Throwing back to the week of September 13, 1975, we find Glen Campbell atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Rhinestone Cowboy.’ This was Campbell’s first chart-topping hit on the Hot 100, and his fourth to reach #1 on the Country chart. A couple of years later he would top both charts again with ‘Southern Nights.’
‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ was written and recorded a year earlier by Larry Weiss. And if you think this sounds like a Neil Diamond song (as I do), listen to Weiss’ version and you’ll swear that’s Diamond singing it. In fact, many people have erroneously attributed the original version to Diamond.
1975 was a big year for country crossover hits. ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ was one of six songs that topped both the Country chart and the Hot 100 that year. Three of those songs have already appeared as part of Throwback Weekends: Freddy Fender’s ‘Before the Next Teardrop Falls,’ B.J. Thomas’ ‘(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,’ and John Denver’s ‘Thank God I’m a Country Boy.’
I suspect the other two will show up before year’s end.
I’ve been walkin’ these streets so long
Singin’ the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle’s the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
[Pre-Chorus]
There’s been a load of compromisin’
On the road to my horizon
But I’m gonna be where the lights are shinin’ on me
[Chorus]
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know
And offers comin’ over the phone
[Verse 2]
Well, I really don’t mind the rain
And a smile can hide all the pain
But you’re down when you’re ridin’ the train that’s taking the long way
And I dream of the things I’ll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe
[Pre-Chorus]
There’ll be a load of compromisin’
On the road to my horizon
But I’m gonna be where the lights are shinin’ on me
[Chorus]
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Rhinestone cowboy
Gettin’ cards and letters from people I don’t even know
And offers comin’ over the phone
[Outro]
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Gettin’ cards and letters from people I don’t even know
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Meet Me In Montauk 
It really does sound like a Neil Diamond song.
Meanwhile, my favorite Glenn Campbell song remains “Wichita Lineman.”
There was a movie Rhinestone Cowboy that was based on this song starring Sylvester Stalone and Dolly Parton