Then later in life I had the privileged of taking care of my mother after she was diagnosed with Ahlzhimer, the two of us watched a documentary about Glen about him getting the same diagnosis. I'm told he barely knew anyone around him but would still get up and entertain people with his music, not missing a beat, and did so until close to the end of his life. Just like my mother, who didn't know me from Adam, but still showing the same love as she had from the very beginning.

[@sandramoore]

You should listen to the original record. Glenn was a member of the legendary group of LA session musicians The Wrecking Crew. Before he became a star, he played on scores of hits for Phil Spector, the Beach Boys. the Mamas and the Papas. This was nowhere near his best performance of Wichata Lineman.

[@RandyHall324]

Agree about the original, although on this video, we do get to see him shred a bit. Dude was a magician with a guitar, and the original, while brilliant, doesn't show that off at all.

[@rockitflash]

You need to listen to the original 1968 studio version. It has a lush arrangement that really sets the mood for the lyrics.

[@Mrs.Patriot]

Wasn't he in the Eagles for a short time?

[@MrEdwinhardesty]

@@Mrs.Patriot, I think the Beach Boys.

[@Mrs.Patriot]

@@MrEdwinhardesty Oh yes! Thanks! At any rate, one of the GREATS!

[@ericporter1255]

Someone once asked Eddie Van Halen what it was like being the greatest guitar player. He said," I dont know. Ask Glen Campbell"

[@marshastapleton1148]

This is how I heard it: Someone once asked Eric Clapton what it was like being the greatest guitar player. He said, "I don't know. Ask Prince."

[@duhB0MB]

it was Roy Clark but Glen is just as good

[@user-mg5mv2tn8q]

It was Jimi Hendrix, who said "Ask Terry Kath."

[@austexpilot1]

That’s the most cliche post ever! 😂 Who REALLY said that? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@pigpenclymer6098]

Yeah Eddie never said that about Glen, he never even mentions him as an influence.

[@timjb19621]

Campbell started as a session musician and played guitar on hits by Elvis, The Righteous Brothers, The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Jan and Dean, and Ricky Nelson. One of his very best friends and frequent golf partners was Alice Cooper. He was a very nice man and great musician.

[@DaveWildheart]

Ahh well that explains why he is so damn good.

[@piedmontish]

According to Cooper (has been repeated by others) Eddy Van Halen called Cooper and asked if he could arrange a guitar lesson for him

[@mr.knowitall6440]

I thought it was interesting that he's playing a Mosrite guitar here, harkening back to his surf music sessions. 😎

[@rebeccamcvey8600]

Glen was a member of The Wrecking Crew, a collection of studio musicians. They have a documentary about them and there is also one about the studio in Muscle Shoales in Alabama.

[@jeffbrowning4684]

Not bad for a self-taught guitar player who never learned to read music.

[@astroteech]

I was 11 years old when this song came out, and I loved it then, and I love it even more today. What an underated musician. He had a TV variety show about then, and it was great. RIP Glen.

[@safromnc8616]

One of the absolute greatest pickers in any genre.

[@brentharker7868]

The song is a beautiful love song about a man who works for a power company maintaining the power grid. He's lamenting he can't spend time in the company of the true love because duty calls. God bless these heroes!

[@dennydowling2169]

Prettyy sure the lnes atare telephpn lind, no power lines.

[@brentharker7868]

@@dennydowling2169 Great catch!. I had no idea about these power-free telephone lines. Please elaborate. Prettyy sure your spellll check is on the fritz. Mayybe it's those pesky powerlines interferinnng.

[@dennydowling2169]

@ these lines existed before homes were wired for electricity. The telephone preceded inhome electricity by a decade or more. Some were originally strung for the telegraph system. They were not power-free they carried a low voltage charge needed for things like making the bell ring when a call was coming in.

[@brentharker7868]

@@dennydowling2169 Be that as it may. I still don't understand what your quibble is. Lower voltage telephone lines would be be a subset of power lines wouldn't they? The larger the voltage the more likely wires would "sing". wouldn't they?

