I need a fix of your voice

Now that my addiction to David Cassidy's voice is out in the open, I can admit that since my re-discovery journey began seven months ago, not a day has gone by that I have not listened to some of his music. David Cassidy is all that I listen to in the car - even for the shortest car ride, I'll go back in the house to retrieve one of his CDs if I've none with me rather than turn the radio on. Some fans have been fans for YEARS; surely, there must be days when they don't listen to his voice?!?!? This addiction is a first for me. Those of you similarly addicted, have you ever experienced this before with any other singer?

I guess everyone experiences music and voices differently but since I can literally ache for David Cassidy's voice, I am aghast at anyone indifferent to it. I'd love to see a CAT scan of my brain while listening to his voice: all the pleasure points would be lit up like a Christmas tree. There's a study for an aspiring scientist.

Here's "Fix of Your Love" from his 1975 release "The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall". Whoa, whoa, whoa, indeed.

My Challenge, an Update

Remember my challenge to you all? Well, I may just have found a male voice that tingles my spine, toes and assorted body parts in between as much as Mr. David Cassidy's voice does. The aspiring contender to the crown of "Sexy smooth voice as evocative as it is sweet" is....drum roll please....

Michael Bublé.

I kid, I kid.

Seriously, the contender is the lead singer of a Canadian group, The Philosopher Kings. I came across one of their old-but-feels-like-yesterday-hits from 1997 (was that really TWELVE years ago?!?) as well as their cover of a mid-80s MTV staple of the same vintage and went, "whoa, sexy, sexy...who are you and why did I drop your CD from my playlist?!" Listened to a few of their obscure hits and the evidence of a winner is mounting.

Ladies and gentlemen, feast your ears on Mr. Gerald Eaton, aka Jarvis Church in his second life as a solo artist, post-The Philosopher Kings. So far, I prefer his work with TPK but I'm not familiar with his whole discography. His voice is sexy, smooth, evocative and has that elusive sweetness I find so addictive in a singer's voice.

Comments, as usual, are welcome.







Couldn't limit myself to three songs, sorry. This one is more recent, from a 2006 album:



Finally, a sweet sentiment and video from Jarvis Church, Mr. Eaton's solo alias:

"Spooky"

So, I'm back to listening to David Cassidy's recordings ;-) This song is "Spooky", an instrumental written by saxophonist Mike Sharpe (Shapiro) in the sixties. Four versions here for your listening pleasure.

The first version with lyrics by the Classics IV - it charted at #3 in the U.S. in 1968:




Atlanta Rhythm Section re-recorded the song in 1979:



REM's live version (with a weird intro by Mr. Stipe):



David Cassidy from his 2003 "Touch of Blue" CD - his version's a bit schmaltzy, I fear, but his voice is still a pleasure to hear:

Same Old, Same Old

This is the first fan review (Sheriffswell at 12:21) that I've come across of David Cassidy's show in New York last night. Sounds like a yawn fest to me. Same old, same old save for a couple of songs on the list that I've never heard him perform but they're not from his stuff. "Brass in Pocket" again? Have pity, we beg you.

First clip up on You Tube below. And to female-fan-who-shrieks-so? Cool your jets, please. This awful remix is hardly worth the voice strain and saliva. Oh, you're screaming to prove your attraction to him and not your appreciation of the music? Silly me. Go right ahead then. I'm sure he'll appreciate the novelty.

Classic Songs and the Top 100 Songs of the Century

You know how some songs, the first time you hear them, grab you with both a visceral, utter familiarity and a freshness that makes your spine tingle? They play out so naturally and effortlessly that you can't imagine them any other way and there's an inherent timelessness to them as if the songwriter strung together just the right notes, in just the right order, to capture an eternal melody or permanent rhythm nestled in our collective subconscious. You listen and the reaction is almost always immediate: "Wow. Of course."

I remember reacting this way the first time I heard Alanna Myles' Black Velvet and Michel Pagliaro's "Loving you ain't Easy".

Yesterday, I discovered the classic song in the video below. Or rather, I re-discovered it since I recalled having heard it before - probably the Boney M. cover because I'm a child of the late seventies. I don't think that I'd ever heard this version, the original, sung by its creator, Bobby Hebb. Below it, Marvin Gaye's smooth rendition and finally, The Four Tops'.

How do you think David Cassidy would fare with "Sunny"?

By the way, "Sunny" was #25 in BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century, which are "the most played songs on American radio and television." Check out the title at #22 ;-)

Home is where the recognition isn't?

From what I've read, David Cassidy's fan base is stronger in Europe and in Australia than in North America. Not only that, but he seems to be taken more seriously as a singer by critics overseas than he is at home. If you search for reviews of his recordings, chances are good that the few "real" ones you will find (i.e. not from fans on Amazon) will be on English sites. His album "The Higher they Climb, The Harder they Fall" was voted best LP of the year by readers of Bravo, a German magazine - was it even getting any airplay in North America? It seems he fell out of favor much quicker in North America than in the rest of world.

In North America, the reaction you get when you say "David Cassidy" is more often than not, "Seriously?" Am I mistaken in thinking it would be more favorable elsewhere?

