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!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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36 comments:
Wow!!! This is a new video isn't it? My God, (excuse that please, I'm overcome)that vocal is just amazing and what a beautiful arrangement of it. I will post my songs later (such a good idea of yours). This has brought tears to my eyes and I have to leave for work now!
A grown up career that never was. I never expected to be affected like this. If only we could have gone back in time with him and helped David become the star he deserved to be.
That last one, Love is All That You Ever Needed, is really interesting---never heard that before. I wonder if that's what the song sounded like before Wes Farrell changed it. Cassidy wrote somewhere that Farrell used to make small changes in songs and then take credit for writing them---I wonder if this is an example of that.
Junked Heart Blues is a nice song, but you're right, I doubt he could hit the notes now. A key change could help.
There are lots of songs he did that I like but that wouldn't work in concert, like If You Ever Go, or My First Night Alone Without You, or Blind Hope. One song that would sound good is Oh No (No Way). I really like the organic sound he had on Rock Me Baby---no synthesizers, no drum machines, just rock & roll instruments. Does he ever do Warm My Soul now? And of course, Sing Me (such a beautiful song), if he actually learned the words, and didn't depend on the audience to sing it for him.
He would need to really sing all of these to make them sound good, though. I notice in a lot of his recent concert clips that he doesn't really put his voice out there very much. He lets the background singers take the high notes, and cuts short a lot of the other notes. He's a different singer now than he was when he was younger, and I don't think it has anything to do with the quality of his voice. He doesn't try to sell the songs anymore, if that makes any sense. Oh well. Just a few ideas...
Oh, and Daydreaming, you can write about DC's sexy hair all you want. That man had the most gorgeous head of hair of any man ever in the history of the world. I've been watching the DVD of the PF 3rd season and all I can do is stare at his hair. The shine, the layers, the movement...hmmm. Lovely!
When do you all think this was recorded? At the time of the p/f recordings or a little later, messing in the studio or something. This is so grown up. How cana he be ashamed of the songs when they sound like this? The kind of interpretation that should have been on the Then and Now cd.I can't help feeling he is the definition of missed opportunities.
It just amazes me that we all seem to be on the same wavelength. BF: your last two sentences were to be my next post. SLK (was hoping you'd chime in on this one!!): love all your suggestions and they made my long list too. Doesn't "Oh No (No Way)" just showcase his sexy voice to perfection on that Rock Me Baby album? But why wouldn't "My First Night Alone.." work in concert? As for selling the song, I know what you mean but there was an effortlessness to his earlier work too, no? Take for example, "ITILY". (Check out SingmeDavid's blog for an early clip of it.) They recorded his FIRST take. He had no clue what this song was to become and isn't his phrasing just perfect on it?
As for his hair, can I just say that I'd love to kiss the feet, freshly-washed and pedicured of course, of the hairdresser responsible for DC's shag. That is all.
Actually no, that's not all. I could write a thesis on the swoon power of that man's hair.
Well, maybe My First Night Alone Without You would work in concert, now that you ask. Maybe "selling" the song was the wrong way to describe what I'm thinking of----it's that there was a way that he used to sing that used to really affect me (and still does)---he used to emphasize the melody more, bring it out with whole phrases, and not just the high points---he wasn't afraid to hang onto a note, throw in some vibrato, play with the feel of it. It wasn't just the sound and timbre of his voice, although they were lovely---it was the way he used them to shape the melody---I wish I had a better way of explaining this.
So, for example, in My First Night, there's the chorus:
You taught me how to live
To be myself
And how to give
Oh, but now it’s you
Who’s given up on giving
There's all this over-production going on behind him, but even that doesn't drown out his voice, which sails over everything sweet and strong (whereas now I'd suspect he'd just sing some of those words quickly and let the background singers pull out the melody). And then in the next part:
You’ve lost the thing, no one to teach
Changing and now you’re out of reach
And life tonight, ooh, life tonight, doesn’t seem worth living
His voice breaks on "no one"! That kills me! And then by the time he gets to "ooh, life tonight", you're hooked completely. And then the second time around, the song just ends there when you're expecting it to resolve on a major key. When I re-discovered this song last month, I had to go sit for a few minutes, like the way you do when you finish a great book.
