NMC - Glen Campbell 12 string "El Paso"

[Mark Gunter]

Just came across this today. I really like all the runs Glen uses in his version of El Paso. In the video shoot he's playing an Ovation 12 string, but my ears are not good enough to tell whether the 12 string was used in actual audio production or was overdubbed with a six string. Either way, here's an old shoot of a real guitar great for the country music/Marty Robbins/Glen Campbell fans.

[michaelcj]

Looks, and sounds to me like an Ovation (Adamas) "classical" nylon string guitar [six string].

And he certainly was Lip/Pick-syncing in the video. Pretty standard yesterday and today for "location, wander around shoots".

[Mark Gunter]

I think you're right about the guitar, my eyes fooled me first time I watched it, but my ears didn't hear twelve strings.

[CarlM]

Here is one that really showed to me what Glenn was capable of on guitar. Supposedly he and Jerry Reed had an ongoing $50 bet where they would try to stump one another with the licks they would play. He was a fine, fine musician, as good as any out there. Alzheimer's is a terrible thing.

[Trav'linmando]

El Paso was one of the first songs I transcribed from guitar to mandolin. Good learning experience. Tried to pick the melody line. So so success. Haven't looked at this in months, but it's still in my music binder. One of my favorite songs since I was a surly teenager.
Fwiw, this was a popular choice for the Dead to play especially coming right after Big River. I have a download of the last Dead show I was at before Jerry passed and I believe that these 2 songs were part of the first set.

[Dave Bradford]

I've always loved "El Paso" and was excited to see it included in one of the last episodes of "Breaking Bad". That inspired our duo (Ovation guitar and mandolin) to come up with this edited version of the song. Nothing even close to the talents of Glen, Marty Robbins or Grady Martin who played the original guitar lead, but hope you enjoy it.

[Timbofood]

Thanks Mark, one of my favorites!
Glen was an amazing guitar player,
Now the $64 question,
What was the crime the cowboy was guilty of?











Horse stealing!

[Mark Gunter]

My earliest memory of my dad's guitar was when he was sitting on the sofa singing this Marty Robbins tune. The way the lyrics go, it always seemed that the handsome young stranger drew his gun first, but the El Paso lyrics are a bit confusing at many points, so you can just make up the crime and mentally wedge it in there however you want.

[Dave Bradford]

According to some Ovation guitar experts at another form, Glen is playing this custom six string Adamas in that video:

http://glencampbellforums.com/viewto...e27183c913f0ed

[Timbofood]

I got the info from a Marty Robbins interview ages ago, it was on Ralph Emory or one of those guys.

[Mark Gunter]

Aw man, did you have to tell us that? I'll be looking around for that interview now, might be years before I come across it LOL

[Timbofood]

I simply laid bait I was not expecting you to bite!
But, I KNOW that was Marty Robbins explanation.

The gunfight was "justifiable homicide" the line, "I caught a good one, he looked like he could run." Is the tip off...he didn't take his own horse!
I think it's one of the really great story songs ever!

[Trav'linmando]

I simply laid bait I was not expecting you to bite!
But, I KNOW that was Marty Robbins explanation.

The gunfight was "justifiable homicide" the line, "I caught a good one, he looked like he could run." Is the tip off...he didn't take his own horse!
I think it's one of the really great story songs ever!

Don't take the bait !!!
Also the line that begins 'I challenged his right for the love of this maiden'

[allenhopkins]

A bit off the El Paso topic, but Glenn Campbell did a bit of 12-string guitar bluegrassy stuff, when he and the Dillards teamed up as "The Folkswingers" and made the World Pacific album 12 String Guitar back around 1966 or so.

[Spruce]

A bit off the El Paso topic, but Glenn Campbell did a bit of 12-string guitar bluegrassy stuff, when he and the Dillards teamed up as "The Folkswingers" and made the World Pacific album 12 String Guitar back around 1966 or so.

That's when I first saw him...and it blew my mind...

He came to the Whitwood Shopping Center in Whittier, California on a summer afternoon in 1965 or so (I was 14), and played an hour-and-a-half set of instrumentals from that LP...

He didn't sing a note--just played a Martin 12-string with a bass player and drummer, and just killed it...

[Timbofood]

Don't take the bait !!!
Also the line that begins 'I challenged his right for the love of this maiden'

Aw, cmon! It's not a deep stream to fish, and I KNOW I heard it from Marty Robbins mouth!
As for the above line, remember it's a "story song".

Bruce, that is some very cool memorabilia!

[Mark Gunter]

Cool stuff, Bruce - and thanks for the Folkswingers reference, Allen