Glen Campbell Forums

Hi, Cowpoke,

As a follow-up to my post below, New Depression's tribute article to Glen Campbell, written by a British writer, also makes pointed remarks about Glen's alleged political views:

(Glen Campbell) made incendiary statements condemning anti-war protesters and pacifists in general and was an all-round flat-out Republican. Yet you never seem to hear anyone who knew him say a word against him.

Campbell turned ("Galveston", the song) into an expression of complete patriotism, a sing-along number to remind America of the great and noble sacrifices made by its troops.

It is frustrating as a fan to read these unfounded assumptions, isn't it?

Furthermore, the writer obviously lacks understanding about the meaning of "Galveston". I have never heard it described as "a sing-along number". LOL
Certainly, Jimmy Webb did not write this song as a reminder to Americans of "the great and noble sacrifices make by its troops". Actually, this statement sounds more like a put-down to Americans.

Perhaps Mike Joyce or other fans in Britain can help to explain why Glen was perceived as "an all-round flat-out Republican", a misconception that originally appeared in an online British newspaper article (of dubious nature) from years ago. In this newspaper article, the writer described Glen as a "staunch Republican" (without facts to backup this statement).

http://nodepression.com/article/i-know- ... -1936-2017" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dee

@Cowpoke...

This post regards the August 8th RS Country obituary with video for Glen Campbell: http://www.rollingstone.com/country/new ... dead-at-81" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I watched the video and read the article again this week. Of all the tributes posted on the net since Glen's passing, only this online publication--from what I have seen so far--pointlessly (imo) includes or alludes to Glen's political views and affiliations.

First, the video starts with GC's appearance as entertainer at one of the national political conventions (Reagan's?); he is introduced by actor Charlton Heston (who later became the controversial president and spokesperson for the NRA in the U.S.).

Then, the article includes this quote, supposedly Glen's:

His (Glen's) first hit was a cover of Buffy Sainte-Marie's antiwar song "Universal Soldier." But Campbell's own political views tended to be conservative. "The people who are advocating burning draft cards should be hung," he said in 1965.

Did Glen actually make this pro-Vietnam war statement? Was he misquoted? Did he later refute it, if it did say this? Just curious. This quote surfaces from time-to-time and is misinterpreted, I think. (Perhaps the worst misinterpretation is on the USA's Newseum's webpage dedicated to the song "Galveston". Read the description just above the song's soundbite at http://www.newseum.org/2015/09/28/vietn ... galveston/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) Also, the RS writer did not even source the quote other than "he said in 1965".

In any case, it seems oddly and grossly irrelevant imo for RS to have included on Glen's obituary page any reference to politics.

Have you all seen this video on a Gentry fan's channel with rare home movies of Miss Bobbie Gentry?
Rare and so precious,,,Set to a beautiful song that was written by her, too.
BG


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKcRfzJ3qEA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cool. Thanks for that picture (and the correct name of the award), Dee!

Thanks so much for posting about Glen's latest award, Cowpoke.

This is a photograph of Glen's Outstanding Achievement Award shared by a fan, Dwight McCain, on social media.

[You may need to click on this image once to expand the viewing window.]

Glen was honored with a Career Achievement Award from the Music Business Association (established as the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) in 1958, its membership includes music retailers, distributors, and others involved in the sale of music and related merchandise).

https://www.facebook.com/glencampbellof ... 26/?type=3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice to see that Steve Wariner presented the award.

Vol. 2 holds its position at #8 on Billboard's 200 (week of May 20th)

Hi Dee,
That is great news about the album charting. It will surely bring in new young fans to Glen's music.
As regards Southern nights, I can see what you are saying. Personally I always felt it was Allen making the point that we live in a beautiful world in which we could all co exist peacefully but frustratingly in his mind, others seem to have lost sight of the joy to be found in life. If we just appreciated the world's natural beauty that is all around us, instead of fighting over territory or power, how much better it would be for us all to find the joy he has in a Southern night..
The NASA astronauts tend to feel the same way when they see the earth from space and come to realise, it is just one planet in the vastness of space, which we all share and need to take care of for future generations to benefit from.
The song is great poetry as Glen said.

Thanks, Mike.
I have yet to find a Doritos bag cassette player for Guardians 2 listed on amazon in the U.S.
Not that I would buy one. I am just curious to learn how much this item is selling for before it hits the secondary marketplace. $10? $20?
Or, maybe it is worth buying now to sell later.
A friend of mine sold a bag of ELVIS PRESLEY Hershey’s Reese’s Peanut Butter & Banana Cups Miniatures manufactured in 2007, a 30th anniversary item in commemoration of Elvis's death. Original price: I am guessing at around $3.99. In his listing he wrote, "We absolutely do not advise eating this candy due to its age—it was manufactured in 2007. As a Limited Edition sold by a major candy manufacturer, these peanut butter and banana Reese’s cups are not now edible but may have “ap-peel” for Elvis or Hershey’s / Reese’s Cups collectors."
This bag of candy sold for $35.00 last year on the secondary market. Either the purchaser is very happy now or he had a quick demise.

NEW CHARTING NEWS! The Guardians 2 Soundtrack has now charted, btw. It debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200. I didn't look at the other charts.
So, Glen Campbell, your "Southern Nights" is back on the board!

I pulled up the song's lyrics for the first time. It "sort of" is an anti-war protest song. (If you ignore the "La da da da da da la da da da da da da da da".) What do you all think? A possible connection with the American Civil War? Or something personal in Toussaint's life? From Wikipedia:

The lyrics of "Southern Nights" were inspired by childhood memories Allen Toussaint had of visiting relatives in the Louisiana backwoods, which often entailed storytelling under star-filled nighttime skies. When Campbell heard Toussaint's version, he immediately identified with the lyrics which reminded him of his own youth growing up on an Arkansas farm. In October 1976, Campbell recorded the song with slightly modified lyrics.

It may not be a far stretch that Toussaint's story-telling relatives in the South spoke of tragic family memories from the Civil War.

"Southern Nights"
Written by Allen Toussaint

Southern nights
have you ever felt a southern night?
Free as a breeze
not to mention the trees
Whistling tunes that you know and love so.
Southern nights
just as good even when closed your eyes.
I apologize to anyone who can truly say
That he has found a better way
Southern skies
have you ever noticed southern skies?
It's precious beauty lies just beyond the eye.
It goes running through your soul
Like the stories told of old
Old man
he and his dog that walked the old land
Ev'ry flower touched his cold hand.
As he slowly walked by
weeping willows
Would cry for joy
Joy
Feel so good
feel so good
it's frigth'ning.
Wish I could,
stop this world from fighting.
La da da da da da la da da da da da da da da
Mysteries
like this and many others in the trees
Blow in the night
in the southern skies.
Southern nights
they feel so good it's fright'ning . . .
Wish I could stop this world from fighting
La da da da da da la da da da da da
da da da da da da da da da da da

* * *
Love Toussaint's LP cover!

Hi Dee, I was checking this out yesterday. Apparently these packs have sold really well and stock has already gone here in the UK. I guess they will be over on Ebay very shortly.