Unraveling the Enigma Behind Glen Campbell’s Captivating Song “Wichita Lineman”
Glen Campbell, the renowned country artist, embarked on his musical journey in 1954 as a member of his uncle’s country band in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1960, he ventured to Los Angeles, aiming to establish himself as a session musician. With his extraordinary guitar skills, Campbell quickly caught the attention of industry insiders and became a prominent figure in “The Wrecking Crew,” a group of musicians known as the West Coast’s answer to Nashville’s esteemed “A Team.” This elite group of musicians played on numerous chart-topping pop records from artists like Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, The Monkees, Jan and Dean, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra, among others.
While working as a session player, Campbell made his vocal debut with the song “Turn Around, Look At Me,” which reached a modest position on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop chart, peaking at number 61. This minor success paved the way for Campbell to secure a record deal with Capitol Records in 1962. His first release under Capitol, a cover of Al Dexter’s 1944 country hit “Too Late To Worry, Too Blue To Cry,” achieved a moderate level of success on the pop charts. However, subsequent singles failed to make an impact, leading Capitol Records to contemplate dropping him from their roster.
In a final attempt to salvage Campbell’s career, he was paired with producer Al DeLory in 1966. Together, they worked on a song called “Burning Bridges,” which became Glen’s first top 20 country hit in early 1967. Following this, Campbell released “Gentle On My Mind,” which despite reaching only number 30 on the charts, went on to become a country classic. The turning point in Campbell’s career came with his recording of Jimmy Webb’s “By The Time I Get To Phoenix.” The song reached number two on Billboard’s country chart and a respectable number 26 on the pop chart. Campbell’s outstanding performances on “Gentle On My Mind” and “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” earned him four Grammy awards, setting the stage for his imminent stardom.
During the late 1967 music scene in Los Angeles, Jimmy Webb, the exceptionally talented songwriter, was on fire. His compositions, including “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” Glen Campbell’s hit, and The Fifth Dimension’s chart-topper “Up Up and Away,” established him as one of the hottest songwriters in the city. It was during this time that Campbell and Webb finally crossed paths. Glen, looking for another “town song” to follow up his success with “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” inquired if Webb had any more material. Jimmy responded that he did not have anything at the moment but promised to come up with something. Inspired by a memory of driving through Washita County in rural Oklahoma, Webb began crafting “Wichita Lineman” specifically for Campbell.
The lyrics of “Wichita Lineman” were born from Webb’s recollection of a solitary drive through Washita County, where he noticed a string of telephone poles extending into the distance. Each pole was identical, except for the silhouette of a lineman perched on one of them. This image, described by Webb as “a prairie gothic,” sparked his imagination. He envisioned himself atop the pole, holding a phone and contemplating what the lineman might be saying to his absent lover. The storyline of the song reportedly drew inspiration from the same ex-girlfriend who influenced Webb’s earlier hit, “By The Time I Get To Phoenix.” To make the song more relatable to listeners, Webb substituted “Wichita” for “Washita,” as he believed it sounded better when sung.
Webb penned the first verse and a portion of the second verse of “Wichita Lineman” and sent a rough demo tape to the studio to gauge Campbell’s and DeLory’s interest. If they liked what he had done so far, Jimmy planned to complete the second verse, add a third verse, and a chorus. However, when he didn’t receive any feedback from Campbell, Webb assumed that the song had been dismissed. Several weeks later, when Webb confronted Glen about the song’s fate, he was taken aback by Campbell’s response. Glen revealed, “We recorded it.”
Despite its initially incomplete state, “Wichita Lineman” was enhanced by Campbell and DeLory. They added a captivating guitar solo that echoed the melody of the verse, ensuring the song’s length was sufficient. Additionally, DeLory contributed a stunning string arrangement for the introduction and fade-out, ultimately transforming the track into a massive crossover hit. The song reached number one on the country charts, number one on the adult contemporary charts, and peaked at number three on the pop charts. It became Campbell’s second-most successful record, second only to “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Not bad for a song that was originally unfinished.
Jimmy Webb remained Glen Campbell’s all-time favorite songwriter, praised for his ability to create mesmerizing melodies and chord progressions. Alongside “Wichita Lineman,” Campbell charted with nine other Webb songs, including hits like “Where’s The Playground Susie,” “Honey Come Back,” “It’s A Sin When You Love Somebody,” “Still Within The Sound Of My Voice,” and the chart-topping “Galveston” in 1969. Notably, Campbell recorded Webb’s “Highwayman” in 1979, six years before it soared to number one for Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.
In 2019, Glen Campbell’s remarkable recording of “Wichita Lineman” received the highest accolade as it was inducted into the Library Of Congress’ “National Recording Registry.” This honor solidified the timeless and captivating nature of the song, ensuring its enduring legacy in the annals of music history.
Released: 1968
Album: Wichita Lineman
Artists: Glen Campbell, Texas Tornados, Michelle Shocked
Genre: Pop
Awards: Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Nominations: Grammy Award for Record of the Year
Lyrics
I am a lineman for the county and I drive the main road
Searchin’ in the sun for another overload
I hear you singin’ in the wire, I can hear you through the whine
And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line
I know I need a small vacation but it don’t look like rain
And if it snows that stretch down south won’t ever stand the strain
And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time
And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line
And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time
And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line