I remember this song all over the place when I was 8 years old. Probably one of the first songs I remember blanketing radio and TV at the same time. Glen Campbell sang this song written by Larry Weiss and it was playing on top 40 radio and country alike. It peaked at #1 in the Billboard 100, #1 in the US Billboard Hot Country Singles, #1 in Canada and #4 in the UK.
As big as the song was…I never hear it much now.
From Songfacts
“Rhinestone Cowboy”
Singin’ the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle’s the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
There’s been a load of compromisin’
On the road to my horizon
But I’m gonna be where the lights are shinin’ on meLike a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know
And offers comin’ over the phone
Well, I really don’t mind the rain
And a smile can hide all the pain
But you’re down when you’re ridin’ the train
That’s takin’ the long way
And I dream of the things I’ll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe
There’ll be a load of compromisin’
On the road to my horizon
But I’m gonna be where the lights are shinin’ on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Rhinestone cowboy
Gettin’ cards and letters from people I don’t even know
And offers comin’ over the phone
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Gettin’ cards and letters from people I don’t even know….
I am a Glen Campbell fan- especially love his covers of Jimmy Webb’s brilliant- Galveston, By The Time I Get To Phoenix and one of my favorite songs ever- Wichita Lineman. Rhinestone Cowboy became his signature song. Another artist who had a late career revival.
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Yes I’ve always liked him. As a guitar player he was one of the best. I faintly remember his TV show. I do remember this song was everywhere.
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I think like Buck and Roy- the tv show kind of hurt his reputation- made some people think he was some kind of a doofus- also that very rocky relationship with Tanya Tucker was tabloid headlines for a while… kind of make people forget that he was a great musician- singer.
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I agree about the TV show… anyone who was southern they would play off of…
I had forgotten about him and Tanya Tucker. That was rocky…
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Love the song, remember he had a TV show but don’t recall ever seeing it. I might have though, but would have been quite young. And like hanspostcard says, his Jimmy Webb covers were fantastic
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Campbell and Tucker were both on heavy drugs. it was a terrible combination. Campbell was part of the wrecking crew in LA and played on a bunch of other artist hit songs. Campbell also replaced Brian Wilson temporarily when the Beach Boys toured in 1964. Dennis Browns version of Wichita Lineman is really good it’s more raw not over produced.
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I would hear stories of their relationship at my guitar tech’s business before he passed away. Those older session musicians that would come in would have some tales about all the country artists.
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oddly, Michaael Stipe of REM is a big fan of both Campbell and Webb and REM did good covers of both “Galveston” and “wichita Lineman”… the “Galveston” one is difficult to find though, not sure they ever released it in full length (seem to recall a snippet of it on an early VHS of their videos cut with interviews etc.)
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I would love to hear Stipe do Rhinestone Cowboy…I mean love it…. I will look for those.
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