Live In Concet

Anyone who believes the countrypolitan sound was a primarily studio-concocted phenomenon should hear Glen Campbell bring it to life on this 1981 live recording. Even with the corny adlibs spoken between verses and the absence of a sweeping string section, Campbell's definitive version of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" still glows and pulses with a magic that most musicians can't pull off live. Though it would have been nicer to hear "Wichita Lineman" in its entirety, rather than as a fraction of a three-song medley comprising "Galveston" and "Country Boy," the rest of Live In Concert delivers heaps of hits. It opens with a perfect performance of Larry Weiss'  "Rhinestone Cowboy," a catchy tribute to Nudie Cohen, the rodeo tailor who popularized the bedazzled and embroidered suits of classic country music stars. A barnstorming banjo kicks off an awesome take on John Hartford's "Gentle On My Mind," this version sounding more rootsy than Campbell's studio recorded rendition. A playful presentation of Allen Toussaint's "Southern Nights," recalls the urban cowboy movement of the early ‘80s, but Campbell's buttery vocals shine best on "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" as his backing band steadies a mellow groove, making the original recording sound overproduced in comparison.