Glen Campbell had a fruitful and successful professional partnership with songwriter Jimmy Webb. The two collaborated on some of Campbell's biggest hits like "Galveston, " "Wichita Lineman," and "Where's The Playground, Susie?" One of Campbell's signature smashes was "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," another Webb write. But Campbell was not initially the singer who recorded the track. The story behind how he ended up with the song is an intriguing one.
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Jimmy Webb Went Through Plenty Before His Song Wound Up With Glen Campbell
When I heard the fascinating story about "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" in an interview with Webb on YouTube, all I could think of was one thing. A pooch at a shelter that keeps getting brought back by people who adopt it because it's a nice canine, just not a great match. The song was in search of a good home, a perfect singer. Given what a success it eventually was in Campbell's hands, it's hard to imagine the arduous journey the song went on beforehand.
Webb Originally Wrote The Song For Paul Petersen
Petersen was an actor on The Donna Reed Show in the 1950s. He had a novelty song called "She Can't Find Her Keys." Well, "Phoenix" was presented to Petersen - and it landed in his lap with a thud. Big thud. Webb said he was told by someone in the know exactly what any songwriter dreads hearing. "Don't take it personal, but he [Petersen] really hates it."
The Song Continued Its Journey
Next it went to Tony Martin. He was a popular crooner who had a slew of hits between the 1930s and the 1950s. He recorded the song with a fancy orchestral arrangement. Sounds promising, eh? But it was another false start. Webb said that Martin's version "never saw the light of day." So now what?
It Went To Johnny Rivers Next
Rivers was another handsome, popular singer with a bunch of hits in the 1960s. He invited Campbell and record producer Al De Lory to his recording studio, Webb recalled, so they could hear "Phoenix," As the legendary tunesmith tells it, "One of the first songs of mine that Johnny Rivers recorded was 'By The Time I Get To Phoenix.' Webb jokingly added, "The session musicians are going, 'Oh God, here comes that song again.'"
Campbell and De Lory were totally stumped as to why they were there. Finally, according to Webb, Campbell said to Rivers, "Well, I don't get it. How come you're giving us this hit song?"
Rivers replied, "Well, Glen, you know you can only have one hit song at a time."
Campbell Made It A Major Classic
It was a long road, but it ended with a pot of gold for this song. Campbell's LP of the same name dropped in 1967. It won an Album of the Year Grammy, making history as the first country LP to be honored in that way. The song nabbed a pair of the coveted gold statuettes. It has since been enthroned in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
