Glen Campbell’s popular television program has finally come to DVD, but it’s more of a tribute to the popular show by the Wichita lineman himself.
The Glen Campbell Good Times Hour ran from 1969 till 1972 on CBS. The show was a variety show so that meant that Glen would have musical guests as well as perform a comedy sketch or two. This hour-long special appears to have been made for public television and has Campbell newly introducing the shows and talking about many of the guest stars featured in this compilation of highlights from the show.
Glen also shows off some of his hit songs (Wichita Lineman, Galveston, and By the Time I Get to Phoenix) that he sang on the show. Glen even performs a sketch with the Smothers Brothers. He performs with some good quest stars, including Linda Ronstadt (Carolina on my Mind), Ray Charles (Cryin’ Time), Bobbie Gentry (Let It Be Me), Rick Nelson (Louisiana Man), Cher (All I Really Want to Do), Anne Murray (Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right), Roger Miller (King of the Road), B.J. Thomas (Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, which won the Oscar for best song – beating out Campbell’s True Grit), Johnny Cash (Folsom Prison Blues), Willie Nelson (Hello Walls, and Willie looking rather clean cut), and John Hartford (Gentle on My Mind).
Campbell comes across just as a clean-cut troubadour in a time when the nation was turning more towards hippies and long hairs. I guess the nation liked what they saw since the ratings for this fledgling program was really very good. It was John Wayne’s young daughter being familiar with Campbell that clued in dear old dad and ended up casting Campbell in True Grit. Campbell mentions this on the disc as well as reminiscing about working with the Duke.
He does introductions to all of the songs above (save for the Cher duet, though he does talk about her in the special features). I guess that disappoints is that you only get a “best of” and not the full episodes. You’d also think that you’d have quite a lot of material and more than the hour-long special that is presented on this disc. However, I guess something is better than nothing. Campbell seems willing to chat and one hopes that a volume two or a series of releases are planned.
Good Times Again is presented in fullscreen. Special features include a 16 minute extra interview with Glen where he goes more into his hit songs, the television show, and his career.
It’s good that fans will finally have a chance to catch up with Campbell’s show on DVD and hear the man himself reminisce about the show. However, it will only get you psyched up to see the full shows. It’s too bad that they didn’t do a “complete collection” or season sets. I have a feeling that it has to do with music clearance issues – darn those lawyers. It’s still a fun romp and you get to see some great stars like Johnny Cash and Roger Miller.
Good Times Again is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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