Agreed, Mike: BUYER BEWARE!
I think that "Guitar Gold" / "Featuring Glen Campbell / Glen's First Stereo Recording" was a hoax, released by mail order only (apparently), by Customtone Records in Dallas, Texas, after Glen became famous as a solo artist. KOA would know more about it. I believe he extensively researched this album. Also, arlw!
The front cover does not have a photo of Glen on it. The photo credit is: "El Capitan" in Yosemite National Park, the world's largest monolith of exposed granite" per the photo credit on the back cover.
The back cover of this LP features an article and photo of Glen and his Uncle Dick Bills, dated "Wed., Sept. 25, 1968", from the Roswell Daily Record.
Following are the liner notes:
"One winter evening in 1958, fate, chance, the stars or what have you, brought together two great artists at Van's Ballroom in Houston, Texas. Stan Capps and his group were entertaining that evening when Glen Campbell wandered in. After a few minutes, Glen Campbell, impressed by Stan Capps' piano, asked if he could sit in with the group. Stan readily agreed and they had a memorable session that evening. After the session, Stan told Glen about Customtone Studio's new stereo recording technique. The following day Stan and Glen got together at the studio so Glen could hear himself for the first time in stereo.
The best music in the world occurs when musicians play just for themselves. That's what happened that day. Each of these two artists admiring the other yet striving to out perform the other creates a study in sound that is incomparable.
The results from this once in a lifetime live session have been captured for you in this unique collector's album."
A testimonial about this album by Stan Capps is also presented:
"This is a truly great recording," declares Stan, "because a session is the final test of talent, musicianship, and teamwork. Not often do the artists in a session approach the blending and fusing necessary to create a harmonic diamond. In this session I feel that we have achieved less than a diamond, but certainly we have captured here the greatest display of Glen's talent on the guitar."
Glen's uncle is supposedly quoted, too:
"This is Glen's Greatest Record" says Dick Bills, Performer and impresario for 35 years in the music and entertainment field. "The musicianship and showmanship recorded in this album is truly great. To me Glen's music is part of Classical Americana; it's strong and forceful; it's light and bouncy; it carries a powerful punch, and yet it flows smoothly and freely like riding the crest of a wave. 'Guitar' will live on to be enjoyed by those who are fortunate enough to devote part of their time to just listening."
The supposed session date is shown on the back cover: "1/8/58" (January 8th, 1958).
The original album was priced at $10.00 which was pricey for 1968!
There are 6 tracks on this album:
Side 1
Feelin' Free
Honky Tonk
Pickaxe, Part 1
Side 2
Pickaxe, Part 2
Gittit and Run
St. Louis Blues
***************************************
Here is what I find odd to me: the liner notes promote Dick Bills more than Glen (IMO) in terms of adjectives.
A newspaper photo is used to show Dick Bills and Glen together. Why use Dick Bills as a testimonial for this album? Why not Glen himself?
This description in particular does not sound like anything that Glen would approve of: "Each of these two artists admiring the other yet
striving to out perform the other...." Glen was never competitive with other musicians in this aggressive way, would you agree?
In the past, I have googled to find info on Stan Capps & His Piano, but I have never found any information about him. It's like he never existed.
This album has been a
Glen Campbell mystery for years! We sure would appreciate information about the apparent lawsuit Glen filed against this album's release and what Glen said about it!
Has anyone ever come across this information in print?