Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb

[Mike Joyce]

I found this site from the Jimmy Webb forum. I listened to it and thought it was a great show. It plays the tracks fully and even plays two versions of Phoenix back to back. River's and Glen's

https://beta.tunein.com/program/?ProgramId=882587" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mike Joyce]

Hi Cowpoke,
Happy new year to you and all the forum members. Just getting back to some normality here in the UK. Everyone getting back to work and school etc.
I totally agree with your comments Cowpoke. I was actually talking about the same thing, in as much as I prefer the albums with original tracks on, with some exceptions though. I love Postcard from Paris by Jimmy better than other versions I've heard including Glen's last version,and also, All I know with Linda Ronstadt. The intro to that track is fantastic. You know I love my guitar sounds.
But what you say is spot on
" For me though, the songs come first. I mean I can enjoy a great song despite a lousy production. But I cannot enjoy a wonderfully produced lousy song."
I don't think Jimmy has been too far off the mark over the years. I think those that weren't his best work have generally faded but that is not a vast amount. All the other great songs were hits or recorded by Glen, Art, Linda etc. And there are many album track gems to be heard on these artists albums. Have you listened to any of the Art Garfunkel albums with Jimmy's tracks on ?

[Cowpoke]

Hi Mike,
I know what you mean. For me though, the songs come first. I mean I can enjoy a great song despite a lousy production. But I cannot enjoy a wonderfully produced lousy song. That is of course not to say that Jimmy's later album don't contain great songs (did Jimmy ever write a lousy song, don't think so). But with the release of 10 Easy Pieces a period of looking back was started which continued with Live and at Large (2007), Cottonwood Farm (2009), Just Across the River (2010) and Still Within the Sound of My Voice (2013). To me the focus was on releasing old songs with a different sound / production than the original versions. That's not what I am primarily interested in. I also think in most cases the originals were better, they sounded more urgent and passionate, something that was lost in the later, smoother sounding productions. The most notable exception to this trend was "Twilight of the Renegades", an album full of new songs. So I am happy to know you rate this album highly and I will ask Santa if it is not above his budget.

[Mike Joyce]

Hi Cowpoke,
I must admit I prefer the later albums from Jimmy, mostly because I think they sound better. His voice feels easier on the ear and the arrangements are fuller. I.E they have deeper bass sounds and sound better produced. That is not to say his earlier albums done posses these qualities but I find I enjoy more of the tracks on the newer albums. As regards rating them I would choose as follows
1) Suspending disbelief
2) Twilight of the renegades
3) Just across the river
4) El Mirage
5) Land's end.
I also love session with Glen if I was to offer another collaboration album to the list.

[Cowpoke]

Thanks Mike for keeping us up to date. " How quickly we forget" I never heard that song before. I guess I will have to buy that Twilight of the Renegades album finally. Which brings me to this question: if you would have to rate Jimmy Webb's albums what would be your top3/top5 or top10 (depending on how far you want to go )?

I don't have all Jimmy's own albums but the ones I have I would rate like this:

1. Letters
2. El Mirage
3. Suspending Disbelief
4. Land's End
5. Words and Music
6. Still Within the Sound of My Voice

[Mike Joyce]

Hi Cowpoke, I hadn't seen this show before so was delighted to spot it was on. The interviewer asked Jimmy some basic questions and then Jimmy recounted details of how the hit songs came about. If anyone has been to see Jimmy in his shows you will recognise the stories Jimmy related to the interviewer. Jimmy also sang Phoenix, Wichita,Galveston and did a rendition of "How quickly we forget" which I had heard on one of Jimmy's own albums. I actually like this song a lot so was pleased to hear Jimmy perform it. As with all these things, the hour seemed to pass too quickly.
I thought the most interesting point was when Jimmy discussed MacArthur Park. He talked about the cake being a symbol of how something nice is destroyed, in the same way a carefree childhood is crushed under the weight of life's disappointments and pressures. I thought it was interesting that Jimmy talked like this, as previously he has stated he saw the cake in the park on a day when it started to rain, so it was just an observation and it wasn't something we should try to over analyse. On the whole a good show, with some insights into Jimmy's thinking. He mentioned the upcoming book "Cake in the rain" so he may well expand on this topic in the book itself.

[Cowpoke]

Thanks Mike! Please let me know what you thought about the program.

[Mike Joyce]

For UK fans, There is a series called " The great song writers" this week features Jimmy discussing his talent and will no doubt feature some of Jimmy's songs as recorded by Glen. It will be on Channel 4 at 12.05 AM. ( I know crazy time) I will be recording it to watch tomorrow.

[Cowpoke]

Nice find Randy. Thanks for posting!

[Randy]

Was surfing YT and typed in choirs witchita lineman in the search bar and got this

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ta+lineman" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Was particularly impressed to see this response to the search and particularly liked this one....



Pretty sure it would be poignant to Jimmy and Glen too