Glen Campbell Forums

Posted on Sunday, May 05, 2013 - 06:12 pm:


I recently purchased an album that was apparently cut in 1970 titled "THE INSTRUMENTAL SOUND OF HANK THOMPSON'S BRAZOS VALLEY BOYS" (DOT Records/Stereo/DLP-25978/Produced by Joe Allison, Nereco Productions/Recorded at Capitol Records in Hollywood).

In addition to Hank on guitar and his Brazos Valley Boys (Curly Lewis and Keith Coleman on fiddles, Bert Rivera on steel, Hugo Chambers on drums, and Curtis Potter on bass), two additional musicians were added to this special instrumental recording:

"...the legendary Merle Travis and the sensational Glen Campbell on guitars." (Yes, the word "guitars" is plural.)

These credits are in the album notes on the album's back cover.

So...I have a few questions: Is this album original to 1970? It doesn't appear to be a re-release per Hank's discography. If it's not a re-release, how did Glen get involved with this album? Would his participation be considered session work or something different? Isn't it interesting that Glen played guitars on another artist's album in 1970 after his own career had zoomed? This was already a very busy and financially rewarding period in Glen's life; he didn't need the work, I assume, so I'm wondering if he was friends w/ Hank whose western swing band had been around since 1952.

Thanks in advance for any info our experts can provide here.

-Dee

Posted on Monday, April 08, 2013 - 03:44 pm:


It amazes me that that In Group album on which Glen played 12-string was also released in Germany!

http://allegro.pl/the-in-group-with-gle ... 70455.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

-Cowpoke

Posted on Wednesday, April 03, 2013 - 05:58 am:


I agree with Roberthd. Too much emphasis is put on Glen's session work for Elvis Presley. After all, according to the available evidence, Glen only played on 1 track from the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack, namely "What I'd Say". So Glen didn't even play on the title track! And yes, Glen played on the Sounds of Silence album but it's not clear to me on which tracks he played. Another very big act, that Glen did a lot of session work for, does not get mentioned a lot (drumroll...) The Kingston Trio!

In fact I once made a list of all the REALLY BIG MAJOR acts Glen did session work for...

Beach Boys
Bing Crosby
Bobby Darin
Dean Martin
Doris Day
Elvis Presley
Everly Brothers
Frank (and Nancy) Sinatra
Ike & Tina Turner
Jan & Dean
Kingston Trio
Merle Haggard
Monkees
Nat King Cole
Pat Boone
Rick Nelson
Righteous Brothers
Sam Cooke
Simon & Garfunkel
Willie Nelson

Mind you, for some of the artists Glen played only on sessions recorded before (Willie) or after (Everly Brothers) their commercial prime.

The Green River Boys were, as far as I know, just a bunch of musicians put together to release that Big Bluegrass Special album. I think Capitol thought that a "folk group" (albeit a made-up one) would sell better than a solo artist with that kind of material. I don't think the band ever performed live.

-Cowpoke

Posted on Wednesday, April 03, 2013 - 01:34 am:


Yes Dee, Fine with me and thanks, I just got a new computer and no office or word loaded on it and don't know if I'll get it or not.

Thanks

-randy moore

Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2013 - 07:55 pm:


Thanks, Arlw!

I might be thinking of Tut Taylor (the wonderful dobro guitarist) and The Dillards who teamed up with Glen on the Folkswingers albums. I was never clear about whether these musicians were independent artists (non-session) or if they were also session players.

-Dee

Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2013 - 07:21 pm:


Dee,

Many thanks...I looked up Carl Tanberg who passed away in 1988 and also Dale Fitzsimmons who might still be around. BOTH are listed in "The Legacy" CD set of Glen Campbell so they must have been on that recording.

In answer to your question--most likely they had something to do with session work and Glen, but would have to do a lot more research. Maybe Cowpoke can assist and others that want to help as well.

-Arlw

Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2013 - 06:39 pm:


Thanks for the go-ahead, Arlw. I'll email the xls shortly.

-Dee

Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2013 - 06:34 pm:


I wonder if one could call "Big Bluegrass Special / Green River Boys & Glen Campbell" a hybrid? Yes, it's Glen's LP (Capitol T1810, 1962), but it was also a collaboration with the Green River Boys. Further, were all of the album's musicians session players at the time of its release -- including Carl & Dale -- even though they had been performing as a duo, I think, for over a decade prior to this album's production? I guess what I'm asking is: were Carl & Dale also session players?

Glen Campbell – vocals, acoustic guitar
Carl Tanberg – bass fiddle
Dale Fitzsimmons – banjo
Joe Osborn – bass guitar
James Burton – acoustic guitar
David Frost – drums

-Dee

Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2013 - 06:27 pm:


Dee,
Sounds great to me----took me 40 years to gather all of that!!! And, there are still more I am sure that isn't on there!! But, that is a great idea..

-Arlw

Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2013 - 06:03 pm:


Hi, Arlw and Randy,

I'm happy to import Arlw's data into Excel, alphabetize the session list (by the first name, then the last name of each artist), and then email the spreadsheet to both of you. How does this sound to you both?

Thank you again for sharing with us your most excellent recordkeeping, Arlw.

-Dee