[@dennydowling2169]

@thesis section wouldn’t make much sense for power lines: I hear you singing in the wire. I can hear you thru the whine And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line.

[@davidgreer4615]

a lineman is the person that works the "lines" (power lines, telephone lines, etc). they're the front line when storms come.

[@DaveWildheart]

Man, I was so far off

[@louiseasmith1336]

Mandatory Overtime.

[@punkydoodle4774]

I have two nephews who are linemen.

[@blippacg]

Wichita as in Wichita, Kansas. So the Wichita lineman worked power lines in Kansas. Tough work.

[@badmother7615]

My son is a lineman in Michigan. I didn’t really think about it as a profession until he decided at 11 years old to become one. This is actually their vocational anthem. They all sing it when they’re drunk (a lot) and at important occasions.

[@joanneramsey7723]

Its a beautiful classic. Glenn is a national treasure

[@thewindle]

Check out him doing The William Tell Overture on a 12 string, won't disappoint. Also have you checked out Roy Clark or Jerry Reed? Again, they won't disappoint.

[@AcmeRacing]

There are a few YT videos of Roy Clark playing Malaguena blindingly fast, and one where he's playing multiple different stringed instruments in succession while making faces and doing comedy. Roy was amazing.

[@roniboyd613]

The William Tell Overture is 🔥 I hope it's being reacted to in the very near future ❤

[@jeffking4176]

William Tell Overture by Glen Campbell is a MUST ‼️‼️ 📻🙂

[@reneeeiier4818]

My favorite is he and Roy Clark doing an instrumental Ghost Riders in the Sky

[@larryblaich4347]

Check that one out for sure. He plays a 12 string and shreds it. One of the greatest guitarists there ever was.

[@Jeff-m5x3j]

4:48 This is, in my opinion, the most romantic line ever written. “And I need you more than want you. And I want you for all time.” Songwriter, Jimmy Webb is truly a master.

[@davidgreer4615]

austin city limits is a premier live music venue. anyone who's anyone aspires to play there. it's been going strong since the seventies and is still going today.

[@peterwilson8039]

It was originally intended to show off the local talent, but nowadays they bring in top acts, often from a few years back. Sometimes it's really good country talent that has yet to hit the mainstream. As you'd expect, for a show based in Austin, they bring in really good acts from what I think of as alt-country - such as Townes van Zandt, and Guy Clark. You might even consider Steve Earle in the same category.

[@connielynn195]

Austin City Limits is in it's 45 season (longest running music show in the US) and is aired weekly on PBS (Public Broadcasting System).

[@janielong5037]

@@peterwilson8039I think Willie started Austin City Limits

[@debzvideos]

I recommend you listen to his songs "Galveston" & "By the Time I Get to Phoenix". I think "Wichita Lineman" was probably his first big hit & it crossed over into the pop charts & was played on ALL the radio stations back in 1968 when this song was released. It's my favorite song of his. I wish it was a longer song. The orchestration is just over the top on the studio version of the song which is the best one, I think.

[@kenrobins6262]

You should see the video of Glen doing "Gentle on My Mind". (The version that says "terrific guitar break".) He sings 2 verses then says "I'll play one", and plays a great solo. He's sitting among greats like Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Willie Nelson, etc. and they're all impressed! Besides the Wrecking Crew, there was a time when he toured with The Beach Boys.

[@redbirdjazzz]

Anything from that TV show is worth a look. Willie Nelson does a fantastic version of "Funny How Time Slips Away" on it, and Kris Kristofferson does "Why Me, Lord?" also.

[@RockandRollWoman]

Gentle on my Mind is a John Hartford tune, and his steamboat / banjo / Americana stuff is worth a deep dive.

[@kyle381000]

Great suggestion. I have enjoyed that video many times. It would make for a terrific reaction.

