Before Glen Campbell became a top-rank country star, he was one of the most in-demand guitarists on the Los Angeles recording scene. For a while, he was associated with the group of session musicians that came to be known as The Wrecking Crew.
These musicians recorded many one-off instrumental albums for various labels including this 1964 effort for Warner Bros. under the moniker of The Sidewalk Swingers. God knows who came up with the off-the-wall idea of pairing a harpsichord with a 12-string guitar on a bunch of folk tunes old and new. It's Campbell on the 12-string of course, paired with harpsichordist Russell Bridges. Two veterans of The Wrecking Crew, drummer Hal Blaine and bassist Jimmy Bond, help things along.
The results are mixed to say the least. Personally, the peppy sound of that harpsichord tends to give me the urge to smash something after about three tracks, so listening to the whole album at once is out of the question, at least for me. Still, popping the odd track or two on your music player provides some mild amusement.
Below is The Sidewalk Swingers' take on Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind.
Blowin' in the Wind
If you really must have the entire LP (it's not available in a digital format) you can pay anywhere from $15-50 for a used copy -- or you can visit the Many Fantastic Colors blog for a download link to the whole album. The chances of this ever being available on CD or as a legal download are remote.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. Posting will resume in the next day or so.
ReplyDeleteI just got a copy of the record in mint condition at the Goodwill Store in Moline, IL, for $1.38. I'm told Charlie Byrd sat in, uncredited, on the session--and that "Russell Bridges" (harpsichord) is Leon Russell!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. That's a great find. Enjoy.
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