Discuss, if you please.

"All I Want is You"

Am I crazy to love this song? Now, really listen to it and don't watch the video. Tell me, is that David singing "All I want is you" at 3:13 and all those "ooh babys" and "honeys" at the end (e.g. 3:38, 3:58, 4:04 and 4:13)?

Lights...Camera...Happy Christmas

Doesn't he just look absolutely FABULOUS here? His drop-dead gorgeous smile is the same one he sported more than twenty years prior in the Weekend at Wembley documentary when he's looking up at the cheering crowd: an ageless, confident, sweet and heart-melting open smile. In this 1995 clip below, he talks briefly about putting on a Liverpudlian accent for his role in Blood Brothers. The sound isn't clear enough to make me feel guilty for not really listening ;-)

What becomes a teen idol most?

Why, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air King, of course.

Let's just file this under wtf, okay? Excuse the crass language. This page popped up in a "non-Google but powered by Google" search and honestly, it looks like one of those dynamic sites that returns its hawked wares with your celebrity search name and corresponding bio "cleverly" inserted in the text. Or maybe David Cassidy's publicist really got him this endorsement deal.

Who cares, right?

Is our interest in "David's Sunday Disaster", aka "the David Cassidy Debacle", akin to rubber-necking an automobile accident on the highway? Perhaps. For me though, what really comes across in most comments, especially those on my blog, is that David Cassidy fans CARE about him. We are concerned about him and about his career. We want him to succeed, we want him to be remembered as a multi-faceted and talented performer, not "just" a teen idol. (The quotation marks are there because I don't think it's that simple being a teen idol and I resent how the press dismisses a performer with that label.)

As I look back on David Cassidy's career, I can't help but know he never got the career his talent deserved and I think it's a shame. There are a lot of factors that come into play into creating a successful career. It's not just talent. Some factors are beyond a performer's control but others, such as conduct, should be within a performer's control. Stars have publicists to help them when their conduct is less than stellar. I can't understand why David Cassidy's management team effed up the whole thing as it did with the rebuttal in The National Enquirer. It reads more like the work of a sworn enemy than the work of a publicist. Seriously, wtf??? Thank you, CassidyFanNoMore, for directing us to the response from the organizers of The Hollywood Show. Once more, I tip my hat to Ms Moose's class act. And kudos to Scott, at C'mon Get Happy, for managing the discourse in this whole mess with the deftness of a bomb disposal expert.

It's true, this whole debacle won't get much more coverage than the National Enquirer and David Cassidy/PF boards, fan sites, blog(s?) and the like. Who else cares about David Cassidy today?

"I'm no Diva" - David Cassidy Apologizes?

The National Enquirer - probably the only publication to have reported "David's Sunday Disaster" - printed David Cassidy's "apology" in their latest issue. You can view it on the C'mon Get Happy Site - Scott posted it on November 12 at 11h45 pm. Tried to upload the article image here but it's not as legible.

Note to David Cassidy and his management: this is not an apology; this is an excuse along the lines of "poor me, can't you see it's not my fault if I acted like a jackass?". Shame on David Cassidy's management to enable him to disrespect his fans this way. First, he blamed the fans and now he blames the event's organizers. So many other ways this could have played and turned out well. Copyright issues with pictures? Fine, don't sign those. Sign the other memorabilia that fans from far and wide brought you to sign, thirty-five years after your fame's peak. Can't shake hands or pose with fans because you've got the flu? Not a problem. We understand. You're a trooper for showing up in that condition, thank you for minimizing the contagion risks but most of all, thank you for making our dream of meeting you a reality.

By the way, Mr. Cassidy, explaining the refusal to sign Partridge Family photos with "That was then; this is now" at an autograph and memorabilia show IS diva (sic) behavior.

A Challenge

Hi, my name is Daydreaming David and I'm addicted to David Cassidy's voice.

Faithful reader and commenter British fan mentioned a couple of entries back that she was listening to The Partridge Family's "Crossword Puzzle" - probably the least-loved of all their albums - and was appreciating ALL the songs on it thanks solely to David's voice. I can relate. There's just something about that man's voice. I am totally hooked. On "As Long As There's You", doesn't his voice just comfort, especially during this verse (1:23 - 1:44)?:

You are the sun that shines upon my face
And smiles upon my life in everything I do
So let the rain come pouring to the ground
Cause nothing gets me down
As long as there is you

Actually, there are a lot of somethings about that man's voice. It's sweet, seductive, soothing and to my ears, very special. Singmedavid calls it inimitable. Can you find me a male singer whose voice is as lovely and his phrasing as evocative as DC's? C'mon. Help me kick my habit. This is not a rhetorical question :)

From the previously-mentioned "Crossword Puzzle", here is "It's You". Try and resist David Cassidy's sexy "Hello Baby" opening.

Idols, we've got idols.

This list might not give David Cassidy the warm and fuzzies, but it does keep his name in the public's consciousness and any heyday fan of his who comes across it is only going to have fond memories of those Cassidy-mania days. Not only that, but if that fan hasn't kept up with DC's career, this mention might prompt a quick look-up on the Interwebs or uTube after wondering, "whatever happened to him?"

