GLEN CAMPBELL – Southern Nights – (Capitol) – 1977

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Franko
For background on Glen see "what Frank is listening to #76".
 
Glen moved from guitarist extraordinaire to country pop crooner par excellance. I always prefer his albums that show off his guitar abilities but since the late 60s the country pop has been dominant on his albums. Country pop by it's nature tends to be very middle of the road. It is only saved when the source material or execution transcend the limitations of the country pop style. With Glen we saw that happen many a time in the late 60s when his Al De Lory arranged and / or produced songs written by Jimmy Webb, John Hartford or Chris Gantry reached heights of country pop ecstasy rarely matched : qv: "Galveston", "Wichita Lineman", "Gentle on My Mind", "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife".
 
Glen albums from the 70s are (generally) patchy but are always worth listening to (though I only have about half so the last statement may be a bit premature). In other words they are never tiresome though some aren't always particularly exciting. What they all have is a song or two which stands out among the MOR country pop tracks.
 
This album sleeve, on first glance, promises a southern concept album – the title, the shack, the old southern tree, the crescent moon – but alas the sleeve was designed to capitalise on the "Southern Nights" hit single I expect, because with the exception of the title track there are few references to the South. A pity.
 
This album is firmly in MOR territory and was a big hit as was the single "Southern Nights". Glen's guitar is restrained but the strings aren't though we do have is a good batch of songs. Jimmy Webb contributes two songs and plays on the album, whilst other covers include songs by Neil Diamond and Brian Wilson.
 
So, all is not lost ….
  • Southern Nights  -Toussaint – the big crossover pop hit. A bouncy song and very infectious. 
  • This Is Sarah's Song – Jimmy Webb  – very Jimmy Webb … which ultimately means very good. What sounds on first hearing like romantic slop is actually quite a Sondheimian rumination on love.
  • For Cryin' out Loud – Smotherman –  Campbell sang a lot of Smotherman's songs (Smotherman was in Captain Beefheart's band !!) – and though he's not Jimmy Webb he is solid with more than a few well written gems in the singer-songwriter vein. This is somewhere about half way – pleasant but not particularly memorable … I think the big production goes too far and it would have been better stripped down.
  • God Only Knows – Asher, Wilson  –  And why cant Glen Campbell do the Beach Boys … afterall he was their bass player in 1964-65 and he played on "Pet Sounds". Glen's version of this song (one of the best songs ever written – in my opinion) is too solemn and maybe a touch maudlin whereas the Beach Boys version is otherwordly … but at least he puts his stamp on it.
  • Sunflower – Neil Diamond –  As much as I love Neil Diamond his songs always sound like Neil Diamond songs which is less about his personal signature than about the fact that he only writes one type of song. But hey … it's a good type.This version by Glen is bouncy and poppy and thoroughly pleasant.
  • Guide Me – John Jennings  –  the kitchen sink has been thrown in … a religious secular song, if that makes any sense. Neil Diamond wrote a million of these and they weren't much chop, less here.
  • Early Morning Song – Jimmy Webb  –  unmistakeable Webb
            There's a woman and she thinks I can do no wrong
            She's been waiting for me, all night long
            Still she forgives me, when I drag it home
            And tells me I belong
            For her this early morning song
  • (I'm Getting) Used to the Crying – Miller, Smotherman –  a country theme in the title if there ever was one – results are patchy here.
  • Let Go – Cadd  –  Look at the writer – Brian Cadd! Yes the Australian Rock Hall of Fame–er (solo, The Groop, Axiom). Cadd had a #14 with this track in Australia in 1972. From 1975 -93 he was based in the USA and was well covered by the likes of Gene Pitney, Bonnie Tyler, Ringo Starr etc. A pleasant song though I would have preferred it if Glen had covered "Alvin Purple" or "Class of '74".
  • How High Did We Go? – Albright, Medlin  – the overwrought country ballad which really needs operatic country big ballad power. Elvis in the 70s could have done this in his sleep. Glen isn't bad but he needs that oomph to take the song out of the serious into the "over the top and pained" category.

 And …

The album is patchy and none of the tracks ever really soar but a good handful of them justify the album. It's country pop MOR but it's pretty good country pop MOR. I'm keeping this … if for nothing else than to pad out the Glen Campbell collection.

 

Chart Action
 
Album
1977   Southern Nights   Country Albums #1
1977   Southern Nights   The Billboard 200 #22
 
Singles
1977   Southern Nights   Adult Contemporary #1
1977   Southern Nights   Country Singles #1
1977   Southern Nights   The Billboard Hot 100 #1
1977   Sunflower     Adult Contemporary #1
1977   Sunflower    Country Singles #4
1977   Sunflower    The Billboard Hot 100 #39
 
Sounds
 
attached
 
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Early Morning Song
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  • I saw Glen live in Brisbane in 2009 and the crowd – mainly 50+ types were possibly the most ignorant, vacuous and music hating crowd I have seen. They wanted reaffirmation of the Glen Campbell they know from MOR AM radio and nothing else. Apart from mercilessly heckling the supporting act (the very brave idiosyncratic, original delight that is Dave Graney) they had no time for Glen's Beach Boys medley or rock references. The audience was truly insipid. And even the old cunt behind me who heckled all the way through Dave Graney until I turned and called him a fuckwit didn't have the balls to reply or hit me. I note he also had a habit of  singing along with all the songs he knew – luckily it was only about three. Nevertheless, this is what made Queensland famous – stupidity, isolationism, inbreeding and ignorance.These people were truly losers. (The Tex Perkins "Johnny Cash Show" had a similar audience). This "audience" I suspect transcends borders but it is galling. I should say Glen's set was safe and predictable for the most part. You have to pay the bills.
Note to self: if I ever become a country promoter …. Glen will be brought back and put into a nightclub live venue with no seating and crappy toilets where people do drugs. There will be lots of alcohol, tickets will be no more than $50 (so more riff raff can come) and a country punk band will be the support – someone like Assjack, Green of Red or the Drive By Truckers who will then back him through his set. I know he will have fun and it will offend the insipid fans.
 
(originally posted: 24/02/2010)

About Franko

Hi, I'm just a person with a love of music, a lot of records and some spare time. My opinions are comments not reviews and are mine so don't be offended if I have slighted your favourite artist. I have listened to a lot of music and I don't pretend to be impartial. You can contact me on franklycollectible@gmail.com though I would rather you left a comment. I also sell music at http://www.franklycollectible.com Cheers
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