[@JohnKlassen-l6e]

My Dad learned electrical power line work in Wichita, Kansas. His brother in Law was the line foreman. That sound is an imitation of the wind blowing through the wires when you up on the top of the pole.

[@derbyd10]

He’s also playing a Mosrite Baritone guitar. A member of the world famous “Wrecking Crew” LA’s top session players. Look them up. Glen was a monster talent

[@DaveWildheart]

Seems like it!

[@bluebird1239]

@@DaveWildheart There is a documentary film called THE WRECKING CREW (2008), about Glen Campbell and the many other studio musicians that played on many of the original recordings of hit songs. It is worth a watch.

[@FarenCole]

According to his close friend Alice Cooper, EVH (thru AC) requested a lesson from Glen.

[@derbyd10]

@@FarenCole I heard Eddie talk about lessons from Glen

[@snowysnowyriver]

Glen Campbell has been acknowledged as the finest guitarist in music of any genre. He could also play several other instruments including the bagpipes. He started playing guitar at 4 years old and was playing on local radio stations by the time he was 6 years old, and writing his own music. In addition to his phenomenal music career, he was also an actor. He had his demons and faults, but he rightly deserves the title of Legend.

[@guacamolekid3899]

I got to meet Glenn Campbel and a conversation with him at the Illinois State Fair, a long time ago. He's just as cool as he seems on TV. Nicest guy you'd ever want to meet.

[@DaveWildheart]

Ahh that sounds so cool

[@thomastimlin1724]

You're the lucky one!

[@crmlcd]

I first met Glen Campbell when he moved to Albuquerque to play in his Uncle’s band, Dick Bills and The Sandia Mountain Boys. We knew his uncle Dick and aunt Judy.

[@cluny]

visiting my sister in Paradise Valley AZ, it was sundown, time to walk the dogs. We drove half a mile to the fairway, no streets, just grass and mansions on one side. My sister: That is Paul Harvey's house, (then next was) and that is Glen Campbell's.

[@krazycatz]

My mother’s friends took her to see him in concert for her birthday in the 1980s. When he heard it was her birthday he gave her all of the flowers and other gifts that fans had left for him on stage.

[@amyk6659]

Austin City Limits is still on. It's on Public Television in the U.S. It's filmed in Austin, Texas, and has showcased many great country, pop and rock artists. It's the longest-running music show in American TV history. Just check it out online. There are many sites about it. A guy named Jimmy Webb wrote this song, along with "Galvestion", which Glen also had a hit with, and MANY other hit songs. He's a great songwriter. There are many, many Glen Campbell songs worth hearing. This is one of his best. Love the reaction. There's so much about American country music that's so great, and I'm really glad you're exploring it. Peace and Happy New Year! ❤

[@Cheryworld]

Glen was a legendary session guitar player for years. He played for everyone, and was well known by music people, famous in the industry. . He then started a solo career , singing pop songs that by and large didn't show off his playing. He was very big in the 1970s. In concert he would show off a bit, , to the delight of his fans. Track down him fooling around with the William Tell Overture

[@sgrocker1]

Glen Campbell was a session guitarist with the Wrecking Crew before he became famous as a solo performer.

[@generic53]

One of the G.O.A.T.

[@NancyMoran-r3b]

He got Alzheimer’s in his later years and died not long after. It was very sad. My mom had it also.He had his own tv variety show. He was very much loved.

[@DaveWildheart]

Ahh that's real sad. It gets so many people.

[@TeRiFic05]

❤❤❤

[@FarenCole]

@@DaveWildheartwatch the documentary “I’ll Be Me”. It documents his journey with Alzheimer’s and touring with the disease. He won a Grammy for one of the songs from the documentary.

[@briandonovan1584]

@@DaveWildheart My parents both have Alzheimer's as they are 2 weeks and 7 weeks respectively from 89. It's horrible. My dad is a living legend in the law as a civil trial attorney and wrapped that up with 24 years as a very highly respected federal judge. For him to be losing his mind is almost too much for me to take. My mother as well ... The nicest lady you could ever meet has had periods of verbally violent behavior. Makes me want to self-delete sometimes.

