Ghost on the Canvas by Glen Campbell

In the last few months we have all been made aware that Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Diesease. It is hard to think of Glen Campbell being 75 years old but he is and with that in mind one has to accept his diagnosis as no different from the people diagnosed with this awful diesesase year after year.

Listening to Glen Campbell for the first time in years makes me feel old. It makes me feel sad as my Mom who recently passed had a great affinity for Glen Campbell. In fact looking through Spotify right now I came across The Glen Campbell Christmas Album and remember that we listened to that each Christmas.

But for all the bittersweet feelings of hearing Campbell sing on what he calls his farewell album to preface his farewell tour of one thing there is no doubt. This is a wonderful album. A powerful album. The sad thing is that without that knowledge of his sickness it is likely that this album would have received no publicity and thus been barely noticed. I will say it again. There is so much music out there that is wonderful that we never hear.

Ghost on the Canvas deals with an acceptance of where you are in your life and for Campbell that is a place that is on the edge of the unknown. The album opens with the haunting " A Better Place" in which Campbell notes that he often finds himself confused and his past gets in the way. He reassures both us and himself that he knows that a better place awaits him and us all. It is one of the saddest yet most positive songs you will ever hear.

The title song could easily have been on an album in the late sixties era, Campbell's voice still sounds strong. There is a sense of inspirational through the whole album with songs like Hold on Hope and It's Your Amazing Grace are both songs that you can tap your foot to, sing along, and then if you really listen to the words feel comforted that Campbell has made peace with his life.

The album ends with a song that at times sounds Beatlesque and might be the best song of the year. Of course that will not happen, I do not even know if current country music fans know who Glen Campbell is but this song entitled There's No Me ...Without You should make them find out.

This is as strong an album of music that you will hear this year. Knowing Campbell's situaton makes it even stronger. My first thought on hearing of this album was that it would be maudlin and perhaps exploitive but the truth is Campbell still has a voice, and has something to say that should be a solace and comfort to all of us, and hopefully saying it has brought him peace as well.

A great album