Sings For The King

Album review

Country boy Glen Campbell is often described as a singer who is "famous for his taste for variety". That’s not to say that his country pop from the late ‘70s is meaningless and simple. Quite the contrary! Tracks such as Southern Nights, Rhinestone Cowboy and Wichita Lineman have become classics because they contained all the ingredients needed to make a hit at that time. But Campbell's career is much richer and more complex. It’s full of details that make him a legend of American music. An experienced guitarist, singer, composer, songwriter and even TV host, he balanced his career between the spotlight and the less exposed life in the studio. It must be said that there were plenty of studio teams that revolutionized music in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and Campbell was an integral part of one of the greatest, if not THE greatest: The Wrecking Crew (a.k.a. The Clique or The Phil Spector Wall of Sound).

In 1962, thanks to Jimmy Bowen, he joined this ensemble of musicians from the West Coast and met bassist Carol Kaye, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, drummer Hal Blain as well as Frank Sinatra, Rick Nelson and most importantly... The King! Sings For The King is a completely new posthumous record. These 18 recently discovered recordings, which reflect a sort of intimate correspondence between Campbell and Presley, were produced by the country boy for his friend between 1964 and 1968. It was a surprise gift that was never meant for our ears... Glen Campbell had two advantages. The first was that he could match Elvis’ tone and delivery, and the second was that he had been close to the star since 1956. It was an effective way to present Sid Wayne and Ben Weisman's new compositions to The King. It’s a record that couldn’t have opened in any other way than with this legendary duo on We Call On Him, where the harmony between the two men is obvious. It’s ballad on the piano that combines these two crooning voices on a melancholic tune that’s carried by subtle choirs. It’s a very emotional moment. This is followed by 17 tracks performed by Glen, who displays his imitation skills. From Easy Come, Easy Go and Spinout to I'll Be Back and I Got Love, his seventeen performances were all validated by The King. He’s a figure in the shadows who certainly contributed to the career of one of the greatest musicians of all time. However, on this record, it’s Campbell who is in the spotlight and it feels great! © Clara Bismuth/Qobuz