The music world took a big hit when news circulated that Glen Campbell passed away. The “Rhinestone Cowboy” may be gone but his music will live on forever.
To call Campbell’s career impressive is an understatement. He released 60 studio albums and more than 80 of his singles landed on the charts. His music was relatable to more than just country fans. He also charted songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and even the Adult Contemporary chart. Campbell has won Grammy Awards, ACM Awards and so much more. According to Rolling Stone, in 1968 he actually “outsold the Beatles.” Basically, he was a legend.
In the last several years before his death, Campbell bravely battled Alzheimer’s and do so publicly. He participated in I’ll Be Me, a documentary that brought much-needed attention to the disease. Then, on Tuesday, his family released a statement saying he’d lost his “long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.”
We’ll never forget the “Rhinestone Cowboy” and the beautiful music he made. To properly celebrate his life and talent, we’ve compiled a list of Glen Campbell’s best songs.
“True Grit”
https://youtu.be/FugjwZKCz-A
“True Grit” was the first single from Campbell’s album of the same name. The song was a Top 10 hit on the country charts and was also in the opening credits for the movie of the same name.
“Faithless Love”
https://youtu.be/-wtXy449U0w
Campbell wasn’t the first artist to record the song “Faithless Love,” but he did make it a hit. His release was a Top 10 hit and, if you watch the video above, you’ll see why.
“Try a Little Kindness”
https://youtu.be/KaCBTSQZq1E
We love this song for a number of reasons and one of those reasons is the message. It’s one we still need today. “You got to try a little kindness, Yes show a little kindness. / Just shine your light for everyone to see, and if you try a little kindness, / Then you’ll overlook the blindness, of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets.”
“Wichita Lineman”
https://youtu.be/rjzTNWWO7U0
Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” was released in 1968 and was written by Jimmy Webb. The song was inspired by a true story about a man who works on telephone poles. See the full story behind the song on American Songwriter.
“Galveston”
https://youtu.be/ZTbTHlTmDX8
“Galveston” was another track written by Jimmy Webb. This became one of Campbell’s signature hits but he wasn’t the first to sing it. Don Ho was and his version is much different than Campell’s.
“By the Time I Get to Phoenix”
https://youtu.be/mUg5p3BncuQ
This was a huge song for Campbell, even winning him two Grammy Awards. He released it in 1967, two years after Johnny Rivers released it. It was almost a No. 1 hit, peaking instead at No. 2.
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You”
https://youtu.be/U8TsAh-zYFI
This song was the big track from Campbell’s documentary, I’ll Be Me, and it was written after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It’ll rip your heart in two but it’s proof that the disease didn’t take away his talent and heart.
“Southern Nights”
https://youtu.be/7wOUFo4Lwf8
“Southern Nights” is one of those songs that still resonates today. He released it in 1977 and, in 2015, Whitney covered it. It also resonates with fans of different genres. It was a crossover hit, climbing country, pop and adult contemporary charts.
“Gentle On My Mind”
https://youtu.be/VecunpIqlg0
John Hartford wrote this classic song but Campbell released it himself in 1967 and it won him two Grammy Awards. It’s since been covered by The Band Perry, Patti Page, Dean Martin and Aretha Franklin.
“Rhinestone Cowboy”
https://youtu.be/8kAU3B9Pi_U
If we had to choose one signature song from Campbell, this would be it. It’s a classic that topped both the country charts and the Billboard Hot 100. It’s a song about survival as he sings, “Well, I really don’t mind the rain, / and a smile can hide all the pain.”
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What’s your favorite Glen Campbell song? Let us know in the comments below.
