Boobie Gentry & Glen Campbell and Anne Murray & Glen Campbell

2 classic albums on 1 CD.
Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell:
Bobbie Gentry would soon become a regular guest on Glen Campbell's genial television variety show, where her pantsuited, beehived country-pop bombshell image belied her delicate, sweet voice and smart, blues-tinged songwriting. Sadly, the latter is under-represented here, as only her minor "Mornin' Glory" makes the cut (compared to two of Campbell's own songs and a sweet but slight duet remake of his signature song, John Hartford's "Gentle on My Mind"), but Gentry's special vocal blend with Campbell -- the pair's voices harmonize utterly delightfully -- is the real highlight of this set. The song selection is pop-oriented, featuring surprising cover choices like Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" and, even better, a winning version of Margo Guryan's "Sunday Morning" that's surprisingly well-suited to Kelly Gordon and Al DeLory's countrypolitan production. However, Bob Russell's "Little Green Apples" is smarmy mush no matter who records it. This album is well worth seeking out for fans of both singers.

Anne Murray & Glen Campbell:
A delightful half hour with Anne Murray and Glen Campbell, the two singers looking like lovers on the front cover, casually dressed, Murray's smiling profile face to face with the man nine years her senior. The music inside, produced and arranged by Brian Ahern and Al DeLory, is perfect light country-pop. There are no hits here, though that is surprising, both "Canadian Sunset" and "Bring Back the Love" should have been contenders. At times Campbell's voice overpowers Murray, but it doesn't detract from the album. The familiarity of these personalities on a well-crafted set of songs works for their audience as well as those who enjoy middle-of-the-road music which can fade into the background. "United We Stand" is a nice duet between the two, but it is missing the production punch that made Brotherhood of Man's version so special the year before. Though there are strings on the interesting version of Randy Newman's "Love Story (You & Me)," for the most part the album is produced very low-key, letting Anne and Glen do their thing without heavy sounds barging in. Murray does a nice job opening up Hoyt Axton's almost gospel-ish "Ease Your Pain," Campbell making it country-pop when he gets his chance at the microphone. Glen had two hits with duets with Bobbie Gentry and in 1976 broke the Top 30 with a medley, "Don't Pull Your Love"/"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye." Here he takes his first hit, Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and is offset by Anne Murray crooning Bacharach/David's "I Say a Little Prayer." He's leaving, and she's praying he won't. Everything here has a special charm, "Let Me Be the One" as pleasant as the opening track, "You're Easy to Love," and the nice country finish that is Dallas Frazier's "My Ecstasy" just as satisfying. It's a good job from both singers, and worthy of an encore.
All Music Guide.