MacArthur Park

[Botch]

From my Farcebook feed:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRwYQgk05DY[/youtube]

On this date December 21, 1967, the initial tracks were recorded for "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris. The song was written and produced by Jimmy Webb. The session was done at Sound Recorders in Hollywood.
Webb originally wrote and composed it as part of an intended cantata. He initially brought the entire cantata to The Association, but the group rejected it. Richard Harris was the first to record the song in 1968 and his version peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song initially got airplay only on FM stations because of the length of the song which was 7:21, which was unheard of for a single at that time.
Webb said that after they rehearsed the song a few times they cut all 3 movements straight through in one take. The orchestral parts and vocals were done at separate sessions.

Botch here: I originally remember a shortened version of this tune from Donna Summer (had NO idea it was a Jimmy Webb tune!). I'm also intimately familiar with Maynard Ferguson's version, which follows the original much more closely than the disco version. This topped Billboard at number Two, I always thought I'd been familiar with it when Summers' version hit.
Still, some of the most bizarre lyrics to hit the Top 40; never leave your cake out in the rain, cuz it took a long time to bake it, and you'll never have that recipe again. :think: :think: :think:

 

[Huey]

I have his version in my movie collection, but haven't played it in a long time. It's an unusual tune, but for some reason it just works. Like it way more than Donna Summers version.