Maybe it could work in concert. If he just sat at the piano, or with a microphone, and really sang it and didn't spend half the song shaking hands with all the women in the front row. I'd be the happiest DC fan on the planet.
Think we all like the same songs too!
My First Night Alone is one of my favourite songs. I would love to see David doing more intimate concerts, sitting at the piano or just David and his accoustic guitar, some unplugged performances. He could start and end the show with his band of course. I've tried to pick songs that suit DC's age and mature voice.
Here's my (rather long) wish list:
From Cherish: My first Night Alone ... as beautifully described by SLK.
From Rock Me Baby:
Warm My Soul - love this version of it
Oh No, No Way, a rockin one
Song for a Rainy Day
Soft as a Summer Shower
These two could be beautiful ballads unplugged.
From Dreams are Nuthin ...
Daydream - love the yodelling, he could get away with Mr Lounge Singer on this one.
Mae - just love it.
Some Old Woman (my o/h grudgingly said he liked this one as he loves Blues.)
Preying On My Mind - good for a singalong.
From Higher They Climb:
This Could Be The Night (Slow and sexy)
Fix of Your Love - Funky
From Home is Where the Heart is:
Damned if This Ain't Love
A Fool in Love
Love Davy's version of Tomorrow if he could re-create that.
From Gettin in the Street:
Living a Lie (Good duet for DC and guest)
Junked Heart Blues with a new arrangement
Rosa's Cantina (For the party atmosphere, he could get away with milking this one)
I'd love to see him rework some p/f favourites like he did with Summer Days:
I would Have Loved You Anyway
Love is All I Ever Needed
If You Ever Go
She'd Rather Have the Rain
Alone Too Long
I Don't Care (One of the un-released songs)
Am I Losing You
A new funky version of A Friend and a Lover.
His concerts need to be longer!
Hope I haven't sent you all to sleep!
xxx
British fan, put us to sleep with a list of DC songs? I think not! :) I'm nodding along reading your list. Yes, yes, yes! Where can I hear PF's "I don't care"? It's not ringing any bells.
I have no details on that DC version of "Love is all.." but I think Wes Farrell changed the lyrics to make them more PF-appropriate.
SLK: I appreciate "My First Night..," all the more after reading your evocative description. Just listened to the song again and it gave me chills. I'd never noticed his voice breaks on "no one" but my knees have always jelly-fied at "ooh, life tonight". Exquisite.
As you know I am too lazy to learn how to do anything useful like links so if you type I don't Care and Partridge family into youtube it will come up. It is posted by poisonkis2U. She who uploaded Summer Days. Thanks to her.
Sorry to confuse. It was not poisonkis who uploaded Summer Days although its always listed with her videos. I think I Don't Care has rather saucy lyrics for the partridge family. Good one!
Hey!!! Boy do I have a lot to catch up on. I subscribed to the feeds, but they are all coming in as the same date and time. I didn't notice right away, so there was this new post and new comments that I missed initially.
I'll have to investigate most of this later but I have played the video embedded here, and YES, I love this song!!! I had seen it for the first time only recently. I get the chills listening to him sing that song. ;-)
DD, thanks for mentioning my blog!! That is so sweet of you!!!
I keep changing my mind about which album of David's I like best. At the moment I have a crush on Higher They Climb. I know it's his statement about the rise and fall of DC the teen idol but I love every song even the Massacre at Park Bench narrative.
At the moment Get It Up For Love is constantly going around in my head like its ingrained. Quite a catchy tune. I remember him saying it got no airplay because of the dubious title. I don't see anything wrong with the lyrics. It could only be 'dirty' in people's own minds.
There's a great yt video of it (1975) where he's singing in a studio in Europe somewhere. I love it! Only David could just pull off wearing a crimson red satin suit. He says something to an audience member at the beginning but I can't quite catch it. Sounds like he's questioning whether he should have worn the red trousers!
Anyhow, he has that spikier haircut (quite sexy). David's singing his heart out and screwing up his cute little face and grooving. I really miss his old teeth! I'm just amazed that no-one in the audience appears to be looking at him. Are they insane?!!!
