IN 1972, a teenaged Dennis Brown covered American country singer Glen Campbell’s hit song Wichita Lineman. Produced by Derrick Harriott, Brown’s version was a commercial success for the fast-rising singer.

“He really did a good rendition of Wichita Lineman. His version is a classic. He was so small, yet he surprised a lot of persons in the business when he delivered those vocals,” Harriott told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Written by Jimmy Webb, Campbell recorded Wichita Lineman in 1968. He died Tuesday from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease at age 81.

Harriott also sang backing vocals with Bunny Brown of the Chosen Few on Brown’s version which was part of the album, Lips of Wine, The Roots of Dennis Brown.

He said he could have easily chosen a top act of the day to record Wichita Lineman, but said the upcoming Brown was “special”.

“I knew and saw the talent in him. He was a spectacular singer who could pronounce his words with a smooth finish. It was really a pleasure working with him on that single,” Harriott added.

Brown, regarded by many as reggae’s greatest singer, died in July 1999. He was 42.

Campbell’s Wichita Lineman was a Billboard Hot Country Songs number one. It was named among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time.

Campbell’s other hits, including Rhinestone Cowboy, By The Time I Get To Phoenix and Galveston are also popular in Jamaica.