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Thanks for posting that inner sleeve text Dee! I actually have to buy that album just for the interesting interview included. Now, unlike Mike, the mention of a demo only confuses me more. I mean Glen had heard Johnny Rivers' version which was already out on record, then he played on Pat Boone's version which was then also released on single. Why does Glen say "I finally got a demo of it". To me that doesn't make sense as he had two versions readily available to him (and by the way, the arrangement of Glen's version follows Johnny's quite closely so he and Al de Lory defintely used that record as a blue print, not some demo Glen got later). So, to me the only explanation is that "I finally got a demo of it" means "I finally made a demo of it". Meaning Glen finally, after hearing the song several times and sensing this song was to be special for him, cut his own "demo" version of it, with a few of his Wreckin Crew buddies, then handed it over Al who added his orchestral touch.

One other thought... how did Pat Boone discover that song and why did he decide to cut a single of it? Was Johnny Rivers instrumental in that as well? I wish we could ask Johnny or Pat!

The lion sleeps tonight....

Isn't it great to discuss this topic and other "I wonder how..." topics on Glen Campbell Forums? Everyone who joins the discussion brings another piece of the past to it.
We will never figure the exact timeline and backstory because, obviously, we weren't party to the events as they transpired.
However, it certainly is interesting to keep this song discussion alive by examining the pieces to try to come up with a reasonable theory.

Lest we forget (aka Ode of Remembrance).

Dee

Hey Dee,
Interesting that Glen mentions the demo here. I don't recall reading that before. So perhaps the planets did align on this song and events transpired as both Glen and Johnny stated. A bit like Rhinestone Cowboy did for Glen as well.
Thanks for posting that Dee, I can now sleep soundly tonight.

"BE" is Ben Edmonds. At the time of this interview, he was an A&R staffer at Capitol Records and "former editor and writer for music periodicals as Rolling Stone and Creem...."

I find this discussion about Johnny Rivers a bit meandering...

PS: the story about Glen playing on Pat Boone's version of Phoenix comes from the innersleeve of Glen's 1976 The Best Of album. Does anyone have that vinyl album in their collection. I would love to hear the exact story again...

Sorry Cowpoke,
I meant to say Johnny River's music is now being streamed.

Hi Cowpoke,
Thanks for the info on Rhinestone Cowboy track listing.

But Mike, discussing these details is fun. And fun really matters!

Well said Cowpoke, I love the fact I can talk with folks like you who know and love the subject. When I said none of it matters I wasn't implying we shouldn't bother discussing it, as you say, that is where the fun is for all of us. My point was that whether we can find the definitive answers to any question isn't something to get frustrated by, the important thing is the final result of what actually happened, which was for Glen was a great result, however it happened.
I am sure there are going to be many more topics we can both enjoy delving into over the years.

In the case of Rhinestone Cowboy I believe they released Rhinestone Cowboy ahead in May 1975 and afterwards released the album which entered Album charts in august/september 1975. October 1975 Country Boy became the new single so it made sense to put that one first on side A and Rhinestone Cowboy first track on side B?

>The bottom line Cowpoke, is none of it really matters it is just speculation on our parts.
But Mike, discussing these details is fun. And fun really matters!

Say hello to Johnny from me!

That is a good question Cowpoke, about not releasing the top track on the album. I suppose you could also ask why Rhinestone Cowboy was the first track on side two of his album. I think it was for the purpose of the story line of the album is my thinking on that.
The bottom line Cowpoke, is none of it really matters it is just speculation on our parts. The most important thing is Glen got the hit and won the Grammy, everything else is a side salad for the steak.
I asked Johnny Rivers about these stories awhile ago and he said " Being Johnny Rivers, I just go with the flow"

I understand what you are saying Mike. Still, we cannot dismiss the possibility that all of the stories are (partially) true.

So what if... Glen played on the recording of Phoenix by Pat Boone (probably recorded in June 1967), Glen then listened to Johnny's version of the song when he found the album hanging on a wall in a recording studio. Around the same time Johnny Rivers, disappointed by the fact that Pat Boone's single version didn't make any impression on the charts, and after hearing Gentle on My Mind on the radio, contacted Al de Lory to see if Glen was interested to do it. Like the story around Rhinestone Cowboy, both Glen and Johnny/Al could have come up with the same song / idea around the same time!

One more interesting thing. By the Time I Get to Phoenix on Johnny River's Changes album was the first track on side A. A1 in those days at least was the song to be released as single. Why didn't Johnny do it? Instead he picked the first track of the B-side: Poor Side of Town.