Exploring the Sound and Emotion of 'Wichita Lineman'

Paid subscribers get transcriptions and extra musicological analysis.

Music in this episode:

Glen Campbell - “Wichita Lineman” (1968)

The Beach Boys - "Hang On To Your Ego" (1966)

Merle Haggard - “Mama Tried” (1968)

Glen Campbell - "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" (1967)

The Who - “Baba O’Riley” (1971)

Patsy Cline - "Crazy" (1961)

Johnny Horton - “Honky-Tonk Hardwood Floor” (1957)

Dee Felice Trio - “Wichita Lineman” (1969)

Cassandra Wilson - “Wichita Lineman” (2002)

Johnny Cash - “Wichita Lineman” (2002)

Frank Sinatra - "Strangers In The Night" (1966)

Donna Summer - “MacArthur Park” (1978)

Kanye West - “Famous” (2016)

Nina Simone - "Do What You Gotta Do" (1968)

Rick Beato’s interview with Jimmy Webb is a key resource for this episode:

Minor correction: I describe Glen Campbell’s singing as “vibrato-less.” He does use a little vibrato, just not much.