My Musical Bucket List: Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell, Neil Diamond, Tom Petty, Pink and Dave Koz are all listed in my musical bucket list.  My musical bucket list contains the names of close to 50 musicians and bands that I want to see in concert before my day comes but at the top of the top of my list is Glen Campbell.  And I blew my chance.

When I was home visiting my parents in Albany a few weekends ago, my mom and I got on the subject of how much I once loved Glen Campbell- so much that I’d wake up my whole house every single morning.

I was probably about 10 or 11 years old, maybe younger and my Glen Campbell Witchita Lineman record was my favorite. I’d get up at 5am and the first thing I’d do as soon as my feet hit the floor was turn on my record player and gently put my Glen Campbell record on the turntable.  Then I’d crank up the volume as loud as it’d go while setting the needle in just the right spot to play “Witchita Lineman.” My favorite song on the record of the same name.

I didn’t care that I had two younger brothers and a sister who was still just a baby who were fast asleep.  I HAD to listen to Glen Campbell and sing along at the top of my lungs.

Every morning like a scene from the movie “Groundhog” my mom would walk into my room and yell at me to turn off my record player because the kids were sleeping.  But I couldn’t help it.  I had an insatiable thirst for my “Witchita Lineman.”

I had planned to see Glen Campbell in concert as he was playing in the town I just moved here from, but completely forgot to buy tickets and missed my very last chance to see him in concert. I’m not beating myself up over it, but am a bit sad because I really would have liked to have seen him in concert just once in my life.

The reason I’ll never have another chance to see the man who celebrated his 77^th birthday yesterday in concert is because he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and is too ill to do shows anymore. BUT! Glen has put his foot down and said he’s not too ill to release one more record which will come out on July 30^th and be called “See You There.”

According to a press release, the 12-song collection will include “new takes of his career-defining hits,” including “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Gentle On My Mind” and “True Grit.”

I think you know what I plan to buy on July 30^th.

Here's Glen performing the song that brought me so much joy so many mornings so many years ago: