By the Time I Get to Phoenix
| "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Glen Campbell | ||||
| from the album By the Time I Get to Phoenix | ||||
| Released | October 23, 1967 | |||
| Recorded | 1967 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:42 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Webb | |||
| Producer | Al De Lory | |||
| Glen Campbell singles chronology | ||||
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"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is a song written by Jimmy Webb. Originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965, it was made famous by American country music singer Glen Campbell, appearing as the opening track on the latter's 1967 album of the same name. Campbell's version reached No. 2 on the U.S. Country charts in 1968[1] and won two Grammy Awards—for Best Vocal Performance, Male; and Best Contemporary Male Solo Vocal Performance.[2] Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) named it the third most performed song from 1940 to 1990.[3] Frank Sinatra called it "the greatest torch song ever written."[4]
Contents |
Background and writing [edit]
The inspiration for "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was Webb's breakup from Susan Ronstadt, a cousin of singer Linda Ronstadt. Both remained friends, even after her marriage to another man. The relationship itself, which peaked in mid-1965, was the primary influence for "MacArthur Park", another Webb composition.[5]
Webb, a Los Angeles resident when he wrote the song, was raised in Elk City, Oklahoma. As far as the geography implied, "[a fan] told me, 'This song is impossible.' And so it is. It's a kind of fantasy about something I wish I would have done, and it sort of takes place in a twilight zone of reality." He states that he should have left but didn't; "it's more of a song about something I wish I had done than something I really did, in that I did not get in my car and drive back to Oklahoma to punish this young woman for not reciprocating my love and affection."[6]
Content [edit]
The song consists of a man describing his decision to leave his woman, by writing her a note telling her, and his descriptions of what he expects she will be experiencing as he arrives at certain locations.
- By the time I get to Phoenix, she'll be rising...
- By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working...
and
- By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'...
Chart performance [edit]
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 26 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 12 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
Covers [edit]
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was named the third most performed song from 1940 to 1990 by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) on September 14, 1990.[3] Cover versions include those by Ray Price, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Reba McEntire, Thelma Houston, Dorothy Ashby, Frankie Laine, Chet Atkins, The Lettermen, Herbie Mann, Lorrie Morgan, Dean Martin, Wanda Jackson, Jack Jones, Stevie Wonder, John Walker, Engelbert Humperdinck, William Bell, Georgie Fame, Isaac Hayes, The Ventures, Marty Wilde, Solomon Burke, Santo & Johnny, Tony Mottola, Burl Ives, Ray Conniff, Gary McFarland, Ralna English, 101 Strings Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, Chris Westfall, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli, Gladys Knight, Denny McLain, The Magnificent Men, Dave Dudley, Bobby Goldsboro, Vic Damone, Erma Franklin, Billy Stewart, Wayne McGhie and The Sounds of Joy, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Andy Kim. Isaac Hayes' version of the song runs for 18 minutes and 40 seconds, consisting in large part of a detailed backstory about the events that transpired,[7] before the actual roadtrip took place. Brídín Brennan, sister of singer Enya, sampled the song for her second single on her Eyes of Innocence album. Hayes and Dionne Warwick released the song as a live medley with "I Say a Little Prayer" in 1977. The single reached number #65 on the R&B singles chart.
| Preceded by "Tell Me Not to Go" by Myrna Lorrie |
RPM Country Tracks number-one single (Glen Campbell version) January 27 – February 10, 1968 |
Succeeded by "Here Comes Heaven" by Eddy Arnold |
| Preceded by "Where Do We Go from Here" by Hank Smith |
RPM Country Tracks number-one single (Anne Murray and Glen Campbell version) December 4, 1971[8] |
Succeeded by "Lead Me On" by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty |
Inspiration for [edit]
"By the Time I Get to Arizona" Public Enemy
References [edit]
- ^ Glen Champbell > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles. – allmusic
- ^ Official Grammy website.
- ^ a b BMI list of Most Popular Songs from 1940–1990 – KBapps.com.
- ^ "The Man Behind The Hits". Philadelphia Daily News. January 17, 1992.
- ^ Boucher, Geoff. "The SoCal Songbook: 'MacArthur Park,' Jimmy Webb, 1968," Los Angeles Times, Sunday, June 10, 2007.
- ^ Gross, Terry (February 10, 2004). "Jimmy Webb: From 'Phoenix' To 'Just Across The River'" (w/link to audio). Fresh Air. WHYY-FM. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
- ^ Isaac Hayes, "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" Retrieved September 28, 2011
- ^ "RPM Country Singles for December 4, 1971". RPM. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
External links [edit]
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- American songs
- 1967 singles
- 1977 singles
- Songs written by Jimmy Webb
- Johnny Rivers songs
- Glen Campbell songs
- Gary Puckett & The Union Gap songs
- Dean Martin songs
- Wanda Jackson songs
- Georgie Fame songs
- Isaac Hayes songs
- Dionne Warwick songs
- Burl Ives songs
- Anne Murray songs
- Andy Kim songs
- RPM Country Tracks number-one singles
- RPM Adult Contemporary number-one singles
- Capitol Records singles