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

@@FarenColeThat was unbelievable how he could play and sing, but didn’t know who was around him.

[@mikewhelan9561]

he was a studio guitarist in the wrecking crew, he was in True Grit with John Wayne , he had his own TV show in the 60's That's him creating unforgettable guitar parts on the Beach Boys' landmark Pet Sounds album, Frank Sinatra's “Strangers in the Night,” the Righteous Brothers' “You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling” and the Monkees' “I'm a Believer,” not to mention hits by Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Lou Rawls, Ricky Nelson, Merle Haggard ...

[@Shari225]

The dot .. dot ... dot on the guitar is mimicking the morse code, which was sent on the line even before phones.

[@DaveWildheart]

Oh that's cool

[@SmovInfo1]

Analog telephone and data signals going across copper wires make a whining sound. You could "tone" the wire with a device to hear if the signals were going through.

[@jtixtlan]

The song was a single in the late 1960s. He was an outstanding guitar player, arranger, studio musician for other bands, singer, songwriter. He was mostly country, but one of the early cross-overs into mainstream pop. He had a weekly variety TV show where he showcased his tremendous talent and had guest artists on. So entertaining!

[@michaellockhart554]

This song was written by Jimmy Webb, Jimmy wrote many of Glen's hits, also wrote MacArthur Park, Billy Joel broke down the lyrics and composition of this song once, it's out there on KZbin

[@nancycurtis488]

Glen Campbell was the most natural musician and singer that ever lived…..his talent was God given, no music lessons and he could play any instrument. He left us way too soon…and I miss his talent, music, voice, and style.

[@MAG-li5jo]

The studio version from the late 1960's is incredible. A true masterpiece. Glen's voice is even better on it. Glen was studio guitarist before he became a solo artist.

[@davidgoldstein1526]

You’ve no idea what a great guitar player he is from watching this video. There are others which would make your jaw drop. Glen was amazing.

[@JDLuke]

He was a legend, full stop. Check out Roy Clark and Buck Owens.

[@DaveWildheart]

Ooh nice. I'll check them both out.

[@rorystorm4284]

And Chet Atkins! The best.

[@scottsmith6631]

Have heard critics say Glenn had a perfectly balanced voice.

[@BrianScott-h3o]

A lineman is a person that works on electric lines and telephone poles to keep our power grids working .

[@davesnothere8859]

This isn't the first time you've heard him, just the first time you knew it. Righteous Brothers:' You lost that loving feeling" Beach Boys "help me rhonda" Frank Sanatra :"strangers in the night" and a bunch more

[@charlenezack37]

The Champs Tequila

[@wayne1074]

Glenn Campbell was a very underrated guitarist. He was never a show off, but when he wanted to he could pick with the very best. Thank you Mr. Campbell for all the music you gave us over the years. It was sad to see you go down with Alzheimer's. You will always be remembered for your music and kindness to your fans. Rest in peace. 🌹❤️🙏

[@jeromebarry1741]

Under-rated? He was FAMOUS in the 1970's. He was on his own albums, other artists' albums, television shows. I know in internet terms those few words are TLDR, but he was famous and well known.

[@johncollier6959]

Underrated? Glen Campbell was once part of the wrecking crew a group of LA musicians that were famous. He also played with the Beach boys. He is recognized as one of the best guitar players ever to pick up the instrument.

[@msc2116]

Glen was never “underrated!”

[@zoznak1943]

Glenn Campbell is not "very underrated". At least not by anyone who knows something about music, and particularly not by guitar players. He's generally acknowledged as one of the absolute greatest pickers in pop music history.

[@jasonmorton1355]

To really see Glenn be a master guitarist check out him play the William Tell Overture. Love to see you experience new artist. Big howdy from Texas.

[@DaveWildheart]

Yeah im headed in that direction soon. Thanks for the tip

[@FarenCole]

Or him performing “MacArthur Park” (another Jimmy Webb masterpiece) with the Boston Pops.

