The legendary country music star, Glen Campbell, is leaving the country music scene with as much grace and passion as anyone could. The 81 year old musician has just announced his final album, titled Adios, set to be released on June 9th.
Campbell was tragically diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2011, which prompted him to embark on one final “Goodbye Tour”. The final tour that set off in 2012 was as much about his family as it was about the music and his fans. His three youngest children, Cal, Shannon, and Ashley, all joined him as his backup band. After the final show, Campbell went straight back to the studio in his home in Nashville to record his final album.
Looking back, Campbell has had an incredible career, to say the least. He started out in Los Angeles as a session musician and joined one of the most famous groups of studio musicians, The Wrecking Crew. After going solo, he went on to tour with The Beach Boys, filling in for Brian Wilson, and then with Ricky Nelson. Campbell found major success with songs like “Burning Bridges”, “Gentle On My Mind” and “By the Time I get to Phoenix” in 1967, for which he won four Grammy Awards. In 1969, Campbell sung on “True Grit”, composed by Elmer Bernstein for the movie with the same title, which also co-starred Campbell alongside John Wayne. Campbell went on to host his own weekly variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, bringing on guests like The Beatles, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. In the mid-70s, Campbell recorded more hits, “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Southern Nights” which both reached U.S number one hits. In 2005, Campbell was deservedly inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
His new and final album, Adios, is Campbell’s chance to say goodbye and record the songs he never got the chance to record. “What you’re hearing when listening to Adios is the beautiful and loving culmination of friends and family doing their very best for the man who inspired, raised, and entertained them for decades,” says Kim, his wife of 34 years, “giving him the chance to say one last goodbye to his fans, and put one last amazing collection of songs onto the record store shelves.” Some of the songs on the album are Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright”, Dickey Lee’s “She Thinks I Still Care” and a collaboration with Willie Nelson on his original song, “Funny How Time Slips Away.”
It’s difficult to see an icon who inspired so many artists, in the final stages of a tough disease like Alzheimer’s. But if there is any way to say goodbye the best, an album like Adios is the way to do it.
Adiós Tracklist:
01. Everybody’s Talkin’
02. Just Like Always
03. Funny (How Time Slips Away) (feat. Willie Nelson)
04. Arkansas Farmboy
05. Am I All Alone (Or Is It Only Me) (intro by Roger Miller)
06. Am I All Alone (Or Is It Only Me) (feat. Vince Gill)
07. It Won’t Bring Her Back
08. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
09. She Thinks I Still Care
10. Postcard From Paris
11. A Thing Called Love
12. Adiós
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