Ghost on the Canvas
Ghost on the Canvas | ||||
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Studio album by Glen Campbell | ||||
Released | 30 August 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2009–2010, with string arrangement recorded in Los Angeles in April 2010[1] | |||
Genre | Country, pop, rock | |||
Length | 42:02 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Surfdog | |||
Producer |
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Glen Campbell chronology | ||||
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Ghost on the Canvas is the sixty-first album by Glen Campbell. It was intended as Campbell's farewell studio recording following his diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease.[2] The production of the album was announced in March 2010.[3]
Campbell and his wife delayed informing 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[4] why the performer might mistake the lyrics to songs or behave erratically.[5] They also wished to combat the social stigma of Alzheimer's,[6] for the benefit of others suffering from the disease.[7]
Recording
Campbell first became aware of his affliction with Alzheimer's while recording the music in 2009,[8][failed verification] although his wife Kim had noted memory lapses several years prior.[9] Campbell and producer Julian Raymond decided to record one final studio album of original material while he was in good enough health[failed verification], with Raymond taking the lead to contact other artists for collaboration.[10]
The collaborative album is intended as a companion piece to 2008's Meet Glen Campbell—on that recording, Campbell recorded covers of contemporary songs to introduce himself to a new audience and this album includes younger rock stars to compose and record with Campbell.[1] Campbell worked with Raymond for those sessions and Raymond used a notebook to record Campbell's conversations between takes,[11] so the two could collaborate on writing new material[9] based on stories from Campbell's life,[6] starting with the autobiographical "A Better Place".[7] The title track—written by Paul Westerberg—previously appeared on Westerberg's 2009 extended play PW & The Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys.
At the time of the album's release, Campbell expressed interest in possibly recording further material, but thought it unlikely that he would record an entire studio album.[12] He did, however, return to the studio long enough to produce two final albums: 2012's See You There which re-records many of his hits and was largely put to tape at the same time as Ghost on the Canvas[13] and 2017's covers album Adiós, recorded in 2013.
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
BBC Music | Favorable[14] |
The Plain Dealer | A[15] |
Consequence of Sound | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Financial Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork Media | 6.5/10[19] |
The Daily Telegraph | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Washington Post | Mixed[21] |
BBC Music reviewer Martin Aston has called Ghost on the Canvas "a fine way to bow out of the business", citing Rick Rubin's production work with Johnny Cash through American Recordings. Aston continued that Campbell's vocal performance remains strong and the instrumental interludes were reminiscent of The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.[14] Consequence of Sound's Nick Freed also compared this album to Cash's final output, noting that Ghost on the Canvas and Cash's American Recordings material shift from straight country music to different pop genres.[16] Both Freed and Andy Gill of The Independent commented on the themes of mortality and finality in the lyrics.[18]
The Washington Post's Allison Stewart found the collaborative nature of the album a weakness, turning melancholy into overwrought sentiment.[21] Christopher Muther of The Boston Globe considers the album "gorgeous and charming", but finds the sentimentality "overshadows Campbell's emotional and musical growth."[22] Mick Brown of The Daily Telegraph has noted the hopeful tone of the lyrics, influenced by Campbell's deteriorating health.[9]
Mojo placed the album at number 44 on its list of the "Top 50 Albums of 2011".[23]
Track listing
All songs co-written by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond, except where noted
- "A Better Place" – 1:51
- "Ghost on the Canvas" (Paul Westerberg) – 4:13
- "The Billstown Crossroads" (Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.) – 1:04
- "A Thousand Lifetimes" (Campbell, Justin Grey, and Raymond) – 4:09
- "It's Your Amazing Grace" – 3:14
- "Second Street North" (Manning) – 0:35
- "In My Arms" (Teddy Thompson) – 3:27
- "May 21, 1969" (Manning) – 0:34
- "Nothing But the Whole Wide World" (Jakob Dylan) – 3:41
- "Wild and Waste" (Manning) – 1:13
- "Hold on Hope" (Robert Pollard) – 3:33
- "Valley of the Son" (Manning) – 0:57
- "Any Trouble" (Westerberg) – 3:00
- "Strong" – 3:33
- "The Rest Is Silence" (Manning) – 0:50
- "There's No Me... Without You" – 6:16
- Amazon MP3 and iTunes Store bonus tracks
- "What I Wouldn't Give" – 2:38
- "Wish You Were Here" (Jimmy Webb) – 3:51 (song re-titled for this album, originally entitled "Postcard from Paris")
- The deluxe edition of the album also includes five bonus tracks recorded on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
- Note: Bonus tracks no longer included with Amazon MP3 purchase (December 5, 2015).
Tour
Campbell promoted this album with his final concert tour.
