By Patrick Luce Jul 31, 2008, 13:27 GMT
In an iconic music career that spans more than five decades, Glen Campbell has achieved chart-topping, platinum-selling pop and country success singing everyday tales of life, love, work and heartache. For ‘Meet Glen Campbell,’ his inspired, dynamic new studio album, the music icon has returned to his longtime label home, Capitol Records.
"I really like all of the songs and I had a great time recording them. While I didn't write these songs, this sounds like a Glen Campbell album, which is important to me," says Glen Campbell.
From a press release:
‘Meet Glen Campbell’ will be released on August 19 on CD, limited edition vinyl and digitally. The songs on the album all strike a personal and musical chord with Campbell. He has reinterpreted and re-imagined both older and contemporary songs with his own signature vocal and guitar arrangements.
A true musician's musician, Campbell's distinct guitar playing, along with the clarity and emotion of his powerful vocal performance, come together to give new life to the songs he selected for ‘Meet Glen Campbell.’
The influential singer, guitarist and stylist, who has long made others' songs his own, is doing it again, recording high-spirited, emotionally charged versions of tracks that have personally moved and inspired him. Campbell's intimate performances convey an autobiographical and deeply personal connection to the album's songs.
The album includes Travis' "Sing," Tom Petty's "Angel Dream" and "Walls," The Replacements' "Sadly Beautiful," U2's "All I Want Is You," The Velvet Underground's "Jesus," and Jackson Browne's "These Days," among others.
A musician at heart, Campbell has maintained a sense of truth, respect and authenticity throughout his career. The songs on his new album were written by others, but become undeniably Campbell's own as he has personally styled them for the new album. Titled evocatively by design, the album is certain to surprise and delight longtime fans and turn many new ears to the music icon's legendary career. Meet Glen Campbell welcomes discovery and re-discovery of the legend and his music.
Recorded in March and April at The Recording Studio and Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles, Meet Glen Campbell is produced by Julian Raymond (Rosanne Cash, Fastball, Shawn Mullins, Wallflowers) with engineer/co-producer Howard Willing.
The album features musical contributions by Campbell contemporaries as well as younger rock and alt-country artists who joined him in the studio, including Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. and Jason Faulkner from Jellyfish, and Chris Chaney from Jane's Addiction. Campbell's sons and daughters, who regularly perform with their father, recorded backing vocals for the tracks, providing the album's warm family tone.
Conceived by Julian Raymond to honor Campbell's musical legacy while showcasing his creative versatility and vitality, Meet Glen Campbell has been long in the making since its creative inception to the recent studio sessions.
Says Raymond of the new album, "I've been listening to Glen since I was nine years old, so making this record is an honor and a dream come true. I am incredibly proud of this project."
Meet Glen Campbell begins an exciting new chapter in the 50-year career of one of America's most beloved musical icons. On May 2, during his set at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California, Campbell was joined onstage by special guests to premiere select songs from his new album.
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