‘Catch of the Day’ – Glen Campbell – “Everybody’s Talkin'” [AUDIO]

Today we feature a legendary artist who has just released what will quite probably be his farewell album. An artist who was the leader of the original "pop-country" incursion, but who started his musical career as part of a group of legendary studio performers who would "wreck" the music business, changing it forever.

In 1958, at age 18, Glen Campbell moved from his parents farm in Arkansas to Albuquerque, NM to play in his uncle's band The Sandia Mountain Boys, forming his own band four years later, the Western Wranglers. He continued his westward movement in 1960, packing his bags once again, this time making it all the way to Los Angeles. He began working as a session musician, playing in various bands at night, while working a day job at publishing house, writing songs and recording demos. Campbell would eventually become part of a legendary group of session musicians who would become known as The Wrecking Crew. A loosely knit group of 25 to 30 musicians, the troop played on most of the major west coast recording sessions in the 60's and 70's.

In 1964 Campbell replaced Brian Wilson as a touring member of The Beach Boys. Already signed to Capitol Records, Campbell also played guitar for the group on their innovative Pet Sounds album, as several members of the Wrecking Crew appeared on the groundbreaking release. After several solo singles failed to make much of an impression, Capitol Records was close to dropping Campbell from the label, when in 1967 he scored his first top-20 hit, "Burning Bridges". He followed it up with "Gentle On My Mind" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", which scored Campbell 4 Grammy Awards in 1968.

Campbell was soon offered a summer-replacement TV series in 1968, as a fill-in for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. After a successful initial summer run, CBS would offer the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour a spot in the fall line-up. The should would remain on CBS from January of 1969 to July of 1972. Campbell would go on to do more television work, including a tv movie, several specials and hosting the American Music Awards from 1976 to 1978. He had already ventured into acting, starring with John Wayne in 1969's True Grit, for which Campbell's theme song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Through 70's, 80's, 90's and beyond Campbell produced several records a year, usually one commercially aimed album and one theme or tribute album. While his output began to decline in the 80's, he still managed to release 9 albums, only missing 1983 & 1986 release dates. The 90's saw 13 more albums, and 5 more between 2000 and 2013. 2014 saw the release of the documentary I'll Be Me, along with its accompanying soundtrack. The documentary detailed Campbell's final tour and his struggles with the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. From the soundtrack, the song "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song peaked at #21 on the Billboard Country Digital chart, Campbell's highest charting single since 1989.

After the tour was over, Campbell entered the studio for one final farewell. Wanting to "preserve what magic was left" Campbell recorded 12 songs written by some of his favorite writers, including Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and Bob Dylan. The finished project, Campbell's way of saying goodbye to his fans, is in stores today, and it's appropriately called Adios. And the lead single from the album is in our spotlight. Brought to you by All American Super Car Wash of Lawton, Glen Campbell and "Everybody's Talkin'" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

Like, share or comment on today's feature, and you will be entered into our drawings for $25 gift cards from All American Super Car Wash of Lawton, who bring you new music every day, the Catch of the Day on Oklahoma's Best Country, KLAW 101.