Personnel
- Glen Campbell – acoustic and electric guitar, vocals
Additional musicians and composers
- Kim Bullard – keyboards
- Shannon Campbell – vocals
- Chris Chaney – bass guitar
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
- Katie Cole – vocals
- Billy Corgan – electric guitar on "There's No Me... Without You"
- Dick Dale – electric guitar on "In My Arms"
- George Doering – acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin
- Eric Dover – vocals
- Jakob Dylan – composition
- Jason Falkner – acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar
- Josh Freese – drums
- Jessy Greene - violin
- Justin Grey – composition
- Peter Holmström – electric guitar on "Strong"
- Steve Hunter – electric guitar on “There's No Me... Without You"
- Chris Isaak – vocals on "In My Arms"
- Corky James – acoustic guitar
- Danny Levin – trumpet
- Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. – keyboards, vocals
- Wendy Melvoin – electric guitar
- Rick Nielsen – electric guitar on "There's No Me... Without You"
- Tim Pierce – acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin
- Robert Pollard – composition
- Zac Rac – keyboards
- Julian Raymond – vocals, arrangement, production, co-writing
- Marty Rifkin – dobro and pedal steel guitar on "There's No Me... Without You"
- Brian Setzer – electric guitar on "In My Arms" and "There's No Me... Without You"
- Eric Skodis – vocals
- Aaron Sterling – drums
- Courtney Taylor-Taylor – keyboards on "Strong"
- Teddy Thompson – composition
- Keith Urban
- Michael Ward – electric guitar
- Paul Westerberg – composition
- Todd Youth – electric guitar
Technical staff
- Chris Anthony – photography
- Kii Arens – cover art
- Brian Gardner – mastering
- Dave Kaplan – executive production
- Bennett Salvay – string arrangement, conducting
- Scott Silver – executive production
- Kevin Tetreault – art direction, layout
- Howard Willing – production, engineering
Chart performance
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
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UK Country Albums Chart [24] | 2 |
See also
- Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, a 2014 documentary
References
- ^ a b Graff, Gary (2010-03-26). "Glen Campbell Enlists Jakob Dylan, Paul Westerberg For Farewell Album". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ Hyden, Steven (2011-06-23). "Glen Campbell diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, plans one more album and tour". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ Roffman, Michael (2011-03-29). "Glen Campbell preps epic final exit". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ Clark, Champ (2011-06-22). "Glen Campbell Has Alzheimer's Disease". People. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ "US country music star Glen Campbell on living with Alzheimer's". BBC News. 2011-08-25. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ a b Hattenstone, Simon (2011-08-26). "Glen Campbell: One last love song". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ a b Lewis, Randy (2011-08-28). "Glen Campbell looks forward with gratitude". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ Clark, Champ (2011-07-04), "Glen Campbell Has Alzheimer's Disease", People, 76 (26), Time, Inc.: 68–70, ISSN 0093-7673
- ^ a b c McLean, Craig (2011-08-13). "Glen Campbell on music, memories and saying goodbye to life on the road". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
- ^ Vaziri, Adin (2011-08-25). "Glen Campbell confronts his ghosts on final album". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Gundersen, Edna (2011-08-26). "For Glen Campbell, the past is a present". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Heathcote, Charlotte (2011-08-28). "Final Call for Rhinestone Cowboy". Daily Express. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- ^ Erlwine, Stephen Thomas. "See You There – Glen Campbell". AllMusic Guide.
- ^ a b Aston, Martin (2011-08-18). "Glen Campbell Ghost on the Canvas Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
- ^ Soeder, John (2011-08-27). "Glen Campbell's 'Ghost in the Canvas' will take your breath away". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ a b Freed, Nick (2011-03-29). "Album Review: Glen Campbell – Ghost on the Canvas". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
- ^ Clayton, Richard (2011-08-27). "Glen Campbell: Ghost on the Canvas". The Financial Times. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ a b Gill, Andy (2011-08-26). "Album: Glen Campbell, Ghost on the Canvas (Surfdog)". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
- ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (2011-08-31). "Glen Campbell:Ghost on the Canvas". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
- ^ Brown, Mick (2011-09-05). "Glen Campbell: Ghost on the Canvas, CD review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- ^ a b Stewart, Allison (2011-08-26). "Album review: Glen Campbell, "Ghost on the Canvas"". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ Muther, Christopher (2011-08-29). "'Ghost on the Canvas' by Glen Campbell". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
