Adiós (Glen Campbell album) explained

Adiós
Type:studio
Artist:Glen Campbell
Cover:GlenCampbellAdios.jpg
Released:June 9, 2017
Recorded:November 2012 – January 2013
Studio:Station West, Nashville
Genre:Country, pop, rock
Label:Universal Music Enterprises
Producer:Carl Jackson
Prev Title:I'll Be Me
Prev Year:2015

Adiós is the 64th and final studio album by American singer-songwriter Glen Campbell. Recorded in Nashville between 2012 and 2013. The album was released on June 9, 2017. Campbell died on August 8, 2017, nearly two months later.[1]

Background and recording

After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Campbell embarked on a 2011–2012 Farewell Tour. After finishing the tour, he entered the recording studio in Nashville to record a final album. According to his wife, Kim Campbell, he wanted to preserve "what magic was left," in what would be his final recordings.[2]

Featuring eleven songs Campbell had long loved but never recorded, the album was made with the help of producer and longtime collaborator Carl Jackson. Singers Willie Nelson, Vince Gill and Campbell's children Ashley, Shannon and Cal also make guest appearances.[2] According to Carl Jackson, he had to stand with Campbell in the recording booth to record the vocals "line by line" as Campbell could not remember the lyrics.[3] However, Jackson noted that Campbell "didn't lose his melodies, and that beautiful perfect pitch and tone".[4]

Release

The album was released on June 9, 2017. The first track, a cover of the Fred Neil classic "Everybody's Talkin'", was released on YouTube and to the media on April 14, 2017.[5] The title track was made available for streaming on May 3, 2017.[6]

Single

The only single from the album is the title track, which was released on July 25, 2017, two weeks before his death.

Commercial performance

The album debuted at No. 40 on Billboard 200 with 14,000 units, nearly all of which were from traditional album sales. This is Campbell's 16th top 40 album on the chart. It also debuted at No. 7 on Top Country Albums, his 19th top 10 album on this chart.[7] The album has sold 72,800 copies in the US as of January 2018.[8]

In the United Kingdom, Adiós debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart on 16 June 2017, becoming Campbell's highest debut ever in the United Kingdom. It also became his second highest charting album there; his highest charting was the greatest hits album Glen Campbell's Twenty Golden Greats, which reached number one in 1976. Following Campbell's death, Adiós reached a new peak of number two.[9]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] 55
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[11] 21

Year-end charts

Chart (2017)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 53
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[13] 92

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pollak. Michael. Glen Campbell, Whose Hit Songs Bridged Country and Pop, Dies at 81. August 8, 2017. The New York Times. August 8, 2017.
  2. News: McKenna . Brittney . April 14, 2017 . Glen Campbell to Say Farewell With Final Album 'Adios' . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  3. Web site: Carl Jackson & Kim Campbell Discuss How Glen Campbell's Final Album 'Adios' Was a 'Labor of Love'. Dauphin. Chuck. June 2, 2017. Billboard.
  4. Web site: With Help From Friends And Family, Glen Campbell Says 'Adiós'. Martin. Michel. June 10, 2017. NPR.org.
  5. Web site: Glen Campbell - Everybody's Talkin' (Audio). GlenCampbellVEVO. 14 April 2017. YouTube.
  6. Web site: Hear Glen Campbell's Heartbreaking Farewell Song 'Adios' . Betts . Stephen L. . May 3, 2017 . . Wenner Media.
  7. Web site: Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Glen Campbell Debuts in Top 40 With Final Album, 'Adios' . June 23, 2017 . Keith. Caulfield . Billboard.
  8. News: Top 10 Country Albums Chart, January 2, 2018 . Matt . Bjorke . January 2, 2018. Roughstock . January 14, 2018.
  9. Web site: Farewell, Glen Campbell: The country music star's final record Adios reaches a new peak on this week's Official Album Chart . August 11, 2017 . Rob . Copsey . Official Charts Company.
  10. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #434. auspOp. August 19, 2017. August 19, 2017. August 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170819150343/https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/08/aria-chart-watch-434/. dead.
  11. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. August 21, 2017. August 18, 2017.
  12. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2017. Official Charts Company. January 10, 2018.
  13. Web site: Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017. Billboard. December 5, 2021.