Body and soul, you took me out of control. An extraordinary live version of "MacArthur Park" performed by Jimmy Webb. I am 86 and I remember when this song , sung by Richard Harris, was first a big hit & then, ten years later, when it was revived by Donna Summers and it was a big. I know the lyrics are dramatic and sad Is that line a metaphor or did he actually see a cake in the rain in the park? My first true love broke up with me and broke heart when this song first came out in 1968. T and I were together about 7 years but due Wiki User. I wish I could go back and change some things hundred percent I do. When the song's writer, Jimmy Webb, recorded it for his 1996 album. In 1965, American singer Gloria Jones recorded the original version of "Tainted Love" as the B-side to the single "My Bad Boy's Comin' Home." The song was a commercial failure, but gained a small cult following in underground British nightclubs in the late '70s. January 6, 2020. Yeah, this song was probably the worst song ever written. Other famous musicians who dropped their own renditions throughout the years include The Four Tops (1971) and Donna Summer (1978). Summer was supposed to sing "MacArthur Park," which was her current hit, but that song required a complex arrangement that was beyond the scope of the Tonight Show band. We do audio edits such as vocal removals and lyric syncs in most languages with some . She became the first female artist of the modern era to have the number one single and album simultaneously on the Billboard pop charts (the week of November 11, 1978). Coming down! Definitely an LSD trip. Your email address will not be published. MacArthur Park was a staple in Wayne Newtons lounge act. [5] In an interview with Newsday in October 2014, Webb explained: Webb and Horton remained friends, even after her marriage to another man. I had an English professor in college back in the 60s say the song was about having an abortion. [1] When asked by interviewer Terry Gross what was going through his mind when he wrote the song's lyrics, Webb replied that it was meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair. In my 82 years, no song comes close to matching the imagery, ambiguity, and fervency. Printer Friendly . [9] It made its way onto the Hot 100 at number 79 on May 11, 1968, peaking at number 2 on June 22, 1968, behind Herb Alpert's "This Guy's in Love with You". Does anyone really think of their relationships like a cake they mixed, baked, and possibly assembled (like a layer cake) as they iced it. You could say this was the story of my life. 7/15/2015 12:20 PM The Irishman pulled this off brilliantly as did Donna Summers and Wayon Jennings a decade later and countless more who have tried. Like its namesake park, the song has been changed and rearranged over the years. In the 12-inch version, "Heaven Knows" was extended to incorporate the instrumental string introduction and the bridge horn solo of the single version for radio stations, but left out the second verse, and "One of a Kind" was trimmed of a large part of the instrumental break but included the second verse. ps: Love the song. To all the lyric haters, you are taking the words way too literally. The singer was not known for being a singer, but instead was a classically trained actor. [4], "MacArthur Park" was first recorded by Richard Harris, after he met the composer at a fundraiser in East Los Angeles, California in late 1967. Another song did come along and I did sing it but I never forgot that special lady from the past and never will. Well said, glad you got away in time! "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris] on the radio. Lyrically, Summer's rendition is also curious, in that it adds the word "Chinese" to clarify what type of checkers were being played. The contract lists these personnel: Donna Summer recorded a very complex disco version in 1978 with her producers, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. MacArthur Park was written and produced by Jimmy And bring the cake inside, fer cryin out loud! [9] It topped the music charts in Europe and Australia and also won the 1969 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).[10]. I will take my life into my hands and I will use it. Frankly I had no idea what the lyrics meant, but the song was great. All the sweet, green icing flowing down. An enormously popular star during his lifetime, Gable was dubbed the "King of Hollywood." Early life and career Donna Summers version of MacArthur Park would be the only recording of a Webb composition to top the Hot 100, and the last of seven hit versions of Webbs compositions to reach the top ten. The last song that Webb played for Harris was "MacArthur Park".[1]. I thought: 'That's it that's the song we've been looking for almost a year. The staff music composer Colin McCourt used to work for the publisher of this song, Edwin. Webb didn't know Summer was recording it, but was thrilled when she did. It having taken so long to bake apparently alludes to the time and energy he put into building the romance up. It was written by Jimmy Webb and originally intended as an interpretation of a personal breakup he had with his girlfriend at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. I made a loop of those notes, and put that loop in the [Solid State Logic] desk. Covers soon accrued by everyone from Ray Conniff to Liza Minnelli, and before. You stole the best part of my heart, Aah! In Summer's version, they're playing Chinese Checkers. Even today he is widely regarded as the King of Pop.. It eventually peaked at #2 that year. The inspiration for the song was his relationship and breakup with Susie Horton. I still think of my love long ago when I hear the part After all the loves of my life yes after all the loves of my life youll still be the one and I ask myself why., Have you ever baked a cake, not an easy task. My husband was unfaithful and we divorced. There is a reason for everything and a reason why you didnt end up with the muscian. I made a loop of those notes, and put that loop in the [Solid State Logic] desk. The music is beautiful as well. Back at cha in spades, darlin! From 1966 to 2022 and look how many people have a feeling for the song. Patrick is a di*k with not a creative bone in his body. '", The first Huey Lewis & the News hit, "Do You Believe In Love?," is a cover of a song Mutt Lange wrote three years earlier called "We Both Believe In Love.". Personnel used included Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Knechtel on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass guitar, and Tommy Tedesco and Mike Deasy on guitars, along with Webb himself on harpsichord. The complete version of "MacArthur Park" on the LP, then, pulls the neat trick of recasting the traditional medley as a sort of megamix - incorporating original compositions "One of a Kind" and future single "Heaven Knows" as interludes. Label : Half Moon Uk. Date First Available : December 7, 2006. I think it is interesting that it has. The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey.". Respect yourself and your marriage. She used to say she grew up listening to rock n roll and was raised on gospel music. In loves hot, fevered iron "MacArthur Park" was written and produced by Jimmy Webb. Someone will bring it.. I think it's a cool song. Most have forgotten us, even the ones we may remember the most. analyse how our Sites are used. The song is a chameleon. I wrote a comment but it hasnt been approved yet!!?? This is ART. And I havent even touched on the fact that Jimmy Webb wrote this song for his 17-year-old bride, and their wedding party included their 19-month-old child, which would indicate that Jimmy impregnated Patsy when she was 14 or 15. It is a song that brings out emotion of loss. Specially if you dont have the recipe, another Patrick hereyour analysis is too harsh the striped pants does not work for me at all. Or rather it is where the actual addressee, a lady named Suzy Horton, used to meet up with its writer, Jimmy Webb. I totally buy that someone left the cake out in the rain, if Mr. Stubbs says its so. The song was included on Harris's album A Tramp Shining in 1968 and selected for release as a single, an unusual choice, given the song's length and complex structure. After his relationship with Susie Horton melted in the dark, Jimmy Webb crashed on pianist Buddy Grecos couch for a while. Dont let romance or good sex memories cloud your reality or mess with your relationship integrity with your husband. Back in the day, MacArthur Park inspired no less than three jokes in The Simpsons. Webb delivered "MacArthur Park" to Howe with "everything he wanted", but Howe did not care for the ambitious arrangement and unorthodox lyrics and the song was rejected by the group The Association, for whom it had been intended.[2]. I am amazed it lasted as long as it did. Jimmy Webbs true masterpiece is about a true love lost and never being able to have it again. Webbs composition became Grecos set-closer for forty years. 5.0 out of 5 stars Great to have the original Richard Harris version of Macarthur Park by Jimmy Webb. If any good can come from the news this week of Glen Campbell's death, it's to remind us to appreciate Jimmy Webb. I think an entire book could be written about the song and its various meanings. Webb produced this song for Richard Harris, crossing the Atlantic Ocean several times in the process. Almost all of the images in the video are by Nika Akin on Pixabay. I played a little piano and she sang it with my accompaniment. We can all agree it is an interesting song. Contact your hosting provider letting them know your web server is not completing requests. While Richard Harris, who was a British soap opera actor, was chosen to sing the song is unusual, it didn't stop the song from becoming a huge hit in 1968. They had their first nibble on the charts with a minor hit for Chubby Checker called "Lazy Elsie Molly" in 1964, but had their greatest success as the musical masterminds of The Monkees - they wrote the theme song to their famous TV show and became the group's . Not believing my eyes that Im reading this. Moroder had been searching for a song to rework with summer, and when Harris' version of "MacArthur Park" came on the radio, he knew it was the one, perfect for Summer's vocal range. String, woodwind, and brass overdubs were recorded over two sessions on December 29 and 30. A cover version of "MacArthur Park" was recorded by Scottish progressive rock band Beggars Opera on their 1972 album Pathfinder. [1], In 1967, producer Bones Howe had asked Webb to create a pop song with different movements and changing time signatures. I will drink the wine while it is warm and never let you catch me looking at the sun yea, and after all the loves of my life, after all the loves of my life you'll still be the one. 1 and her twentieth No. You're one of a kind, you've got magic. [43][44] It was revisited in 1976 by Jennings, on his album Are You Ready for the Country. ), I thought the song is something I dreamt of as a kid Thats a hit! So he played MacArthur Park Well, all I can say is this was Jimmy Webbs story about his first love, and even though they got back together later on, it didnt last. The cake metaphor is slightly corny, but Ive always found the song absolutely heart-wrenching. The songwriting team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote this in 1966. MacArthur Park, located at Wilshire Boulevard & South Alvarado in Los Angeles, was where the couple would occasionally meet for lunch. 1968. The band was not overly impressed with the song's ambitious arrangement and unorthodox lyrics and duly rejected the chance to record it. Harris, known much more for his acting chops (and to future audiences as the original Dumbledore in the first two, Author Talk: Dan Ozzi on new book Sellout, Soul-jazz singer Tracye Eileen celebrates 10 years of music, Author Talk Matthew Hortons new book on George Michaels Faith, 10 Great Burt Bacharach Songs from the 1980s. Ooh!Baby please (baby please) please don't take your love from me (please don't take your love from me) I am yours for ever more (ever more) 'til eternity. In 2012, "Live and More" was remastered in Japan and included the original LP version of the "MacArthur Park Suite". Many years later, T. and I reconnected, and it seemed like it was in the 60s again. Richard Harris was the second to record it. It peaked at number 10 on Billboard's Easy Listening survey and was number 8 on WABC's overall 1968 chart. I heard the song last night at a performance of SUMMER about the life of Donna Summer. Its like being on an acid trip, without the complications. \"MacArthur Park\" is a song by Jimmy Webb in 1968, originally composed as part of an intended cantata. Heaven knows it's not the way it should be and heaven knows it's not the way it could be and don't you know there's no need to leave! I got to sing more songs later, but he has a special place. Richard Harris whose main profession was acting version came out in April of 1968 via Dunhill Records. In this clip from 1971, the songs writer, Jimmy Webb provides an idea of how he originally envisioned the song. 1, giving Summer her first posthumous No. Out of the blue, Harris, who had just starred in the film Camelot and had performed several musical numbers in it, suggested to Webb that he wanted to release a record. The Lineman of the County was another good song. Who sang the original version of MacArthur Park? And so it's a kind of musical collage of this whole love affair that kind of went down in MacArthur Park. It clearly says she was never married in the message. This immediately caught my attention so I focused on all the words afterwards. Contents 1 Backstory 2 Trivia 3 MacArthur Park Suite 4 Single Version 5 Sources Backstory