Rhinestone Cowboy
"Rhinestone Cowboy" is a song written by Larry Weiss and most famously recorded by American country music singer Glen Campbell with instrumental backing by the Wrecking Crew, L.A. session musicians. The song enjoyed immense popularity with both country and pop audiences when it was released in 1975.
Background and writing
Weiss wrote and recorded "Rhinestone Cowboy" in 1974, and it appeared on his 20th Century Records album Black and Blue Suite. It did not however, have much of a commercial impact as a single. In late 1974, Campbell heard the song on the radio and, during a tour of Australia decided to learn the song. Soon after his return to the United States, Campbell went to Al Coury's office at Capitol Records, where he was approached about "a great new song" — "Rhinestone Cowboy."
Several music writers noted that Campbell identified with the subject matter of "Rhinestone Cowboy" — survival and making it, particularly when the chips are down — very strongly. As Steven Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic put it, the song is about a veteran artist "who's aware that he's more than paid his dues during his career ... but is still surviving, and someday, he'll shine just like a rhinestone cowboy."
Rhinestone Cowboy (disambiguation)
Rhinestone Cowboy can refer to:
Rhinestone Cowboy (New Studio Recordings)
Rhinestone Cowboy (New Studio Recordings) contains nine songs that were previously unreleased: "All The Way", "Blue Sky Shining", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", "Didn't We", "Learning The Blues", "Pretend", "Rhinestone Cowboy", "Young At Heart" and "Colleen". The origins of these recordings are unknown. The others songs on this compilation were taken from the Love Songs disc of the 1999 release My Hits and Love Songs.
Track listing
Podcasts:
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by Loretta Lynn
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by ABC
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by David Hasselhoff
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by Glen Campbell
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by Madvillain
Rhinestone Cowboy
by: Loretta LynnKeepin' walkin' these streets so long singin' the same old song
He knows every crack on those dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle's the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
There's been a load of compromisin' on the road to his horison
But he's gonna be where the lights are shinin' on him
Like a Rhinestone Cowboy ridin' out on a horse in a star spangled rodeo
Like a Rhinestone Cowboy gettin' cards and letter from people he don't even know
And offers coming over the phone
He really don't mind the rain and a smile can hide all the pain
But you're down when you're ridin' the train that's taking the long way
And he dreams of the things he'll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside his shoe
There'll be a load of compromisin'...
Like a Rhinestone Cowboy...