Guess he can't add this to his concert schedule but I just love it so.
Hey British Fan,
Here is that link to Get It Up For Love. :-)
OMG, those red satin pants. :=))))
It's a good thing he has that jacket on. Yum!!!!
I think in the beginning he asks a fan to tie his shoe for him if it comes untied. Too cute!!!!!
Calling Clodyne,
Thanks so much for posting on my blog!! I'm sorry I didn't get to approve you as a commenter right away. <:-} I just wanted you to know I posted replies.
Thanks again for the info!!!
Previous link didn't work - sorry about that - this one should:
I Don’t Care
SLK,
Sexy hair, YES!!!! I love the color too, even when he has it highlighted. I think that somehow adds special sparkle to his green eyes. I love it too when it's all matted to his face and neck when he's performing so hard. omg. :=))))))
I'm working through all of the suggestions and so far, I agree with almost everything.
I really like Rosa's Cantina. It’s very different from anything else I’ve heard him do. OK, I’m a sucker for the deep, vibrating voices of the mariachi singers (love how that makes me feel ;-) ). David doesn’t quite have that quality, but he does have a great Spanish sounding, raspy voice here. And I love when he grrrrowls and rolls his Rs. Very sexy!!! He’s probably got some Spanish DNA, eh?
One of the reasons why I love Sing Me is that he seemed emotional when he recorded it, and he says the lyrics were personal to him. I imagine I hear his voice breaking at certain points and I wonder if he had to do this several times to get all the way through it. (Oh, the ridiculous histrionic imagination I have! ;-) ) In addition, he sung it so beautifully. But when he did this live recently, it's clear he had chosen to forget this song for one reason or another. So while I like the tune, I'm not sure he would do this justice now live. Like SLK says, he'd really have to put his all into it. I would rather hear him sing songs that are meaningful to him for that reason. I like how he does Could It Be Forever live. That seems to be a sentimental song for him. What are some others? Summer Days? ITILY. I also love how he sings Beatles songs and Hush live. I've only listened to a fraction of the live videos out there so far.
I'll have to work on this more later. Great post Daydreaming David!!! Fun!!! Thanks!
Thanks for all the links everyone. I can enjoy them while visiting here. Don't have so much time to waste on youtube lately.
xxx
British fan, I'm flattered that you're spending your time on my blog rather than YouTube. Thanks!
Singmedavid, "Sing Me" ranks way up there among my favorite of DC's. Tony Romeo was a very gifted songwriter. Such evocative imagery in that song. The following lines could make me cry:
"Here is another I never did like
When I ran away
On that old broken down bike
A new baby brother
Came home that same day
I guess I just figured
I'd be in the way
You bribed me with marbles and
Chocolate ice cream"
Thanks for such enjoyable input, everyone!
Morning. Off topic so apologies. Just wanted to let you all know that Daidycat has posted a second blog on cmongethappy. I think her reflections support what we all feel. She is someone who has supported David over the years and seen/met him many times. I'm grateful she feels able to share her thoughts on a public fansite.
xxx
Thanks, BF. Just finished reading that post myself and it was sparking a new entry. I know who Daidycat is (not personally) and it's obvious how much she cares for David.
One Night Stand David did during his 1991 US concert tour, he did that song and went from that right into I Woke Up.... it was really really great two rocking powerful songs! A few years ago he put in Where Is The Morning which was very welcomed. But he dropped if from the setlist of future concerts. I would like "Tenderly" fro the Romance CD and "She Knows All About Boys" could go well next to a fast PF song. I'd like to also hear Labor of Love from the 1990 "David Cassidy" LP. If he did one PF, then one 70's solo, one PF, one 80's solo, one PF, one 90's solo, it might make for better variation in concerts.
Barbara
Just David Fan Club
"Where is the Morning"? Really?! That must have been something. I love your ideas, Barbara. If he did something along those lines, that would make for a fabulous retrospective. I can understand not playing the songs "casual" fans don't know, especially in park venue type free concerts. But for those paying 50 bucks a ticket to see him perform in a nice setting, I'm sure if he trotted out the lesser known gems, his loyal fans would appreciate that very much.
Thanks for your input!