[@ProbablySoonerThanLater]

I believe Jimmy Webb wrote that song. Lineman in this case fixes the above ground phone lines (used to be above the ground). Glenn had his own Television show called The Glenn Campbell Good Time Hour in the 1960s in the states. He passed away a few years ago from Alzheimers disease, but no matter how his memory failed, he could still play music and sing. He did concerts well into his diagnosis.

[@lsbill27]

The studio version of this tune is really top level. Live it's impossible to match the atmosphere in the studio version. It sounds very ordinary live.

[@Tdrummmer-rs2hat]

100% Agree! The studio version is hauntingly beautiful.

[@springertube]

I agree as well..... There are live versions which are more true to the original's special feeling - he proved it can be done! Some of those better live performances may have had orchestra support, but I have heard him play some pretty decent sparse arrangements as well.

[@cathyconnolly9738]

This song used to make my mom cry. My grandfather was a lineman until his passing in’65.

[@EgbertWilliams]

Glen was widely acclaimed as a master guitarist and was even part of the famous Wrecking Crew of session musicians.

[@emptynest2travel]

One of the guitarist I heard as a child that made me want to play guitar. Glen Campbell, my uncle, Roy Clark, and Ace were the first guys to inspire me.

[@piedmontish]

He had a lot of much faster guitar solo type songs. You can catch him while doing the William Tell overture and I believe he’s playing on a 12 string guitar.

[@TeRiFic05]

Yes, Austin City Limits is still going on today. Wonderful artists in a smaller venue. It’s in Austin, Texas.

[@lindaw8958]

My all time favorite song - it’s just perfect!

I was 31 in 1985, and I'm still here! Most in the crowd are still alive. It really was not that long ago. //. Linemen are men who install and keep our electrical lines in repair. They work for the Electric Company.

[@rebeccageiser5692]

Wichita, Texas. A lineman worked on the old powerlines keeping the world using electricity.

[@ChrisYoung-x1s]

Wichita, Kansas. Though there IS a Wichita Falls in Texas.

[@jdgoade1306]

Kansas.

[@maryannarep]

Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb are America's national treasures! Thanks for the video!!

[@wtfesme235]

Witchita Lineman is a haunting and beautiful blue collar love song. I am so glad I found your post because I had forgotten about that song. ❤ RIP Glen Campbell.

[@Kazberhaf]

Just had to pop over to my iTunes to listen to the original of Wichita line man by Glen Campbell. I am definitely not a country fan, I like jazz, soul, funk, blues, but I am a sucker for a song which is hauntingly beautiful melodically, with strings in the arrangement and beautiful lyrics. I really love songs which are yearning for something the Singer will never have yet needs so badly… Waiting in vain by Bob Marley is another one of my favourites for that same reason. Great video, thanks. 🤩

[@bcjnk]

watch him play the william tell overture then you will see what a great guitarist he was

[@DaveWildheart]

I'm excited for this one

[@DougRayPhillips]

@@DaveWildheart Various versions of that out there, too. In some, he plays part of it with the guitar up behind the back of his neck. Also, find something where he's dueting with Roy Clark.

[@lefty3141591]

@@DougRayPhillips I was thinking about suggesting his duet of "Ghost Riders In The Sky"

[@JamesJohnson-ig6of]

@@lefty3141591 I AGREE!! Both Glen and Roy are maestros on the guitar and most other stringed instruments! "Ghost Riders In The Sky" is one of the greatest songs to play! Plus I loved Johnny Cash's version!

[@rebeccalloyd140]

Wichita is a city in the state of Kansas. A lineman is a person who works on the electric lines. Glen is an awesome guitarist who played with the Wrecking Crew and also toured as a Beach Boy when he filled in for one of the Beach Boys. He died in 2017 from Alzheimer's disease. The day before he died he sat and played his guitar with his daughter. He forgot a lot of things but not how to play.

[@raygunsforronnie847]

I got to work with Campbell soon after his illness was disclosed to the public (it was a poorly kept "Nashville secret" for a couple years), and his band was mostly his kids with second wife, Kim. He made a few mistakes, like starting a song in the wrong key; "Dad, we're playing that in "F", like always". "Oh, did I forget to move my capo? Let's start this over." It was sad in some ways but also a special look into the artist and how his family enabled him to continue professionally. Kim allowed a documentary crew to follow their shows and private lives until Glen was unable to appear in public. It's a touching film.

[@DLCSTexas]

The linemen were interchangeable from state to stae for emergencies and bad weather. They woukdvtrapesvoff across country from state to stae helping neighbor sets. They were busy all the time. I just picture this lonely lineman out there wet and hungry missing his sweetheart.

[@pamcole4792]

I heard the song is about a lineman (telephone lines) who is working up on a telephone pole. I remember the linemen with phones hooked to their tool belt. They would hook into the phone lines up on the telephone polls to see if they were working. The lineman in the song tapped in and heard a girl talking and it reminded him of the girl he loved and missed. It’s a tribute to the common man who does hard work, away from his beloved, so people can communicate.

[@jamessummerlin9516]

Glad you recognize Glen Campbell for being above average. You ought to hear some of his instrumental stuff. He was a one time member of the Wrecking Crew, a studio group of musicians that where the actual instrumental talent of so many pop artists of the 60s and 70s. I was a long time metal and hard rock bassist, but always had mad respect for Glen Cambell, Roy Clark, Bassist Carol Kaye of the Wrecking Crew, & Big Jim Sullivan of studio & Tom Jones guitar weapon of choice. Thank you for having the foresight to check out other genres, there has been some real talent out there over the years.

[@alpenglow4243]

You need to listen to the original recording from ‘68. One of the best pop ballads from the time.

[@antoniofigueroa3407]

He popularized the song Rhinestone Cowboy.

[@DaveWildheart]

Oh yeah. So maybe I have heard him 😂

[@sandiesmith9383]

No live performance will ever be as great as the original. The sound of that music is part of my life. It brings back memories lost through time. When I die, those songs will go with me. ❤

[@katearmiger8535]

And I need you more than want you and I want you for all time. I bought it when it came out because of that line

[@mandarinlearner]

Written by Jimmy Webb.

[@PatriciaDonovan-g9m]

Great guitarist, excellent singer, and a good person. My family watched his television show in the 1970s and I remember him fondly.

[@odochartaighofodonegal9815]

You'd be doing yourself a dis-service if you never watched the documentary on the Wrecking Crew, of which Glenn was a part. I'll leave it at that.

[@DaveWildheart]

Better get on it then

[@1225KPH]

@@DaveWildheart Evidently, you haven't heard any guitar players and know nothing about the music business.

[@rmcc42]

My mothers family and Glens family were friends in southwest Arkansas when I was little! He was 6 years older than me and I am now 82! He is considered one of the all time best guitar players, a great country/western vocalist, and an outstanding songwriter! And he even was in several great western movies! I heard recently that he and Roy Clark, another country musician, are the only 2 people ranked in the top 25 guitarists who were not rock music stars! Many people even rank Glen as one of the top 2 or 3!

[@skiptrace1888]

Check out Glen's "guitar dual" with Roy Clark----fantastic! Good show, bro! Thanks for posting! 😂😊😅

[@FizzFop1]

I saw Glenn Campbell in concert a couple of years before he passed away. He performed with a full orchestra. He was freakin' awesome! When I was a kid, his big song was Rhinestone Cowboy...but I always liked his song Country Boy.

[@joekenyon4700]

If you want a true indication of his guitar virtuosity, look up him doing William Tell Overture with the full orchestra. WOW!

[@RLU-wt8vi]

THANK YOU. I've dropped that suggestion to a LOT of reaction channels. He comes close to 'savant'.

[@DaveWildheart]

I'm looking forward to watching this!

