By The Time I Get To Phoenix

Contrary to popular belief, 1967's BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX was not Glen Campbell's first album for Capitol Records; he had released several other albums and singles for the label since 1964, including the lost Brian Wilson treasure "Guess I'm Dumb" in 1966. This album, however, was both his commercial breakthrough and represents the first fruits of his collaboration with Jimmy Webb, the songwriter who would go on to pen most of Campbell's biggest hits. altro...

The title track is the only Webb composition on the record, but the other 10 tracks are equally fine, particularly an excellent, emotional cover of Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound" and a heavily orchestrated but vocally sly take on the Jerry Reed hit "You're Young and You'll Forget". Finally, although Campbell is rightly praised mostly as an interpretive singer, two of the album's finest songs, "Back in the Race" and the placid closer "Love Is A Lonesome River", are Campbell originals, the latter co-written by another member of the Beach Boys' inner circle, Roger Christian.

Q (3/02, p.133)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "...Set the scene for the rest of Campbell's '60s. Twanging guitars ribbed against sweeping strings while his voice was either full of sorrow or gave ladies the most heartless of bum rushes..."