Wichita Lineman - written by Jimmy Webb (performed by many)

For today, I want to draw attention to the original recording, by Glen Campbell from 1968;
& Johnny Cash's cover - in lieu of the 8 years since his passing.
But about the writer:
Jimmy Webb was born Aug. 15th, 1946 in Elk City, OK.  Learning piano & organ by age 12, he began playing in the choir at his father's churches (his father - Robert Lee Webb - was a Baptist minister; & also a former member of U.S. Marine Corps).  Long story short, he remained in California when his father moved back to Oklahoma; Jimmy was almost 20.  During the 60's, & over the duration of 20 months, he wrote 5 top 10 hits.  Throughout the rest of his career, he wrote hit songs for the likes of Glen Campbell, Richard Harris, Joe Cocker, the Fifth Dimension, & more.  Jimmy Webb has been inducted into multiple hall of fame's & won, in 1993, the National Academy of Songwriter's Lifetime Achievement Award.  This song, inspired from him actually seeing a lineman working in Wichita, KS, was is listed as #195 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  It was written in 1968.
Original (Glen Campbell)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTfwcLdP5Xk


In honour of the Man in Black - Johnny Cash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwG9mypJhoU


& some other cool covers:
Tom Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXQFG-qk6X4
Glen Campbell w/ Keith Urban: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTZCdZmtJYM
& finally, from Jimmy Webb's CD "Just Across the River", featuring his own remakes of his classics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcC_kojgUvM


Also: Jimmy Webb on "Wichita Lineman":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAQHaDWKwhw