Ghost on the Canvas

Recording

Campbell first became aware of his affliction with Alzheimer's while recording the music in 2009, although his wife Kim had suspected that his memory was faulty several years prior. Campbell and producer Julian Raymond decided to record one final studio album of original material while he was in good enough health, with Raymond taking the lead to contact other artists for collaboration.

The collaborative album is intended as a companion piece to 2008's Meet Glen Campbell—on that recording, Campbell recorded covers of contemporary songs to introduce himself to a new audience and this album includes younger rock stars to compose and record with Campbell. Campbell worked with Raymond for those sessions and Raymond used a notebook to record Campbell's conversations between takes, so the two could collaborate on writing new material based on stories from Campbell's life, starting with the autobiographical "A Better Place". The title track—written by Paul Westerberg—previously appeared on Westerberg's 2009 extended play PW & The Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys.

Campbell has expressed interest in possibly recording further material, but it is unlikely that he will record an entire studio album.

Reception

BBC Music reviewer Martin Aston has called Ghost on the Canvas "a fine way to bow out of the business", citing Rick Rubin's production work with Johnny Cash through American Recordings. Aston continued that Campbell's vocal performance remains strong and the instrumental interludes were reminiscent of The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Consequence of Sound's Nick Freed also compared this album to Cash's final output, noting that Ghost on the Canvas and Cash's American Recordings material shift from straight country music to different pop genres. Both Freed and Andy Gill of The Independent commented on the themes of mortality and finality in the lyrics.

The Washington Post's Allison Stewart found the collaborative nature of the album a weakness, turning melancholy into overwrought sentiment. Christopher Muther of The Boston Globe considers the album "gorgeous and charming", but finds the sentimentality "overshadows Campbell's emotional and musical growth." Mick Brown of The Daily Telegraph has noted the hopeful tone of the lyrics, influenced by Campbell's deteriorating health.

Mojo placed the album at number 44 on its list of the "Top 50 Albums Of 2011".

Track listing

All songs co-written by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond, except where noted

1. "A Better Place" – 1:51
2. "Ghost on the Canvas" (Paul Westerberg) – 4:13
3. "The Billstown Crossroads" (Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.) – 1:04
4. "A Thousand Lifetimes" (Campbell, Justin Grey, and Raymond) – 4:09
5. "It's Your Amazing Grace" – 3:14
6. "Second Street North" (Manning) – 0:35
7. "In My Arms" (Teddy Thompson) – 3:27
8. "May 21, 1969" (Manning) – 0:34
9. "Nothing But the Whole Wide World" (Jakob Dylan) – 3:41
10. "Wild and Waste" (Manning) – 1:13
11. "Hold on Hope" (Robert Pollard) – 3:33
12. "Valley of the Son" (Manning) – 0:57
13. "Any Trouble" (Westerberg)  – 3:00
14. "Strong" – 3:33
15. "The Rest Is Silence" (Manning) – 0:50
16. "There's No Me... Without You" – 6:16

Amazon MP3 and iTunes Store bonus tracks

17. "What I Wouldn't Give" – 2:38
18. "Wish You Were Here" (Jimmy Webb) – 3:51 (song re-titled for this album, originally entitled "Postcard from Paris")

The deluxe edition of the album also includes five bonus tracks recorded on the The Glen Campbell Goodtime HourNote: Bonus tracks no longer included with Amazon MP3 purchase (December 5, 2015).

Good Times – The Final Farewell Tour

Campbell was supported on tour by roots band 'Instant People', which includes all three of his children with current wife Kim, sons Cal on drums and Shannon on guitar, and daughter Ashley on banjo and keyboards as well as daughter Debby from a previous marriage. His eldest daughter Debby sang harmony. Prior to the tour, they played a show in Biloxi, Mississippi previewing the line-up. On September 15, 2011, Debby announced her departure from the band.

Tour dates

Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

^A This concert was a part of "CMA Music Festival"^B This concert was a part of "Elkhart County 4-H Fair"^C This concert was a part of "Ozark Empire Fair"

Cancellations and rescheduled shows

Setlist

1. "Gentle on My Mind"
2. "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"
3. "Galveston"
4. "Where's the Playground Susie"
5. "I Can't Stop Loving You"
6. "Lovesick Blues"
7. "Let It Be Me"
8. "True Grit"
9. "Rollin' (In My Sweet Baby's Arms)"
10. "It's Only Make Believe"
11. "Dueling Banjos"
12. "Didn't We"
13. "Southern Nights"
14. "Wichita Lineman"
15. "Rhinestone Cowboy"
16. "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"

Encore

17. "In My Arms"
18. "A Better Place"

The setlist has changed. Later in the tour, the setlist has excluded some songs that were played earlier, such as "Let It Be Me", "Didn't We", "You've Lost That Loving Feeling", and "Rollin'". After having been played for a few months, "Ghost on the Canvas" was dropped from the set in January after having caused too many troubles for Glen. New additions have included "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress", "Any Trouble", and "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife".

Personnel

Glen Campbell – acoustic and electric guitar, vocals

Additional musicians and composers

Kim Bullard – keyboards

Shannon Campbell – vocals

Chris Chaney – bass guitar

Vinnie Colaiuta – drums

Katie Cole – vocals

Billy Corgan – electric guitar on "There's No More Me... Without You"

Dick Dale – electric guitar on "In My Arms"

George Doering – acoustic guitar, banjo, and mandolin

Eric Dover – vocals

Jakob Dylan – composition

Jason Falkner – acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar

Josh Freese – drums

Jessie Green – violin

Justin Grey – composition

Peter Holmström – electric guitar on "Strong"

Steve Hunter – electric guitar

Chris Isaak – vocals on "In My Arms"

Corky James – acoustic guitar

Danny Levin – trumpet

Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. – keyboards, vocals

Wendy Melvoin – electric guitar

Rick Nielsen – electric guitar on "There's No More Me... Without You"

Tim Pierce – acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin

Robert Pollard – composition

Zac Rac – keyboards

Julian Raymond – vocals, arrangement, production, co-writing

Marty Rifkin – dobro and pedal steel guitar on "There's No More Me... Without You"

Brian Setzer – electric guitar on "In My Arms" and "There's No More Me... Without You"

Eric Skodis – vocals

Aaron Sterling – drums

Courtney Taylor-Taylor – keyboards on "Strong"

Teddy Thompson – composition

Keith Urban

Michael Ward – electric guitar

Paul Westerberg – composition

Todd Youth – electric guitar

Technical staff

Chris Anthony – photography

Kii Arens – cover art

Brian Gardner – mastering

Dave Kaplan – executive production

Bennett Salvay – string arrangement, conducting

Scott Silver – executive production

Kevin Tetreault – art direction, layout

Howard Willing – production, engineering