Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb

[Randy]

I'm confused. If Cowpoke's capabilities are that "he's only half as good as he really is" then how can he be a good defender of the herd?

[Dee]

Well, there you have it, Cowpoke: modesty is a trait of the film version of the cowpoke.
Dee

[Cowpoke]

No I know you didn't mean it as an insult. I was only joking! But your compliment far exceeds my capabilities...

[Dee]

Hey, Cowpoke, my comment wasn't meant as an insult -- it was a compliment.
I picture you as a movie version of the cowpoke: a sage, a thinker, one who fights with his mind and not his hands, modest, can be quiet, is loyal to his friends, and will do anything to protect his herd.
Think: James Stewart. Gary Cooper. Peter Fonda. Robert Duvall. Montgomery Clift.
You are in good company.
But don't give up the steak for ... beans!
Dee

[Cowpoke]

Hey Dee, don't insult the cowpoke! Anyway, I will live at least a 100 years, since I stopped eating steak and went back to beans...

[Dee]

No wrong here, Randy! You won't get the boot from us!

(omg...I thought Cowpoke was like 70+ years old...)

Cowpoke and Randy, I totally agree with you both about the original Galveston's orchestral arrangement and Glen's later performances, live and recorded, of Galveston.
I also have always felt the arrangement on the original recording (as well as most of Al De Lory's productions / arrangements for GC) was overwhelming to put it kindly.
Too many strings, too much brass; the orchestra lessened the impact of Glen's guitar solo and, at times, his voice.
I hadn't known GC was not happy with the original recording. I wonder how Jimmy Webb felt about it? (putting aside the change in tempo)
IMO, as the years passed, Glen took this song to a higher level ("art") with simpler arrangements and more complex guitar solos. His performance with Steve Wariner is a great example.
I feel some of Glen's guitar solos on Galveston during the Goodbye Tour were pretty incredible, too.

[Cowpoke]

Personally I don't have any problem when someone debates my (or someone else's) preferences. In fact, that's what this forum is for! When you debate something, it doesn't mean you don't respect the other person's opinion. At least... that's my opinion!

Randy, I can certainly understand that Glen's original studio version is the one that is ingrained in the minds of millions of Americans. And that makes it an essential version. However, for me personally, the story is slightly different. Galveston was never a hit over here and it was released three years before I was born anyway. So the first time I heard Galveston was Jimmy's understated studio version from 1972. When I heard Glen's studio version, I think what I did not really like about it was the orchestral arrangement, which to me was a bit overwhelming, just a little too much. Glen's guitar solo on that studio version also sounded less inventive than I expected from a guitar player of Glen's caliber. Later I read in an interview that Glen himself wasn't really satisfied about his guitar solo either. He said he was so busy at the time that he didn't take the time for it. And he even told the interviewer that every time he plays the song live, he is trying to create the perfect guitar solo for it, in a way to improve on that solo he put out on the record.

Glen recorded Galveston quite a few times and of course performed it thousands of times. In my opinion Glen kept getting better with time. And his version of Galveston did too. I am glad some of these brilliant versions of Galveston where captured on record (with the South Dakota Symphony) and on television (the version with Steve Wariner that Randy posted).

[Randy]

No problem Dee. After I reread Cowpoke's post, I realized he was just stating his preference and not debating anything anyway. So me trying to debate someone's preference was wrong anyways.

[Dee]

Thanks Cowpoke. Lots of people contributed to the "Phoenix" list (which has many holes in it). But it is a start.

Pat Boone. Where to list Boone's?

Do you have any info on when Boone recorded and when he released his version?
A friend of Erik's had sent him documentation (an ad?) from 1967 showing Boone's version at no. 27 on a San Diego hit list dated 9th October.

So perhaps Glen was second to record "Phoenix"? Then Pat Boone?

Erik had posted below, I think, that GC recorded the song between 17th-29th August 1967. It was released as a single (I don't know this date - Dee) and on his album by the same name on the 27th November 1967 (from Erik).

Perhaps Boone recorded his cover after Glen recorded his cover in August? Boone's album was released first; then Glen's single/album?

The list below isn't perfect (yet!) and I believe the contributors provided the year of release (not the mo/year of the actual recording).

Another update: Erik's records indicate that George Shearing's instrumental (piano) version was issued on his May 1967 album. Not 1968 as shown below.

In any case, the question of Pat Boone's recording date(s) and release date(s) would be interesting to pursue! Also, the list below is impressive for the many music genres represented by the artists, isn't it?
Dee

* * *

BTW, Cowpoke, I interrupted Randy's question to you (below the list of Phoenix covers).
Here is Randy's post with video:

Cowpoke, Gotta disagree, on the strength of Glen's 1969 version of Galveston that was imbedded on people's minds for years, the only thing he did was make it better (In my opinion) by incredible an guitar solo it shows up here as number 8 on the list of best country songs ever. I do agree with your assessment of the country/pop debate. In my opinion , I would never consider Glen a traditional country singer given the era he came up in. He was however country rooted and adored by country music fans and outperformed most of the so called traditional country performers. Because he wasn't a cowboy hat wearer and sing with a nasal sound in his voice it took a little longer to hit the hall of fame. And having said that, I am not knocking traditional country music at all. I love it. Glen was just one special talented man !

So sorry Randy!
Dee

[Cowpoke]

What an incredible list Dee. Must have been a lot of work researching it. One other version preceded Glen's.... Pat Boone's version!