Thanks to Catgil for this nice slew of seventies clips set to a lovely Partridge Family song. Bonus Q&A at the end.
And thanks to Clodyne for this second video of a TV show segment promoting his 1990 "David Cassidy" album. Fair to say that this is the first of many installments of the David Cassidy "Then and Now" saga in North America? No mention of his 1985 Romance album or what he's done during the eighties. The press certainly didn't help him shed that "former teenage idol" title. Identity crisis? What crisis?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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25 comments:
Like Clodyne: speechless!
Wow...! Really fantastic!
It was my birthday yesterday so thanks for receiving this lovely belated birthday gift.:-)
Thanks DD for posting it here.
That 40-year-old David look has got to be my favorite!!!!! So much so that I took a still from that clip (provided by Clodyne, of course) and made it my background on my YouTube channel!!!!! I remember when I first saw that...I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I just sat there stunned for the longest time.
That interview at the end of the first clip is interesting.
Thanks to you, DD, Clodyne, and catgil for bringing these clips to me this morning. :-)
Oh ... and Happy Birthday LuckyB! I hope it was enjoyable!
Well the reason for no mention of Romance, was that it wasn't released in the US and gen. public would not have known, and the marketing by Enigma, (which actualy worked very well) was o have David look as much as he did before and that triggered the hearts of fans from the 70's who lost track of him up until 1990. But the focus was also on how different the music was on that lp and how David finally gets to do the rock music he wanted to before, and these songs reflected very insightful personal feeling lyrics. He did make a point in one
short interview with one of the E.T./Extra types of shows to differentiate himself with "Keith". He said something like, "people don't get it, I was not that guy, he wasn't real, and I wasn't like him in real life". But there had to be a little bit of the teen idol thing because that was the marketing thing that got so many old and new fans to come see him at signings and buy the CD and in '91 go to the concerts. But because the music was SO good and different than the style he was known for, it balanced out the "teen idol" part.
These were some of his best songs and he wrote them, so it frustrates me that he bypasses them in his current concerts. He could do one of them instead of the other covers (Clapton, etc) he does.
I usually hated it when the "teen idol" stuff was brought up in interviews (I know it could not be avoided due to how big he was then), but during the '90 lp interviews, I didn't mind because he had an lp and songs/sound that countered that past. David always said back then he didn't mind talking about the past because he had a 'present' to show them. And in 1990 what a present it was!!! My favorite lp of his barr none.
The second interview done by 5th Dimension group singer Marilyn McCoo, actually says how David is knocking the teen idol persona out of the water. It is very positive and impressive about how he was in 1990, and no longer as she puts it, "singing for the TV, he's singing for himself." That slow motion of him walking with the guitar and sunglasses....that part got rewound and rewound on my video tape after I taped that show. LOL
I would like to listen to the interviews. Are they available? It would be good to listen to David's replies. (He's talking a lot over the past 10 years, but I haven't heard very many interviews from the 1970s.)
Having said that, I do appreciate the clips.
I haven't listened to hardly any of his 1990's music. I've just heard a few samples on you tube. The only thing I don't like is the steady drum beat, (machine drum kit?) that is drilled into the background of the songs I've heard. Much rather hear his voice; without it being drowned out. (I'm catching up on his solo 1970s music. Recently bought a live 80's concert CD. I think it was re-recorded from Japan?!)
Just enjoying his versatile voice. After viewing the 1990's clip of David talking about his 'David Cassidy' album, I'm willing to give it a try.
He was, and still is, incredibly handsome. But, it's about the music, right? And, not about his multiple, good looking images, right? It's all about his talent, right? And, not about his looks, right?
Thanks for the blog and video clips.
Recent DC Enlightened Person
I so totally agree with you, Barbara: why doesn't he sing songs from the Enigma album and the other solo albums? I guess the answer is: he gives people what they want. That's how TV-people defend their soap-operas, reality shows etc. There are many who never watch this kind of programs, but there are also many who love them. The majority of people at David's concerts are not interested in him and his carrier, they just want their childhood memories to be revived.
Our dream that David would do a show of real artistic quality, the quality he could provide if he cared, will never come true. David doesn't have any ambition anymore, which I understand. I'm only 50 and I have no ambitions whatsoever with my carrier. I just want to retire and enjoy life. Why doesn't he do that? As UK fan said earlier, the response from the audience gives him a kick, that probably is difficult to lose.
Yeah, Barbara, can you imagine that "image" walking toward you? Maybe you did experience that? I don't think I could move. Once again, thanks for all the info!