[@alexanderjack3543]

You may not know but Glen Campbell stepped away from his carrier as part of the infamous wrecking crew to go solo with this song. With the wreaking crew he was asked to fill in for Brian Wilson with the Beach Boys. With the wrecking crew his guitar work shows up in over 100 albums. Adding to this since you are a hard metal fan Eddy Van Halen was a student of Glen Campbell and 5they used to get together till their passing. Being able to ride the coat tails to these sessions are legendary in the rock community are legendary and an invite was considered acceptance on to hollowed ground.

[@757optim]

Glen ad libbed a bit on this rendition, vocally and on the guitar. As for his playing ability - two words. Wrecking Crew.

[@robertpolnicky7702]

Actually the character in this song was a lineman for wichita County Texas where wichita falls is. According to a report on Jim Webb.

[@mamaflush9945]

This is one of Glenn Campbell's big hits, but it really doesn't demonstrate his masterfulness on the guitar. So, if you'd like to see what he can really do. Check this one out, if interested, "Glenn Campbell - William Tell Overture (Smokin'' Instrumental)" (by the channel: Glenn Campbell Forums) --Glen Campbell began his musical career as a songwriter, and he played with some of the biggest musical groups and bands during the 1960's. He was also a renowned sessions musician and part of the famous group of Los Angeles-based session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew" which were known for playing with certain artists like The Beach Boys and Frank Sinatra just to name a few. And if you're interested in knowing more guitar virtuosos from this same time frame then give this one a listen as well, if interested. "Jim Stafford - Plays Classical Gas Branson, MO" (by the channel: Jim Stafford) --Jim Stafford is also considered a guitar virtuoso. He's also a multi-instrumentalist and is self-taught he plays guitar, fiddle, piano, banjo, organ and harmonica. He rose to fame in the 70's with songs such as "Spiders & Snakes" and "Swamp Witch" his genre is considered country, but he tells wonderfully funny stories due to the fact that he's just as big of a comedian and you can see this as well in this video. I hope you'll give him a watch. And I really enjoyed your reaction, thanks for sharing. peace out~

[@kaybear1972]

Released in 1968! The meaning behind the Wichita Lineman song? It was a big hit for singer Glen Campbell. Later Jimmy said, “This song is not just about a lineman. It is about anyone who can think about other things while they work-a truck driver, for example, or a farmworker. It is a song about an ordinary person who has extraordinary thoughts.”

[@annereidy7981]

A lineman was a telephone line service maintenance man.

[@anniebygrave9300]

The Witchita Lineman continuously travels along the overground wires that cross the state, checking for faults and fixing them. It could be the electricity wires or the telephone wires, I'm not entirely sure but the lyrics say "I hear you singing in the wire, I can hear you thru the whine". It was a thankless, never ending task, carried out in blazing summer heat and in winter snow, and meant months away from home. Glen Campbell sings beautiful songs filled with longing and meaning. Listen to his song Galveston for one about a young US soldier in Vietnam scared of dying and dreaming of home. It spoke to all the US kids in Vietnam dying in a war not of their making, and it touched the hearts of everyone of that era. It's very special. The best, smoothest and richest vocals are in the earlier part of his career. The later live performance vocals were good but not as good, possibly because he was by then starting to suffer from dementia. He never forgot how to play guitar though. The man was incredibly talented.

[@markalumbaugh2756]

Linemen work on overhead power and telephone lines.

[@DaveWildheart]

Ahh OK, I was well wrong.

[@lisahall9226]

Wichita is a city in the state of Kansas. A lineman is a person who works on the electric lines and when the power goes out the linemen are the first one out. I know this because my son is a lineman for our electric company in West Virginia, USA. Blessings to you from our great state.

[@clementsfamily7002]

This is just the tip of the iceberg. He's got reems of videos on KZbin where he is shredding.

[@TurquoiseRhino]

A lineman, also known as a lineworker, is a tradesperson who installs, maintains, and repairs electrical distribution and transmission systems.

