Rhinestone Cowboy

Glen Campbell really related to the Larry Weiss song "Rhinestone Cowboy." Especially the lyric about the compromises musicians have to make in the record business. Weiss had originally recorded the song on his 1974 20th Century Records album Black and Blue Suite. Released as a single, Weiss' version peaked at number 24 on the adult contemporary charts. Campbell heard it while listening to a Los Angeles radio station, KNX-FM. He bought a cassette tape of the album and listened to it while he did a three week tour of Australia.

When he returned to the U.S., Capitol Records A&R vice president Al Coury presented him with a copy of a song he thought would be a big hit for the singer/guitarist. It was "Rhinestone Cowboy" -- it seemed as if Campbell recording the song was kismet. While appearing on a telethon, Campbell performed the song. KHJ radio programmer Paul Drew saw the broadcast and contacted Capitol about getting a copy of the record. The label sent him an acetate (a "one-off" record). The song began getting national airplay on RKO's chain of radio stations, essentially forcing Capitol to rush release the single. Produced by the hit production duo of Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, the million-selling "Rhinestone Cowboy" went to number one pop for two weeks, number one country for three weeks, and number one adult contemporary in the summer of 1975. The Rhinestone Cowboy album went gold, making it to number 17 pop.