But, YES, Recent DC Person, it is about his talent. I just can't help it if I'm "affected" by all those images and some of those things he does in concert. He really does put on a show sometimes with those moves. I can be just as affected by his voice though.
Well who's a pretty boy then?
Well the 1990's footage was great, no doubt he's a MAN there, for sure.
I think Catgil is on a one woman mission to make the world swoon to the tune of David Cassidy. She's damn lucky to have all that footage at her disposal. Where do they find all these things? She's made me fall for young David all over again. I'd forgotten how gorgeous he was. David was so different from Keith Partridge, I don't know how people confused him with the character. Those clips are gorgeous, he was so deadly in his killer specs and 70's fashions! He oozed sex that KP never had in him!!
Loved the last clip and his sexy voice. God knows how she got hold of that one. Obviously an interview done in Australia, but my, was he thin! Dont know why the record was banned, the lyrics aren't hot and the title is only suggestive if your mind is in the gutter!!!! Guess he was bemused by it all, maybe it was deliberate on his part, a need to shock and shed Keith's skin off his back.
"swoon to the tune of David Cassidy." I love that, British Fan!
Inspired by Clodyne's video I have listened to the "David Cassidy"-album. As I have said many times before, the strongest element should be his voice. I agree with Anonymous that it's drowns in the music, as on almost all his later albums. Who is it that doesn't understand that his voice is unique and should be treated as the enormous asset it is? David himself or the producers or both?
I guess I am a ballad person: I love Boulevard of Broken Dreams. A beautiful song, that would have been even more beautiful had David's voice been in focus.
Welcome Recent DC Enlightened Person. Don't know how long ago you've become a fan but if you're as hooked as we are, you'll make your way through the available material on him in short order. Seventies stuff is scarce. Did you see the Weekend at Wembley documentary? It's uploaded in four parts on MySpace. Do a search and you'll find it. I might also have a clip of it here. If you can't find it, let me know. The short answer to your question is no, these interviews are not commercially available.
British Fan, ITA with you that DC was so different from Keith. It is SO obvious when we see these interviews. The difference startles. I seethe when people dismiss his acting in the PF. It was probably a good thing I discovered Keith instead of David when I was eight - much safer for my hormones!
Barbara, I understand what Enigma was trying to do with the DC album marketing. I guess I question the idea of skipping over a decade and a half of artist's career to pit NOW against THEN. It became "DC versus Keith" and he had ALREADY proven he was more than Keith. Yes, I know that DC solo post-PF did not reach the same number of fans than DC/Keith ever did but his work stood on its merits. By positioning it as a teen idol's comeback, it re-awakened the "resentment" people had felt for him back then. Resentment is a strong word but I'm trying to encapsulate those negative feelings people can have about superstars:
-jealousy ("why are all the girls gaga over this guy, he's nothing special")
-annoyance ("gah, the guy is everywhere, enough about him!")
-nonchalance ("oh yeah, that teen idol. I used to be into him when I was a KID.")
Am I making sense? I think DC feared this backlash aftermath, if we can call it that, as well, because he says he hopes that people will keep an open mind when they listen to his stuff. He knows that the teen idol tag turns people off.
I know that his comeback was a success at this time - the clubs were packed and the single was a hit but I'm just wondering if it was the best strategy for him in the long term. What you say about DC not minding the past (teen idol stuff) because he had a present at that time makes sense and echoes his attitude when "Ruby & the Rockits" started, I think. When they did the talk show circuit to promote that TV show, they played up his teen idol past and I think that in the long run, it's the wrong tactic because it bites him in the butt - he ends up resenting his past thrust in his face at every turn. Case in point: autograph show.
That Marilyn McCoo interview segment doesn't even hint at his post-PF career and I think that's a shame because the general public never gets a chance to discover his versatility. It remains the die-hard fans' domain. People are left with the impression that he played Keith, hates that people think he was Keith and now he wants people to know the real him. That's all. It doesn't offer the public the possibility of appreciating a versatile artist. What if they had simply marketed this album as another release from an artist who had left an iconic role to quietly continue his diversified career? I think Enigma was hoping to cash in on "Teen Idol II".
Thanks for your thoughts DD. I wasn't aware of much of what David did after PF, apart from the Romance album until he re-surfaced in 2001 with Then and Now. It's only from reading this blog and searching fansites/articles that I've been aware of what David had achieved. Maybe his publicity machine should have been stronger too because even though a lot of British fans knew he toured during 80's and up to the present day, so many more, like myself, were completely oblivious of it. He could have collected a larger following, many of whom, would surely have embraced a more grown up, mature David Cassidy.