[@ericpetty8387]

I don’t think that anyone has answered this question for you. Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.

[@DaveWildheart]

Thank you!

[@scotchmstr66]

Glen Campbell was a virtuoso musician. He was a beloved American entertainer and actor. He lived in Paradise Valley, Arizona before his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He came in 2-3 days a week after golfing to hang out at my wine bar and we would talk for hours.

[@jeffstumpf9129]

Never call a virtuoso merely decent. 10:08

[@JoeRoscoe_DFW]

Austin City Limits is a popular, weekly music program produced by the public TV station in Austin, Texas. The show recently celebrated 50 years on the air.

[@aura81295]

New to your channel subbed to look a bit at where it's been and where it's headed. Fun way to pass the time finding people all over the world with common interests. I grew up hearing Glen Campbell and also saw that you had reacted to Gordon Lightfoot, music from both my time and my neck of the woods (he was from Canada and I grew up in Wisconsin also mentioned in the song). Have you ever seen or reacted to Kasey Chambers "Lose Yourself" - says it's an Eminem Cover? I only happened upon it through reaction channels which is also a relatively new thing to me, and was amazed. Great to see real people with real emotions playing real instruments out there again.

[@DaveWildheart]

Thanks for the great message. Not heard that lose yourself cover yet but it's on my list!

[@coffee-xg6my]

Great reaction Dave! That little one note ding ding ding on the high string that you pointed out is sort of a representation an electrical current or telephone signal flowing through the wires. This song by the way was written by Jimmy Webb specifically for Glen to record because of his vocal style. Jimmy wrote many songs that Glen recorded and made hits of. (You should listen to the original 1968 release of "Wichita Lineman" Glen had a voice as smooth as honey as a young man!) This is my absolute favorite song out of all of Glenn Campbell's songs. The production, the melody and the way he sings, it just catches the mood and imagery of the freedom of driving out on a long stretch of a lonely blacktop road with the view of the telephone poles against a burnt orange sky as the sun is starting to set behind the flatlands and mountains in the distance on the horizon. It just all comes together perfectly in this song's lyrics and melody.

[@BIgWowFanAlways]

This song has one of my favorite lyrics: And I need you more than want you/ And I want you for all time. Pretty powerful profession of love. He wasn’t just a musician; he was an entertainer. He could sing, play, act (he starred in True Grit with John Wayne), and host his own variety show. Check out his Greatest Hits.

[@Progneto]

Written by Jimmy Webb who also wrote many of Glen's other hits. A "Lineman" in this instance, is a person who works on telephone poles or power poles. He makes sure the lines stay up so people have service. "And if it snows down south, that stretch won't stand the strain."

[@kenhutton8305]

Underrated legend and a gentleman. Millennials are the start of the end for culture. RIP music

[@thomasmorelli9271]

The notes that almost sound like a telegraph? The sonic icing on the cake though was Jimmy Webb’s Gulbransen electric keyboard, which emulated the sound effect of a telephone signal travelling along a wire. Webb showed Campbell what this instrument could do up at his house in the Hollywood Hills. “Glen said ‘Here at the end I want it to sound like that record Telstar by The Tornadoes…’,” recounts Webb in Dylan Jones’ book. “...I just held two notes down and the organ automatically takes these two notes, either a fourth or a fifth, and it cycles them up and down the keyboard… it’s a very shivery, icy, almost like outer space kind of sound. Glen went crazy and said ‘We have to get that, we gotta put that on the fade’.” The instrument was duly hauled over to Capitol Studios. “We recorded it and that’s the sound people associate with this record,” said Webb. “... it was just me holding down two notes, which was exhilarating.”

[@lizmil]

Loved his tv show when I was a kid, and my Dad had all of his records.

[@Jeff-m5x3j]

6:39 This guitar lead is the third verse which was not written in time for the original recording, so Glen grabbed a guitar (actually a baritone guitar) and played the iconic lead that makes the song.