Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman

Very interesting clip. Source is Smothers Brothers show. The backing track is an incomplete mix of the record. Glenn is playing the guitar solo live - that's a Fender Bass VI (note the lead - it's plugged in). You can hear subtleties in the arrangement here that are lost in the final mix, and the Gulbransen synth tones are absent from the fade out. Apparently, Jimmy Webb was knocked out when he heard the arrangement.

This reminds me of being 5! long time ago, in Scotland summer holidays, haunting haunting tune and not too badly executed. We can relate to the lyrics too.

I first heard this song when I was on the line hot sticking 33 thousand volts it made all the lineman come down off the poles and listen to this TREASURE. THANK YOU GLEN FROM ALL THE LINEMAN IN THE U.S.

good lip sync bad bass sync. Still one of the best Glen/Webb songs

absolutely beautiful

Totally agreed. Was introduced to this song by a friend, and after playing it over countless times bought more of Glenn's stuff.

This song has so much nostalgia for me of drinking in pubs on a Sunday afternoon, with this crackling over the Juke Box.

Tremendous song by a tremendous artist

one of the best songs ever written and performed

Between Webb's writing, Campbell's singing, the arrangement, and the song's rises & falls and carefully designed verse structure, a sense of desire and longing, sadness & beauty is created. The main character, the singer, honestly conveys his solitude, his hope and need and longing, passing through stretches of time and miles of phone lines, conveying a deep narrative sense, and sounding very natural.

I've always regarded this song as one of the greatest compositions in popular music.

The variation of the line opening the 2nd verse ("I know I need a small vacation") always blows me away. Regardless of how many times I hear it, it sounds like a transitional phrase instead of the return of the verse. Just great!

Unlike the first verse, the 2nd verse closes with the strings & notes of the acoustic guitar tapping out Morse-like code, indicating ongoingness and the hope of communication received. This leads into the guitar solo, its simplicity never failing to satisfy my ear.

Definitely Jim Webb + Glen Campbell magic & genius.

First, the melody is outstanding, w/ the great opening line that sets a tone for the entire song. And there is the great arrangement.

Campbell's voice is so clearly expressed and pure-sounding.

The first verse ends sounding as though it could be the end of the song, w/ the refrain "and the Witchita lineman is still on the line" and the drawn out lines played by the strings that follow -- a sense of aloneness that will not be resolved.