I have been thinking for a long time about which songs I would like to hear, but since my memory is deteriorating, I can't remember any titles! Therefore I have to listen to the albums again. Since PF-songs never were important to me (I did not have the chance to watch the series back then), my playlist would only include songs from his solo albums. Yesterday I listened to Rock Me Baby, and one song that I really love is Soft as a Summer Shower. Beautiful! I also like Warm My Soul and of course, Rock Me Baby, even though he already does it. Sing Me and Mae are an absolut must on my list, and I would love to hear Can't Go Home Again. The lyrics meant a lot to me already back then, because we had moved town and I missed my old friends enormously. Otherwise the lyrics have always been less important, simply because English is not my mother tongue and I don't catch or understand everything. For All The Lonely from Didn't You Use to Be... is a favourite. I have the CD:s and the covers in the car, so I can't check forgotten favourites at the moment, but songs from the RCA CD:s would be welcome and also some from A Touch of Blue, but with new arrangements! I hate the background vocals on many songs, and they make at least one song sound like a joke. When I listened to Rock Me Baby yesterday, I noticed that there there were no horrible background vocals - where did they come from?
I agree with many of the songs you all have mentioned. What a fantastic concert David could do if he listened to us!
By the way, Daydreaming, although this is not a fan site, I think you should ask for the link to be added to the fan sites on David's website. Although it might be that they wouldn't accept it, since we are not just loving and admiring...
Does anyone here have the David Cassidy Enigma LP that he put out around 1990? Don't think we had that one here in England. The Record Company went under I think. Bad luck for David again. I keep hearing that it was very good and one of his best. Does he do any of those songs in his concerts? Wish it was possible to get our hands on that one.
I have 4 copies of that Enigma LP. I have 2 cassettes, one vinyl from Germany and two CDs plus 12 inch vinyl of Lying to Myself. I think it came out in UK or German copies were in UK stores? To me this was the absolute best lp David ever did, and I've told him so more than once. He's said, "I know how you like that album." I was disappointed when "Didn't You Used To Be..." came out because I 'lost' the the rocker David again. I always look at the Enigma album as being like that episode of Dallas, where Pam wakes up and find out the past year was a dream. For me the Enigma album is "the Dallas album". I always rewrite the first line from Lying To Myself whenver I sing along to the album, "So I'll never hear this song again, I'll not get used to it..." ;-)
Barbara
JD
you can get the Enigma album here:
http://www.amazon.com/David-Cassidy/dp/B00000EKNO/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1257621650&sr=1-36
-Barbara
JD
here is clickable link - I hope it comes out on here ok. I put the url in the signature part, so hope it works.
Barbara
Thank you so much Barbara. I've just listened to all the track samples and they're great. I don't know why David didn't put out more of this kind of music. I'm sure he must have been proud of it. Some of the sellers are on cassette which at least I can still play, don't have a record turntable anymore. Think a purchase is looming! Thanks again.
xxx
British fan, I bought the Enigma album as CD last year from somewhere, think it was amazon.co.uk. There is none now, but I'm sure it will come up again.
Thanks Mae. Just looked on Amazon UK and can get it in good condition so here goes!
Thanks for your suggestions, everyone. MaeB, I wholeheartedly agree with "Can't Go Home Again" - with spare arrangement, just David and his guitar - that would be FAB. And isn't Mae live from his Cassidy Live! album the most amazing rendition ever?! Don't see why he can't do that one in the same way today. The guitar solo is electrifying. It's on ut if you haven't heard it yet.
Thanks for suggesting DC's site includes my blog in their links. I really don't feel comfortable suggesting it because of the reasons you state. Right now, my blog readership is growing at a manageable rate and I haven't needed to turn on the comment moderation yet. ;-) I like that.
Yes, Daydreaming, "Can't Go Home Again" with David and a guitar, and "Junked Heart Blues" with him and a piano (if his voice still can handle it). Keep it simple, would be my advice to David. And also, a serious approach to the music and the songs!
See what you mean about the comments. I have seen a lot of very mean and stupid comments on different sites (not about David, sites in general) and still I forget that adult people can write just about anything, without any limits whatsoever. Strange!
Thanks for all the great info everyone!!!
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