Glen Campbell Album: “Reunited With Jimmy Webb”

Well, I feel compelled to tell you that "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress," "I Keep it Hid," and "Brand New Eyes," are among the most heart rending songs I've had the pleasure of hearing. Some of the songs on this collection are just what one might expect -fine examples of American song writing, nothing more. But every now and again as the songs unfurl, an astounding piece of music raises the hair on the back of the neck. A splended excursion in songcraft.

Of all the great song writers whose work is best interpreted by someone else, only the Byrds doing Bob Dylan can outdo Glen Campbell's covers of Jimmy Webb tunes.

This CD is made up of the 1974 Campbell-Webb "Reunion" album and fourteen "bonus" tracks. (You get a lot for your money.)

On a solid CD full of great music, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" stands out as the best, as beautiful a song as any that Jimmy Webb has ever written, and Glen Campbell's version sends shivers up the spine. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" reminds me a lot of Gordon Lightfoot's "The Last Time I Saw Her Face" (which Campbell has covered), and, like the Lightfoot song, the lyrics are stronger than the music.

Another stand out track is "Christiaan No," Webb's ode to his son (Campbell's Godson).

This is one of those CDs that you can listen to from beginning to end without skipping a tune. Sitting back and enjoying music like this is one of life's great pleasures.

After years of waiting, here is a well put together release featuring the entire "Reunion" lp + other classic Glen/Jimmy Webb gems that are just now becoming available on CD for the first time and boy is it nice to hear these in the digital format. So clean sounding! This should hopefully make way for some more Glen albums to come out on CD. Lovely job on the liner notes too!

Say what you will about Glen Campbell the man has one heck of a voice. Although his material often borders on, and, on occasion, crosses the "corny" line. Not so in his collaborations with the great Jimmy Webb. For a more perfect marriage of songwriter and singer, you'd have to go to Bacharach/Warwick or Carole King/Dusty Springfield.

This album is a veritable treasure trove of some of the most beautiful, yet obscure, Jimmy Webb songs. Webb's lyrics have always astounded me - so much depth for such a young man(barely out of his teens at the time). Jimmy Webb wrote some of the most poignantly mature lyrics(and, to an extent, melodies)to ever be recorded in the 20th Century. There are songs on this album - "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress", "You Might As Well Smile" - which are so sophisticated yet heart rending that you just might find your eyes welling up.

In the late 60's and early 70's, Jimmy Webb had no real competition when it came to writing songs of lost love. And, Glen Campbell's huge vocal range just serves the songwriter's intent like a hand in a glove. It's nothing short of a blessing that these 2 men worked together so well.

If you purchase no other Jimmy Webb and/or Glen Campbell album, you owe it to yourself to savor this musical feast. It's that good! But, don't take my word for it - hearing is believing.

As other reviewers have righly asked, how was this not a big seller upon its release? So many good songs, sung so well. I never tire of listening to this one.