Any Trouble’s Touching Tribute To Glen Campbell
We at uDiscover hold a deep admiration for the peerless voice, guitar-playing and musical legacy of Glen Campbell. It’s a passion shared by the British band Any Trouble, and in case you haven’t heard it, we’d like to share their recently-released and highly affectionate tribute to Glen.
The band, fondly remembered from their original days on Stiff Records in the late 1970s and early ’80s, is reactivated from time to time by frontman Clive Gregson. Any Trouble recently released the Present Tense album on Cherry Red, another rewarding collection of Gregson’s inventive and melodic pop-rock compositions. During his recent tour of the UK, on which Clive also did dates with co-vocalist Liz Simcock and others with his guitar trio 3 Boxes, Any Trouble played a number of shows including a stirring pre-Christmas performance at London’s 229 Club.
One of the highlights of Present Tense is a song simply called ‘Glen Campbell,’ a charming ballad on which Gregson makes plain his fondness for the music of the golden-voiced American artist. Speaking exclusively to uDiscover, he explains the background to the song.
“I’ve always been a Glen Campbell fan,” says Clive. “Sublime country pop of the highest order, sung by a world-class vocalist and a phenomenal guitar picker. What’s not to like?
“I was intrigued by a song title on Glen’s Ghost On The Canvas album, and was, of course, unsurprised to find that the song in question, ‘Any Trouble,’ had absolutely nothing to do with my band of the same name! But it was enough to make me hark back to a great Stiff Records tradition — think Nick Lowe’s ‘Bowi’ EP in response to David Bowie’s Low album, or The Rumour’s ‘Max’ in response to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.
“So I wrote a song called ‘Glen Campbell,’ essentially a musing on being a fan of the great man and my own life in music. Our manager heard it and said ‘It’s great, but it needs a twangy guitar part, just like Glen would play.’ So I returned to the studio, adding the baritone guitar lick and remixed the track. Nigel Dick, another former Stiff man, shot a lovely video for the number and it’s our latest single.”
Here, then, is that official video for Any Trouble’s ‘Glen Campbell.’ Fellow Glen devotees, we hope you enjoy the song as much as we do, and we’d be delighted to hear your comments.
Explore our dedicated Glen Campbell Artist Page
UK English
Amy
January 1, 2016 at 12:15 am
I’m speechless! Sitting in near silence except for my sniffling. Watching this video. listening to the song should come with a warning to have tissue handy. Your tribute made me cry, but also smile and I could really relate. Especially w/ the visual of the young boy enjoying his GC 45. It looked like a sense of relief and calm came over him when he heard it play. That’s me and I’m betting many others. So your lyrics are so perfect…The only time things make sense is when I hear Glen Campbell sing!
Thank you!!!
uDiscover
January 2, 2016 at 9:36 pm
Thanks, Amy
Tom Chase
January 1, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Simply wonderful gentlemen. Thank you.
Dee
January 2, 2016 at 1:13 am
We appreciate your tremendous tribute song to the legendary Glen Campbell, Mr. Gregson and Any Trouble. It hits home for many long-time Glen Campbell fans (as well as fans of songwriter Jimmy Webb who, of course, wrote the iconic “Wichita Lineman”). One of the many reasons the song resonates for us is that we were like the young person in your music video who discovers a Glen Campbell record, rushes home to listen to it, falls under its spell, and treasures it for life. The lyric that describes Glen’s incredible voice is right on and pure magic, too: “Voice big as the prairies, wide as the great plains, / Sweet as sweet magnolia, soft as the summer rain”. A member of our forums describes “Glen Campbell” as one of two Campbell highlights in 2015: Ashley Campbell’s single, “Remembering”, and your song! Thank you for this gift to Glen and his fans.
uDiscover
January 2, 2016 at 9:37 pm
Dee, thanks for this, much appreciated
Michael Gorman
January 5, 2016 at 6:32 am
Glenn Campbell is actually a major influence on my own guitar playing, he was primarily a great rhythm guitar player, acoustic with a capo, some baritone work, bust always incredibly tasteful and in the pocket. Age is something that catches us all, if we are very lucky, you either go at 27 or make it to old age…sorry Glenn, you are loved mate.