The heartfelt music and smooth voice of Glen Campbell could be heard in the homes of many in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s.
One of the great entertainers of the time, the American singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor, and TV presenter was a jack of all trades and a master of the entertainment business.
As a musician, Campbell blessed the country, folk, and pop world with his silky sound. Perhaps most notably with the hits ‘Wichita Lineman’ and ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’.
His reach even extended out to the 21st century with the release of his final song, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”, in 2014 at age 78.
This came following his Alzheimer's diagnosis and three years before his passing in 2017.
Although the country icon has deservingly received recognition for his solo tunes, did you know we also have him to thank for bringing musical magic to a variety of '60s tracks?
Before he took off as a solo artist, the singer and television host was a sought-after session guitarist with the studio group the Wrecking Crew.
He played the guitar on hundreds of songs and worked with some of the biggest names of the decade.
We take a look at five of these iconic features below.
‘What’d I Say’ - Elvis Presley (1963)
One of the biggest artists to come out of the 60s, Elvis Presley, had quite an admiration for Campbell. At one point, the 'King of Rock' n Roll' had the star placed as one of the top two contenders to be lead guitarist in his on-stage band.
Campbell's solo success meant he was too busy to take on such a role, but he did lend his guitar to the Presley version of Ray Charles’ ‘What’d I Say’.
You can play around with the composition here and mute the other instruments to focus solely on the guitar.
‘I Get Around’ - The Beach Boys (1964)
Safe to say Campbell got around - in the best way possible - and this Beach Boys track is a prime example of that. The catchy tune would not be what it is without his guitar.
‘You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling’ - The Righteous Brothers (1965)
This version of ‘You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling’ is a gem of the mid-60s.
The deep richness of The Righteous Brothers’ vocals perfectly complements the instrumentals, which Campbell and the Wrecking Crew featured on.
All the components come together on this one to create a soothing and timeless classic.
‘Mary, Mary’- The Monkees (1966)
Peaking at number 14 on the New Zealand charts, ‘Mary, Mary’ is unmistakably 60s-sounding. Groovy and upbeat, this one makes you want to get up and dance.
Glen Campbell is partly to thank for this, as one of several guitarists in the ensemble.
‘Strangers in the Night’ - Frank Sinatra (1966)
Another classic that is kept in time by the talented Campbell. The almost melancholy sound of his guitar lays the rhythmic foundation for that iconic string and percussion arrangement.
Campbell recalls the collaboration with Sinatra, describing Sinatra as “simply awesome” while being a “very serious performer”.
According to the country legend, the duo were able to cut the song together with just two takes. Legendary.