And that, as we all know, is when the fun REALLY starts.

(Barry Williams at #14 with Donny Osmond at #19? All sorts of wrong there.)

"Frozen Noses"

Since learning of this song's existence, I've been dying to hear it. "Frozen Noses?" What kind of song could that be? Thanks to CherishDavid for sharing it and creating the perfect video to accompany David's composition. It was the B-side to the 1974 UK-only single "If I Didn't Care". What was wrong with North America that we couldn't appreciate his stuff back then?

I'll admit that at first listen, I thought the lyrics were hokey. The more I listen to the song though, the more I like it. His voice is sexy and the imagery is as sweet and innocent as the melody.

"In his hand melts the snow
that he brushed from her hair"

Is there a country flavor to this song? Could it be revived today?

Live Wishlist

We all seem to think it would be great if David Cassidy sung some of his overlooked gems (solo and PF) during his concerts. I'll admit I have never seen him in concert and I'd hesitate to go knowing he'd be playing the same old, same old. I thought I'd dedicate an entry to the songs we wish he'd play in concert. What are some of the songs you'd like to hear him perform live? Heck, if you're enterprising, do a whole concert play list. That's what, six songs with all his banter? ;-)

My top choices from the Partridge Family repertoire:

"One Night Stand"
One night stand here refers to a musician's life on the road, not to a relationship. Written by Paul Anka ("My Way") and Wes Farrell, it's a bit more adult than the usual Partridge Family fare.

"Every Little Bit O'You"
From the songwriters who brought the world "Tie a Yellow Ribbon...", this often forgotten PF gem might be a bit sophomoric lyric-wise, but it's so catchy and upbeat, do we really care? Bonus: it was featured in that "I Can Get it to You for Retail" episode from Season 2 that many fans rank as their favorite. You know, the one where they're performing this song on top of the bus and Keith's hair is blowing so sexily in the wind? What? Keith's hair has nothing to do with the music? Hey, it's my blog. If I want to mention Keith's sexy hair when I discuss music, I'll write about Keith's sexy hair. ;-)

From David Cassidy's solo stuff, how about taking these out for a spin:

"Some Old Woman"
Posted about this one recently.

"Fix of Your Love"
I know he sometimes plays "Common Thief" as a nod to that period in his life. This one would be a change of pace. It's a great funky tune that sounds like disco at first listen.

"Junked Heart Blues"
Could he still hit all those notes? There's something breathtaking about this song. And he wrote it.

Finally, here is his version of a Partridge Family favorite. No clue how this person found this lost treasure but I'm forever grateful.



Looking forward to reading and hearing your suggestions!

That was Then; This is Now

Seeing as the phrase is on my mind (our minds?) these days, I might as well share my thoughts on David Cassidy's early millennium CD "Then and Now". I recently bought the 2001 UK release with 22 tracks including a duet with Hear'Say. I'm not totally clear on this album. Is this the album for which he re-recorded the old hits in the same studio with the same background vocalists and musicians as the originals? I don't see the Bahler name anywhere in the credits and I thought they'd been enlisted for this album. I digress.

Now, about those songs. What was the point of re-recording "ITILY"? He got it perfectly on the first take. In fact, that pretty much sums up my thoughts on all six Partridge Family hits re-recorded here. Most of the songs are about first love and the originals featured his young voice, so sexy and tempting. These remakes show just how much his singing has changed in thirty years - not for the better - and lack the innocence so prevalent the first time around. The songs might be timeless but they're not ageless, if you catch my drift. Honestly, I think "ITILY" and "I Woke up in Love This Morning" are songs best left to younger vocalists. The lyrics lack maturity, if you will. Playing them live is one thing, but recording them years later kind of ruins the magic.

"Then and Now" also includes thirteen songs from his solo albums - pretty much all re-recorded for this release (I know "The Last Kiss" wasn't, not sure about "Sheltered in Your Arms"). For the most part, his singing is overwrought on every song and that ruins them for me. Palatable ones are: "Could it be Forever"; "Cherish" with a stripped-down arrangement befitting the song - too bad about his overemphasized vocals; "Lyin' to Myself", an up to date version without the trademark nineties drum machines and the very catchy "No Bridge I Wouldn't Cross". The duet with Hear'Say on "Could it be Forever" is great in that it proves just how lovely David Cassidy's voice really is when heard next to other male vocalists'. There is a warmth and sweetness to it that I find unique and addictive.

"Rock Me Baby" is a great song but again, he should have left well enough alone. I think he recorded this version a bit tongue-in-cheek and his vocals lack the bad boy yearnings so sexy in the original. One tune I fervently wish he had left alone is "I Write the Songs" from "The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall". When he warbles that first line "I've been alive forever", we believe him. He sounds 100 years old. His initial bluesy version was perfect, with phrasing so evocative that every time I hear Barry Manilow's emotionally-bereft hit, I want to scream.

All that being said, there is a gem here: "Ain't No Sunshine". He nails this Bill Withers classic and to anyone who says "David Cassidy, Seriously?", I'll get them to click below and listen.



Yes, David Cassidy. Seriously.