Really, just HOW talented was Glen Campbell? It's a problem to TRY to explain.

Tonight we're taking a look at the one and only Glen Campbell performing 'MacArthur Park' back in 1978!
TIME STAMPS -
0:00 Intro
­0:57 Performance
2:51 Analysis (Pitch & Slides)
8:24 The ‘Problem’ with Glen!
10:37 Performance (To End)
13:32 Analysis (Range)
15:53 Guitar
24:21 Top Tip!

[ollieroger]

Merle Haggard once famously said, “If the good Lord ever gave too much talent to one person, it was Glen Campbell.” Amen, truer words have never been spoken. Thanks, Fil.

[georgiabelle]

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again….you are such a kind person. Thanks for honoring Glen is such a respectful way. He was so talented. Rest in heaven, Glen❤

[rickobrien]

I Met Mr Campbell at a bluegrass fest in North Carolina is the late 80's. He was the headliner with a bunch of country bluegrass bands opening up. I was sitting in for a sick guitar player of a bluegrass band I happened into the situation and was only familiar with Glenn from his songs radio play.
After we played he came up to us and introduced himself. A super guy! When he got around to shaking my hand he laughed because he heard me playing model scales in between the flatpicking. I told him I was just filling in and was mainly a jazz player. He said it was crazy in a good way.
When I finally got to hear him play it knocked my socks off. I had no idea the guy was a master guitarist. What a great fortunate experience

[davidwhitfield]

I'm an old guy so I've been listening to Glen Campbell since before his days on Hee Haw. And as a guitarist and singer how can you not be impressed with his ability. I'm really really glad that fil is taking it on himself to introduce him to a new generation. So hats off to you Sir

[suemilkbone]

Fil, it absolutely warms my heart every time you pay homage to such a talented and accomplished artist. I'm sure Glen Campbell, if he was still here with us, would be extremely honored by your positive analysis.

[stlrockn]

Glen Campbell was a phenomenal talent. I met him in 2008 at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville where he was donating one of his Ovation Roundback acoustic guitars to their collection. I asked him about his first hit record "Universal Soldier." He was holding the guitar and he played and sang the song standing in front of me. Incredible. He was a really nice man.

[gailseatonhumbert]

Massive talent. He was an always in demand session player before he became a leading act himself. I forgot how good he sounded. Thanks Fil

[berrettamm]

I miss him. So much - I am a classic rock guy, born in 1951, and steeped in that era's music - but Glen was an artist I recgnized very early as a talent - an artist - that surpassed all genres. He could sing like this, while playing his guitar at a level of beauty, intracy and pure artistry that seemed superhuman, and always made it look so easy that many people who weren't musicians themselves, didn't really see everything he was doing - although you had to love the performance. His perfrmances were, in a word, seamless.
When he began to lose his faculties, slowly fading in the throws of Alzheimer's, it was like watching the most beautiful sunset ever painted in the sky slowly fading out of the blue, and into the black (with a little license Neil Young won't mind, I'm sure.
He was a Titan, who could stand in a crowd of giants, singing and playing amongst them, as they faded into the background.
His last few tours his wife and children traveled with him, and helped him remember the lyrics - but he finally had to stop.
One thing became obvious as he began to fall in his level of proficiency on the guitar: he could lose 50% of his techniques and styles, and STILL remain a master craftsman, finding ways to leave out flourishes, and keep the beauty of the musculature of his artistic style.
There is no better tribute I personally can give a fellow artist: even his final album, in which he is clearly aware he is slipping away, he finds a way to express even that - and the album is beautiful; it's like watching a star that has gone Super-nova, and is fading into an Orange Dwarf; still beautiful, but so sad.
We will, literally, never have an artist like Glen again - he was a product of a very particular time in the music industry, when many of the finest musicians amoung the Studio Musicians ("The Wrecking Crew"), who performed much of the intricate work on band's albums, were self-taught, and artistically brilliant.
His collaboration with Jimmy Web (who I think was playing piano here, and who WROTE this - and many of Glen's other songs) was one of the best in musical history. They complimented each other in a way only nature and chance can provide.
I'll say it again: I miss him. So much. This is a loss that will forever remain unfilled - but he went down strong, with a loving family, and as a brave Scottsman (which I share with him).
For anyone who didn't have the opportunity to listen to him while he was alive, watch him now, and see the unfiltered joy and utter focus he showed when singing and playing - you will NOT be sorry: his style defies all generalized description, and crosses all boundaries.
Thank you so much, Fil, for showing him here - it is beyond a pity and a shame that apparently the audio engineers were not familiar with the soloist they were recrding, and mashed his solo down to the level of the orchestra - they should have been flogged.
Hopefully, someone can find these Masters, and re-engineer it to bring him far up to the level a soloist of this caliber deserved.

[jeanniemainzer]

Something in Glen's tone was just heart-breakingly beautiful and haunting. In the late 60's I first heard him when my mom bought the Gentle on My Mind album. From there, she bought everything that came out from him afterwards. Glen was the soundtrack of my childhood, and to this day, I can still listen to his songs over and over without tiring of them. There simply will never be another Glen.

[TheGamingJewYT]

Guys like Glen Campbell can't really be critiqued, there's nothing to compare them too, they're in a class of their own!! Keep up the great work as always Fil 🔥

[kendramoon]

Every chance I get to see Jimmy Webb in concert, he speaks of Glen Campbell so respectfully and lovingly. Jimmy is keeping Glen Campbell alive through his story-telling. I’ve grown to respect Glen’s talents so much! Amazing!

[amierikke]

Glynn was a complete natural. No lessons. It was in him. Growing up I would watch his TV show with my folks. Thanks Fil.

[budsurtees]

Huge credit also to Jimmy Webb... the composer of many of Campbell's songs and many others. Jimmy is one of the all time greats.

[lloydbraun]

His work being part of the Wrecking Crew is testament enough of his talent.

[wallflower]

Hear the diction. You don't have to google lyrics to understand what he is singing. I haven't heard this in a very long time. Thank you Fil :)

[charleskallay]

As a keyboard and trumpet player, I really appreciate great guitarists, and Glen Campbell is definitely one of those. R.I.P.

[johnsmith-ugtp]

Talent off the charts on every level. He had it all. Either ya born with it, or ya not, and he was. God given talent. Another brilliant break down Fil.

[s]

I've loved his music since I was a little girl. What a perfect choice to point out ALL the complexities of his music and talent. Fantastic!

[MarkColeman-sv]

Am 70 yrs.old..always thought he was great!! now i know he was even better.also glad he got closer to God again too.Much respect to him and his loving family he left behind.i look forward to pickin' a tune with him someday.God Bless to all.

[straighttimestirrups]

I remember Glen Campbell being interviewed one time and they asked Glen who was the best guitarist in the world and he said, (paraphrased) “I know I can do anything any other guitarist can do, but none of them can do what I can do.”

The GOAT of the guitar!