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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I saw this on your list of songs and had to read it. We saw Glen Campbell on his “Goodbye Tour” when the Alzheimer’s was getting bad. He forgot the lyrics many times but his band (his kids were part of that) kept him focused. When he sang “Galveston” he completely forgot the lyrics and the whole audience started singing. He was so surprised that we all knew the song and it put a big grin on his face. Tears streamed down my face as the scene played out. He died just a couple of years later. I still get chills thinking about it. 🙂
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That had to be so touching. My mom had Alzheimer’s or dementia at an early age so I can relate. That was so wonderful that his fans supported him like that.
He was one of the great guitarists. Thanks for reading.
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He was one of the best guitarists ever! At the concert, we just chipped in…the whole crowd…the theatre was sold out!
My mom had dementia, died in 2014 from a massive stroke and my dad had alzheimer’s. My dad went from normal in September of 2014 to an infant by July 2015. It was fast. All the steps of age reversal during those 9 months. They died within 3 days of each other 1 year apart. They were divorced for 40 years, but I don’t think my dad took her death too well. Hoping for a cure some day! 🙂
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I’m so sorry about your parents.
My mom started to forget things at 48. One Thanksgiving she forgot how to make dressing…something she did for years. She slowly went downhill through the paranoia stage etc. She passed at 64 in 2006. Doctors said it was because of mini strokes that went undetected.
I so hope there is a cure one day. Her body worked fine but she wasn’t there anymore. It’s a terrible disease… to see someone lose who they were.
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I’m sorry for your loss as well. My mom was 67. She was a smoker & had been since she was 16. She was diabetic and just did what she wanted even though it was bad for her. Paranoia never made it with her but it sure did with my dad.
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