SHANGRI-LA DEE DA SESSIONS WITH GLEN CAMPBELL

The thought of anyone from block rockers Stone Temple Pilots working with Rhinestone Cowboy Glen Campbell might at first seem as absurd as porn star Jenna Jameson advocating abstinence. On further examination, it doesn’t seem so bizarre. STP bassist and songwriter Robert DeLeo has spoken in interviews about his love for the country-pop performed by Johnny Cash, Jimmy Webb and especially Campbell. In 2001, Campbell’s budding musician son Cal introduced his dad to the music of the Pilots.

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For real, this happened. Stone Temple Pilots bassist and songwriter Robert DeLeo was an unabashed Campbell fan, while Glen’s son Cal loved STP. A meeting was arranged and Glen soon invited DeLeo, his guitarist brother Dean and drummer Eric Kretz to back him on a new version of this signature Jimmy Webb-penned hit. There was some talk of further collaboration, but it never came to pass.

Soon after one of Campbell’s Los Angeles shows, the band went backstage and met the legendary singer/songwriter. They all got along so well, Campbell invited DeLeo, his guitarist brother Dean and drummer Eric Kretz to record versions of classic cuts such as “Wichita Lineman” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” with him. The mutual lovefest continued when STP singer Scott Weiland produced some tracks for Cal’s rock band. Then, the DeLeos offered to write, produce and play on upcoming tracks Campbell may use on his next record, Campbell’s manager said. “Stone Temple Pilots don’t write the kind of music that Glen would usually listen to,” he said. “But he admires good musicians, and the band definitely fits that bill.”

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About three months ago, Robert and Dean entered the studio with Campbell to work on the new material. So far, they’ve written a handful of tracks, but Campbell’s manager emphasized that they’re all works in progress at this point and was unwilling to describe them. Campbell’s explorations with the DeLeos aren’t his first forays into rock; he’s a veteran of the genre. In the early ’60s he was one of Los Angeles’ most in-demand session guitarists. Not only did he play on early hits by Elvis Presley, the Monkees, the Association and the Mamas & the Papas, but he also worked with Phil Spector on albums by Jan & Dean and Sonny and Cher.

“Another amazing experience that made it worth all the expense of shooting the documentary: Glenn Campbell. His son Cal is a big fan and when we played Phoenix the second time he brought his dad, and we hit it off. Glenn came up to the house and we did an incredible version of “Wichita Lineman,” and we got it on film and audio. What’s spectacular: a rainbow came out over the house.”

‘Wichita Lineman’ with, an old six string bass. So Glen played six string bass, I played guitar, Robert played bass, and Eric played drums. I just watched the footage yesterday and it was touching. At the end of those tunes everyone was choked up. And the 250 grand we spent on documenting these sessions was all worth it for that day alone.”

DEAN DELEO FOR Getmusic and guitar one magazine
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“Otra increíble experiencia que hizo que valga la pena todo el gasto para rodar el documental: Glenn Campbell. Su hijo Cal es un gran admirador, trajo a su padre la segunda vez que tocamos en Phoenix y nos llevamos bien. Glenn se acercó a la casa e hicimos una versión increíble de “Wichita Lineman”, lo grabamos para el documental y lo que fué espectacular: Ver un arcoíris aparecer sobre la casa”.

“Glen tocó Wichita Lineman con un viejo bajo de seis cuerdas, yo toqué la guitarra, Robert tocó el bajo y Eric tocó la batería. Ni bien pude, vi el video y fue conmovedor. Al final de esas canciones, todos se asfixiaron. Y los 250 mil que gastamos en documentar estas sesiones valieron la pena solo ese día”.

DEAN DELEO FOR Getmusic and guitar one magazine

La idea de cualquier rockero de ver a los Stone Temple Pilots trabajar con el Cowboy Glen Campbell podría parecer al principio tan absurdo como que la estrella porno Jenna Jameson abogue por la abstinencia. Viéndolo mejor, no parece tan extraño. El bajista y compositor de Robert DeLeo ha hablado en entrevistas sobre su amor por el country-pop interpretado por Johnny Cash, Jimmy Webb y especialmente Campbell. Hace unos años, el hijo de Campbell, Cal, dió a conocer a su padre la música de los STP.

Poco después de uno de los shows de Campbell en Los Ángeles, la banda fue al backstage y conoció al legendario cantante/compositor. Todos se llevaron tan bien, Campbell invitó a Robert, a su hermano Dean y al baterista Eric Kretz a grabar versiones de cortes clásicos como “Wichita Lineman” y “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” con él. El festival de amor mutuo continuó cuando el cantante de STP Scott Weiland produjo algunos temas para la banda de rock de Cal. Luego, los DeLeos se ofrecieron a escribir, producir y tocar en los próximos temas que Campbell pueda usar en su próximo disco, dijo el gerente de Campbell. “Stone Temple Pilots no escribe el tipo de música que Glen suele escuchar”, dijo. “Pero admira a los buenos músicos, y la banda definitivamente se ajusta a esa ley”.

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Tiempo después, Robert y Dean ingresaron al estudio con Campbell para trabajar en el nuevo material. Escribieron algunos temas, el manager de Campbell enfatizó que todas se estuvieron trabajando y no estaba dispuesto a describirlas. Las exploraciones de Campbell con los DeLeos no son sus primeras incursiones en el rock; él es un veterano del género. A principios de los años 60 fue uno de los guitarristas de sesión más solicitados de Los Ángeles. No solo tocó los primeros éxitos de Elvis Presley, los Monkees y la Asociación Mamas & the Papas, sino que también trabajó con Phil Spector en los álbumes de Jan & Dean y Sonny and Cher.

WICHITA LINEMAN – 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

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