The cover of Bruce Springsteen’s album, “Western Stars – Songs From the Film.”
As you may have heard, Bruce Springsteen performs the 1975 Glen Campbell megahit “Rhinestone Cowboy” in his new movie, “Western Stars.” Springsteen has released an audio-only video for the song that you can listen to, below.
Written by Larry Weiss and first recorded on Weiss’ 1974 album Black and Blue Suite, “Rhinestone Cowboy” is about an entertainer with a stalled career who is dreaming of being a superstar. Campbell’s version was a No. 1 hit and became one of his signature songs. You can watch him perform it below, as well.
The “Western Stars” soundtrack album will be released today. The movie was screened in previews on Oct. 19 and 23 but goes into full release today, as well.
Born in Newark and raised in Queens, Weiss, 78, also has written or co-written songs that were recorded by Nat King Cole (“Mr. Wishing Well”), Jeff Beck (“Hi Ho Silver Lining”), Eric Burdon & the Animals (“Help Me Girl”) and Jerry Butler (“Mr. Dream Merchant”). He moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1971, and later relocated to Nashville.
It was a laborious writing process,” he said about “Rhinestone Cowboy” in a 2009 interview with Nashville Arts magazine, “because something told me I had to spend a lot of time on that song. It took me about three to four months to write, and it was really a reflection looking back on where I had been in New York. I was picturing myself walking the streets like I used to.”
I have also included, below, Campbell’s 2013 re-recording of it, for his See You There album.
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