No, I Mean That Sincerely

Here's a clip of David Cassidy performing in Queensboro, New York, last November. He lists people's reactions to his admission that he doesn't rehearse. I'm in the "Why?" camp. And no, I mean that sincerely. :) Why, David, why? Maybe if you'd rehearse, you'd have time to tune your guitar and wouldn't need to futz with your equipment or complain about technical issues in front of the audience. Stuff like that doesn't make your performance spontaneous, just careless.

Incidentally, the song he's performing here was initially written by Carl Perkins and reworked by The Beatles to be a lament about groupies. DC has changed the lyrics here. Is it still about groupies? It's a lament, for certain.

No One Here Is Surprised.

Still disappointed though. Every time David Cassidy has a concert date, I hold a glimmer of hope that he'll pull out all the stops and actually deliver something good this time. Because I think he still can. But, nope. Another missed opportunity at the Nokia Theater last night. All the more reason to "cherish" those albums.

If you attended the concert and want to bitch and moan, you can do it here. If you want to praise his performance, you can do that too but you better make it believable. Claiming "spontaneity" ain't going to cut it.

UPDATE: First uploaded video. A bit bizarre, no? Sounds more like a performance you'd catch in a bar-type venue than in a seated one. Double-click on the video to access the YT page. I'm sure the user will post additional footage of the concert.

"Strengthen My Love"

Catgil does it again ;-)

You know, this song's grown on me. I totally take back my comment about it having a low-budget naughty movie soundtrack vibe. I still think his singing is different in this song though - prefer his earlier stuff for sure - but love how he gives it his all in this performance. And dang, that hair.

Want to see DC live in Elgin, IL, February 13?

Craigslist ad for 1 third row ticket

The venue's website

Take a bow, sir.

Can I be any lazier with this blog? Oh, yeah, I'll just send you directly to Catgil2's YT channel and you can bypass me completely :) Admission: I have not watched this whole clip uninterrupted yet but that bow at the end? One of the most endearing things he does on stage. Perfect mix of pride and gratitude.

Thanks for sharing Catgil!!

Australian fans?

Seems rage on ABC1 had a retro show on January 16 that featured a 1976 interview with David Cassidy (the one from the Russell Harty show perhaps?). One fan left a thoughtful comment on rage's message board but that's pretty much the extent of my findings. I'd love to hear more about this interview. If anyone out there heard it, please share. Thanks!

Here's a drool-worthy 1976 performance from our person of interest. Thanks again to uploader extraordinaire Catgil. Let's keep specs on clip below quiet, lest it gets yanked once more, ok? ;-)

"I Am a Clown"

Here's another DC clip from the eighties - the whole decade was a bad dream, à la Dallas, ok? - thanks to Catgil2 for sharing. From his debut solo album "Cherish", "I am a Clown" could veer dangerously close to maudlin territory but Cassidy usually reins it in with his sincere delivery, no doubt accepting how accurately songwriter Tony Romeo described him with those lyrics. Even casual DC fans can recognize the bitter truth in the portrayal. In the 1973 concert performance captured in the "Weekend at Wembley" documentary, the line "Tell me you love me, make me real" gives me goosebumps. Here, his rendition is serviceable, hardly goosebump-inducing and I wonder if the pianist is playing at the right tempo or if it's a YT synchronization issue. The live clip from 1973 is embedded below - thanks to Scarpett for sharing.

I Think I Mock You?

A couple of eagle-eyed readers - flexing more Google muscle than this blogger has, obviously - have spotted a David Cassidy CD entitled "I Think I Love You: Greatest Hits Live" to be released on February 9, 2010. The CD/DVD combo is available for pre-sale on a couple of sites, including Amazon, but information as to content and origin of recordings is scantier than Mariah Carey's latest attire.

Two things give me hope that David Cassidy is not driving this project:
1) the publisher is Cleopatra Records, an independent record label specializing in compilations and reissues of out-of-print releases
2) the lack of mention on DC's own website (means zilch, I know, but I take what I can get).

Otherwise, will I be alone in thinking he's really singing "I Think I Mock You" to his fans with yet another Greatest Hits?!?

Passionate resolutions

It's the end of another year. Feel any older? After reading the text below, you might feel just plain old. Someone forwarded me this un-credited list recently - it's probably appeared in your mailbox too by now - and I modified it slightly.

The people who are starting university this year were born in 1991.
They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
The compact disc was introduced eight years before they were born.
They have always had an answering machine.
They have always had email.
They have always had cell phones.
They have always had the Internet.
They have always had VCRs and video cameras.
They have always had cable.
They never swam in the ocean and thought about Jaws.
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.

Now do you feel old? Sorry about that.

Anyway, my point with all this? Time flies. Spend what you can of it on what thrills you. If you don't know what thrills you (besides David, of course), I hope that you find it in the New Year.

Here's David wishing us passion.

Don't let the time fool ya
It's got a way of slippin by
If you let it it's gonna rule ya
And leave you high and dry
It's too easy to get lazy
If you don't use what you got
It might even drive you crazy
So get up and move and get hot

-"On Fire", written by David Cassidy and Bill House

"The Christmas Song"

David NOW. Wish he'd enunciated better but I quibble. He still has a smoooooth voice. And dang, that "you" at the end? Consider yourself warned.



Merry Christmas! I wish you all Happy Holidays with your loved ones.

My Christmas Card to You

I've mailed out my Season's Greetings to friends and family, so this is "My Christmas Card to You", dear blog readers. Can someone's best holiday wishes be expressed any better than this?

"To you and all your family, your neighbors and your friends
May all your days be happy with a joy that never ends
May peace and love surround you
At Christmas time and all the whole year through
May your life be filled with sunshine, may your every wish come true
May you find the sweet fulfillment in everything you do
May your days be blessed with the very very best
Both now and the whole year through"

Thank you Tony Romeo for another classic song.

Here's David, singing it THEN to "yew":



And, NOW, live in 2007. Thanks to SumerKis for posting both videos.

"I saw Hendrix five, six times..."

David Cassidy has often said this in interviews, especially in biographical ones, and it always makes me laugh. Dude, could you ever imagine that one day women would be going to see YOU perform HUNDREDS of times, never mind five or six?!?! And you thought you were fanatical?

Fans will brag about seeing all his performances that night or week and some fans will travel halfway across the globe to see him perform just about anywhere, even if it's in the middle of nowhere. At his recent Peterborough Festival of Lights concert, fans from Japan and Australia came to see him. If you know where Peterborough is, chances are you're Canadian. Otherwise, it's Peter-who?

He's a great live performer but David NOW doesn't have the same stage presence as David THEN and from the clips I've seen on YouTube, his concert shtick is repetitive. His play list doesn't vary much and neither does his chatter between songs. Not sure I'd pay to see him perform live now (gasp!). And I still call myself a fan (tsk, tsk).