I dont know why they perpetuated the former teen idol returns tag either, maybe David went along with it to get the record deal at the time. Record companies pull the strings unless you can afford to make your own records.
David was known in the US as an actor both before and after PF so I dont understand why there wasn't more focus on this and his stage work. Surely that would have given him more kudos and an adult persona to work with. They could have gone with 'There's more to David Cassidy than just Keith Partridge and a few hit records, he's grown up and left all that behind him blah blah...'.
Barbara, do you know how the time frame of the making of his Enigma album coincided with him learning he was to soon gain the wonderful and tremendous responsibility for his new family?
Singme, Beau was born Feb. 8, 1991 and the DC album was released in October 1990. In a 1990 interview on Regis and Kathy Lee Live (see Clodyne's YT Channel ;-)), he said he'd been working on the album for a couple of years. Hope this helps.
Thanks DD! I was just wondering if some of thing he agreed to about the Enigma marketing strategy may have had something to do with his very pressing need to take care of his family. It sounds like maybe that could have been an influence.
DD - I've been listening to David's music for five months. I am disappointed that the 1970's interviews are not available. I did watch the Weekend at Wembley documentary. Many thanks.
To all -- Yes, his voice and mannerisms are nothing like "Keith".
I agree, they could have made some mention about David "living in England and recording an album", etc. to bridge the gap in the public's mind.
On the 1986 live concert CD, he sings "Get It Up For Love" and says to the live audience "it was the only song of mine that ever got banned. So, let's rock 'n' roll" and he sings it. Before that, I had no idea about the song was banned. His post PF albums were not played on the radio very much at the time...if at all? I can't remember, it was a long time ago for me. So, until five months ago, out of sight, out of mind?
Although, David was busy acting in the theatre, this body of work was not accessible to a mass market, television audience. So, he might have been forgotten.
I know that David talks about being a "serious" actor, but, I think if the television executives would have nurtured his talent(s), he might have developed into a wonderful light-comedic actor. Instead, he retired, and the television executives dropped him when he was not making money for them.
I think in his book, he mentions turning down the offer of The Hardy Boys TV series. I can't help wondering what it would be like to have seen him again -- still quite young -- acting with Shaun?!
Singme, I, too, swoon at the images of David. Recently, I've decided to focus more on his singing voice because it is more accessible to me. Ha!
Recent DC Enlightened Person
REP (Recently Enlightened Person)if you haven't already, you need to get hold of David's RCA albums, whichever are currently available and his Rock Me Baby, Dreams Are Nuthin... albums. They are his best work and show off his voice at its best. David needs to re-visit these albums himself, I think he has forgotten these exist. Nice to see so many fans re-emerging, he really needs to step up a gear and take advantage of any renewed interest in his work.
I agree with British Fan, REP! Those albums she mentions are fantastic!!!! I like his voice on the PF albums and the songs, but with Rock Me Baby on up the songs and his singing are very different - soulful and just as gorgeous as the way he looked!!!! The first time I listened to Dreams, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was ecstatic!
Recent DC EP, wanted to add about those RCA albums: you'll find practically everything on YT but listening to the songs willy-nilly on YT does NOT compare to listening to the whole albums from start to finish. They are excellent albums that never got their due back then. My personal favorite is "Dreams are Nuthin' but Wishes" which is not an RCA album but I wouldn't skip over ANY of his stuff from the seventies. I've featured a lot of his discography on my blog as well if you want to have a look around.
As for his acting, I agree that he could have had a great turn as a light comedic actor - he shines in that respect on PF. His serious acting is quite respectable as well. Have you seen his stint on Police Story? And then, that garnered him Man Undercover, a series that was critically panned but I really can't find much fault with his acting there. His pre-PF stuff is serious but not as subtle. His mannerisms are sometimes affected but his facial expressions are always spot-on.
It's probably a good thing that he turned down The Hardy Boys (don't recall that though) - it would have kept him in the teen market and his audience was growing up.
I also wanted to add that listening on a proper sound system (something beyond what comes standard on your computer) makes a big difference too.
Something I forgot to say before is that his singing, from Rock Me Baby on, is amazingly accomplished for such a young artist I think. Many wouldn't get to that point for decades more but he is there at 22. I always marvel when he says he is first and foremost an actor because he is such an awesome and fascinating singer!!
I also agree with the idea that he would be a very enjoyable light comedic actor. I haven't seen all of his acting roles but Keith is my favorite so far. He doesn't have many lines compared to Danny, but his acting is just as much about what is not said. His expressions, like DD says, and his timing are very good. But he is so much NOT Keith, that I can also appreciate what an excellent job he did of portraying him, endearing himself to the masses.
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