Glen Campbell got here to mention goodbye.

More than the rest else, it was a privilege to be there to listen to it.

The 76-year-old united states of america track crooner, who changed into an immense crossover superstar within the '60s and '70s with such hits as "Wichita Lineman" and "Rhinestone Cowboy," introduced closing 12 months that he were identified with Alzheimer's illness and was retiring from the road.

His self-proclaimed Good-bye Tour, which integrated a prevent on the Grammy Awards in La in February, in the end made its strategy to the Mountain Vineyard in Saratoga on Wednesday.

It was an evening that Bay House fanatics had lengthy expected -- and dreaded. On one hand, it was necessary to turn up and thank the person who had given such a lot to their lives through the years -- each in track and on TV, within the standard CBS selection display "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour." At the different hand, how does one say farewell to a legend?

In Saratoga, it began with a status ovation on the sight of Campbell and his six-piece band -- which contains three of his eight youngsters -- taking the degree. It endured with a heartfelt cheer because the crowd known the primary quantity -- "DELICATE on My Mind," the toilet Hartford gem that earned Campbell a Grammy in 1968.

Basically, the bathe of appreciation and admiration persisted within the night time. A few have been earned instantaneous -- similar to while Campbell brought a delectable little guitar lead halfway via "DELICATE on My Mind," letting everybody realize prematurely that

he hadn't misplaced his contact at the frets. Others have been earned lengthy ago, again whilst Campbell was fashioning the soundtrack to lots of those fans' lives.

It was, as expected, a surprisingly emotional evening. Yet, it was conceivable -- for an occasional wireless or -- to lose sight of the importance of the night time and easily benefit from the track. The ones moments have been driven, identical to lots of Campbell's perfect recordings, by the lyrics.

Campbell, of course, is the best interpreter of the Jimmy Webb songbook. There may be simply one thing approximately his clear, concise delivery, even today, that actually makes Webb's phrases resonate within the middle. Campbell's more or less one-hour display in Saratoga was stuffed with Webb gems, together with "Where's the Playground Susie," "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress" and "Galveston."

His model of Webb's "BY THE POINT I AM GETTING to Phoenix" -- a music Frank Sinatra reportedly as soon as known as "the best torch tune ever written" -- was completely divine. The primary lyric, which units the level for this unhappy leaving-home saga, supplies one of these scrumptious play on phrases that it is value repeating, "BY THE POINT I AM GETTING to Phoenix, she'll be rising."

That track was crowned most effective by some other Webb beauty, the immortal "Wichita Lineman." That song, which I HAVE NOT in point of fact idea so much approximately in years, was completely arresting in this night time. Its oft-quoted line -- "AND THAT I want you greater than need you /a distant And that i need you forever" -- now stands as my nominee for many romantic lyric in history.

Backed by his totally supportive family-infused band, Campbell was reasonably robust on vocals within the night. He used a teleprompter and flubbed a couple of strains right here and there -- best once, however, the place it had an actual impact at the display. He did a very good sufficient process with the brand new material, from ultimate year's severely acclaimed "Ghost at the Canvas," and was even higher with the classics.

He gave his all. Another time. One ultimate time. And it was each heartwarming and heart-wrenching to look at him on his ultimate tour.

I'm satisfied I USED TO BE there. Thank you, Mr. Campbell, and goodbye.

Follow Jim Harrington at twitter.com/jimthecritic, facebook.com/jim.bayareanews.