http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19729630
― mike t-diva, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:10 (7 months ago) Permalink
I happened to see the final show of his final UK tour, in 2007. Although the vocal cracks were just starting to appear, he summoned all of his powers for a bold and magnificent rendition of MacArthur Park, which left me stunned. (I'd never thought much of the song until then.)
My dad used to play his Greatest Hits on 8-track cartridge on the school run, week in and week out. So those songs - Home Lovin' Man, Happy Heart, Can't Take My Eyes Off You - are etched deep into my musical memory.
― mike t-diva, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:14 (7 months ago) Permalink
"I didn't think he was going to sing "Moon River" and then BAM! second encore!".
― how's life, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:14 (7 months ago) Permalink
Brilliant:
For me, inextricably linked with growing up in the '60s and his Christmas specials.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:18 (7 months ago) Permalink
RIP smooth dude
― Get wolves (DL), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:18 (7 months ago) Permalink
From my review:
The show ended with a historic announcement: not only was Nottingham the final date of the tour, but it was also Andy’s final tour. There had been something of the farewell lurking throughout the show – particularly during a slowed down Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – and now we knew why. With a minimum of fuss, Williams strolled casually off stage and, as Days Of Wine And Roses so poignantly put it, “towards a closing door, a door marked "nevermore" that wasn't there before.
― mike t-diva, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:20 (7 months ago) Permalink
Two other associations: the Osmonds (he was like Diana Ross to their Jackson 5) and his funny guest spot on Larry Sanders.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:30 (7 months ago) Permalink
"Packed...every night."
― this is the dream of avril and chad (jer.fairall), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:46 (7 months ago) Permalink
TV staple of my childhood as well; haven't listened much since, tho "Can't Get Used" might be his peak.
― kizz my hairy irish azz (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:57 (7 months ago) Permalink
Am really sad about his passing. The "Can't help falling in love" album is an integral part of my childhood, and I am convinced some horror befell me while the album was playing because when I replayed the album in the mid 80s I was in floods of tears, it was like experiencing a past life or something. From there I collected his albums during the late 80s - they were charity shop regulars - and got to know his music more. As an interpretative singer, he was amazing, and he could pick whoever he wanted for arrangements or whatever. The above mentioned album is a highlight - the side two medley just about beats side one of "Bookends" in the cradle to grave stakes - and the "Solitaire" LP from 73 is great too, a typical Richard Perry production, some great songs (Nilsson, various solo Fabs and more) with a crack 70s session team (Hopkins, Voorman etc). It was downhill from there artistically but I was glad for his revivals and very glad I got to see him perform in Cardiff ten years ago - I was probably the youngest person there. His music was a huge part of my life, and it was purely for the music I loved him, was too young for the TV shows. I'm going to play "It's over" now and shed a tear or two, Sorry.
― Rob M Revisited, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 15:13 (7 months ago) Permalink
"I experienced the things that most people did when taking psychedelic drugs – the intensely heightened senses, the beauty of colours and sounds, the contrasting phases of feeling. One moment, I would feel like I was a lord of the cosmos, the next I would be focused on a microscopic detail – a coloured thread fluttering in the breeze, or specks of dust hanging in the air. LSD gave me powerful feelings of euphoria – some sex-related – but also a sense of fear and despair. During one session I was even born again – not in the evangelical sense, but in believing I was experiencing the very painful physical sensations of birth."
― Faster than food (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 15:53 (7 months ago) Permalink
Trademark political schizo -- campaigned for RFK & McGovern, then...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/6241196/Andy-Williams-accuses-Barack-Obama-of-following-Marxist-theory.html
― kizz my hairy irish azz (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 16:28 (7 months ago) Permalink
"His music was a huge part of my life.."Always wanted to see him perform but never got a chance too despite trying. I remember the Christmas specials and the cozy feelings I'd get from them. Sad.
― *tera, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 16:58 (7 months ago) Permalink
One of my dad's favorites, so between his LPs on the hi-fi and the TV specials he's pretty much in my DNA.
― Baked. And yet so soupy. (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 17:09 (7 months ago) Permalink
Not really unexpected, but sad to see him go. Agree with what Rob M says about his seventies albums above; he had three number one albums in the UK and here's what I had to [Removed Illegal Link] [url=http://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/andy-williams-home-lovin-man.html}them[/url].
― Here he is with the classic "Poème Électronique." Good track (Marcello Carlin), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 17:14 (7 months ago) Permalink
Damn this stupid system:
http://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/andy-williams-home-lovin-man.htmlhttp://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/andy-williams-andy-williams-greatest.htmlhttp://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/andy-williams-love-andy.html
― Here he is with the classic "Poème Électronique." Good track (Marcello Carlin), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 17:15 (7 months ago) Permalink
― JacobSanders, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 17:17 (7 months ago) Permalink
watched the show as a kid mostly for the Cookie Bear btw
― kizz my hairy irish azz (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 27 September 2012 13:45 (7 months ago) Permalink
Never did understand why the bear never got in the door.
It wasn't like AWilliams didn't have any, or that he was some sort of miser: most of his guests each week got to go in for milk & cookies...
Still, though... (I always liked his tie, the bear that is)
― Mark G, Thursday, 27 September 2012 13:52 (7 months ago) Permalink
Kate Smith and Andy, bear bigots
― kizz my hairy irish azz (Dr Morbius), Friday, 28 September 2012 00:33 (7 months ago) Permalink
awww... I loved that bear you know..
― Mark G, Friday, 28 September 2012 10:31 (7 months ago) Permalink
the actor inside did all the network beasties back then (Mugato & Horta on Star Trek)
― kizz my hairy irish azz (Dr Morbius), Friday, 28 September 2012 14:56 (7 months ago) Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=svXAztivzak#!I don't remember seeing the Christmas specials once I was a teen but they were apparently still being made in the 80's. Infrequently? Love Joey Lawrence and Lisa Bonet in this too.
― *tera, Friday, 28 September 2012 15:34 (7 months ago) Permalink