Wichita Lineman
"Wichita Lineman" is a popular song written by Jimmy Webb in 1968, first recorded by Glen Campbell and widely covered since. Campbell's version, which appeared on his 1968 album Wichita Lineman, reached #3 on the US charts, remaining in the Top 100 for 15 weeks. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" ranked "Wichita Lineman" at #192.
Webb was inspired to write the lyrics when he saw a solitary lineman near the Kansas-Oklahoma border, possibly in Wichita County, Kansas or south of Wichita, Kansas. (Despite the identical names, the city and county are over 250 road miles (400 km) apart, and the city is noticeably closer to the Oklahoma border than the county.)
"Wichita Lineman" has been recorded by a diverse range of artists; from Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dwight Yoakam to Kool and the Gang and punk band Urge Overkill.
Performed By
- Jimmy Barnes and David Campbell, on Double Happiness
- Ken Berry on Ken Berry R. F. D.
- Dennis Brown on Tracks of Life
- Glen Campbell on Love Story
- Johnny Cash on Unearthed Volume Three
- Wade Hayes
- Clouds
- Peter Nero on Love Story
- R.E.M.
- Scud Mountain Boys on Pine Box
- Urge Overkill, on Americruiser/Jesus Urge Superstar (listed as "Wichita Lineman")
- Jimmy Webb, on Ten Easy Pieces
- Cassandra Wilson, on Belly of the Sun
- Paul Holmes (broadcaster)
- The Meters
- Friends of Dean Martinez on Wichita Lineman
- The Fatback Band on Let's Do It Again
- Stone Temple Pilots with Glenn Campbell on a rare black and white video
- Optiganally Yours on Spotlight On...
- Homer Simpson on The Simpsons episode Co-Dependent's Day