“Ghost On The Canvas”, released in 2011, was Glen Campbell’s 61st and final studio album.
It was intended as Campbell’s farewell studio recording following his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease.
Campbell and his wife delayed telling the public about his illness until shortly before he embarked on the Glen Campbell Goodbye Tour. The Campbells decided to announce his diagnosis so that audiences would understand why the performer might mistake the lyrics to songs or behave erratically. They also wished to combat the social stigma of Alzheimer’s, for the benefit of others suffering from the disease.
The album was produced by Julian Raymond, who has worked with artists such as Cheap Trick, Albert Lee and Fleetwood Mac.
Campbell had an illustrious musical career. He first came to the industry’s attention as a member of the famous “Wrecking Crew”, a group of session musicians who backed some of the great artists of the 1960’s and 1970’s. They were originally Phil Spector’s “house band” and helped define his so-called Wall of Sound.
After their work with Spector, they became the most requested session musicians in Los Angeles, playing behind recording artists who included Sonny & Cher, the Mamas and the Papas, the Carpenters, Frank Sinatra, and Nancy Sinatra.
They were also the musicians behind the first two albums by the Monkees and The Beach Boys Pet Sounds.
Campbell left the group to pursue a solo musical career. He had big hits with songs written by Jimmy Webb, including “By The Time I Get To Phoenix”, “Wichita Linesman” and “Galveston”. His signature tune was perhaps Rhinestone Cowboy, released in 1975.
He had success in 2008 with a comeback album “Meet Glen Campbell”, designed to introduce him to a new, younger audience.
“Ghost On The Canvas” was originally intended to be a companion piece but after his diagnosis, it proved to be a fitting end to his recoding career. On the album he co-writes with Julian Raymond but also had songs penned by artists such as Paul Westerberg, Teddy Thompson and Jacob Dylan (Bob’s son). The mood is upbeat, despite the challenges he was facing. The final track is “There’s No Me, Without You” and features an extended guitar solo to close out the album, proving he was still at that time a master of the instrument.
Tune in to The Album Show at 10am on Saturday on 88.0 HEPFM to hear the full album.