- ^ "MOJO's Top 50 Albums of 2011". Stereogum. December 2, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ "2011-11-05 Top 40 Country Artist Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
External links
- Official website
- Press release from Surfdog Records
- Ghost on the Canvas at AllMusic
- Ghost on the Canvas at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Ghost on the Canvas at Metacritic
- Chart history from Billboard.com
- v
- t
- e
- Big Bluegrass Special
- Too Late to Worry – Too Blue to Cry
- The Astounding 12-String Guitar of Glen Campbell
- The Big Bad Rock Guitar of Glen Campbell
- Burning Bridges
- Gentle on My Mind
- By the Time I Get to Phoenix
- Hey Little One
- A New Place in the Sun
- Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell
- That Christmas Feeling
- Wichita Lineman
- Galveston
- True Grit
- Try a Little Kindness
- Oh Happy Day
- Norwood
- The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album
- The Last Time I Saw Her
- Anne Murray / Glen Campbell
- The Artistry of Glen Campbell
- Glen Travis Campbell
- I Knew Jesus (Before He Was a Star)
- I Remember Hank Williams
- Houston (I'm Comin' to See You)
- Reunion: The Songs of Jimmy Webb
- Ernie Sings & Glen Picks
- Rhinestone Cowboy
- Bloodline
- Southern Nights
- Basic
- Highwayman
- Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like
- It's the World Gone Crazy
- Old Home Town
- Letter to Home
- No More Night
- It's Just a Matter of Time
- Still Within the Sound of My Voice
- Light Years
- Favorite Hymns
- Walkin' in the Sun
- Unconditional Love
- Show Me Your Way
- Rock-A-Doodle
- Wings of Victory
- Somebody Like That
- Home for the Holidays
- The Boy in Me
- Christmas with Glen Campbell
- A Glen Campbell Christmas
- My Hits and Love Songs
- Love Is the Answer: 24 Songs of Faith, Hope and Love
- Meet Glen Campbell
- Ghost on the Canvas
- See You There
- I'll Be Me
- Adiós
- Glen Campbell Live
- Live in Japan
- Live at the Royal Festival Hall
- Glen Campbell Live
- Glen Campbell Live! His Greatest Hits
- Glen Campbell in Concert with the South Dakota Symphony
- Through the Years Live - Ultimate Collection
- Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb: In Session
- Country Shindig
- The 12 String Guitar of Glen Campbell
- Glen Campbell Plays 12 String Guitar
- Portrait
- Country Soul
- Country Music Star No. 1
- The Glen Campbell Album
- Limited Collector's Edition
- A Satisfied Mind
- Glen Campbell's Greatest Hits
- Gentle on My Mind
- The Good Time Songs of Glen Campbell
- I'll Paint You a Song
- Arkansas
- The Best of Glen Campbell
- Glen Campbell's Twenty Golden Greats
- The Great Hits of Glen Campbell
- The Glen Campbell Collection
- The Very Best of Glen Campbell
- Classics Collection
- Greatest Country Hits
- Best of the Early Years
- Merry Christmas
- All-Time Greatest Hits
- The Essential Glen Campbell Volume One
- The Essential Glen Campbell Volume Two
- The Essential Glen Campbell Volume Three
- Jesus and Me: The Collection
- Home at Last
- The Glen Campbell Collection (1962–1989) Gentle on My Mind
- The Capitol Years 65/77
- Reunited with Jimmy Webb 1974–1988
- Love Songs
- Glen Campbell Christmas
- Super Hits
- 20 Greatest Hits
- Rhinestone Cowboy/Bloodline The Lambert & Potter Sessions 1975–1976
- Southern Nights/Basic
- All the Best
- The Legacy (1961–2002)
- Rhinestone Cowboy (New Studio Recordings)
- Glen Campbell Collection
- Rhinestone Cowboy Live, on the Air & in the Studio
- Sings the Best of Jimmy Webb 1967–1992
- The Platinum Collection
- Classic Campbell
- Words and Music
- Greatest Hits
- "Turn Around, Look at Me"
- "Too Late to Worry - Too Blue to Cry"
- "Long Black Limousine"
- "Guess I'm Dumb"
- "Universal Soldier"
- "Burning Bridges"
- "Gentle on My Mind"
- "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"
- "Hey Little One"
- "I Wanna Live"
- "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife"
- "Wichita Lineman"
- "Let It Be Me" (with Bobbie Gentry)
- "Galveston"
- "Where's the Playground Susie"
- "True Grit"
- "Try a Little Kindness"
- "Honey Come Back"
- "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (with Bobbie Gentry)
- "Oh Happy Day"
- "Everything a Man Could Ever Need"
- "It's Only Make Believe"
- "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)"
- "The Last Time I Saw Her"
- "I Say a Little Prayer"
- "Oklahoma Sunday Morning"
- "Manhattan, Kansas"
- "Bonaparte's Retreat"
- "Rhinestone Cowboy"
- "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)"
- "Don't Pull Your Love/Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye"
- "Southern Nights"
- "Sunflower"
- "Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like" (with Rita Coolidge)
- "I Love How You Love Me"
- "Faithless Love"
- "A Lady Like You"
- "It's Just a Matter of Time"
- "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (with Steve Wariner)
- "Still Within the Sound of My Voice"
- "I Remember You"
- "I Have You"
- "She's Gone, Gone, Gone"
- "I'm Not Gonna Miss You"
- Discography
- Collaborative discography
- Videos
- Goodbye Tour
- The Wrecking Crew
- The Beach Boys
- Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
- soundtrack
- The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
- Ashley Campbell