Macarthur Park - Classic or Superstar?

Many of the Webb/related albums are fetching pretty good money, esp in the U.S. but i've never paid more than £2.00 for any of them. I've got as good mate who works at the record and tape exchange in London and he tends to find me quite a few goodies.

Still not managed to get a copy of "Pacific ocean blue" by Dennis Wilson though...

MP is one of the most poignant, gut-wrenching "my heart is broken but I'll go on" songs I've ever heard. Harris interprets it brilliantly (he does know a thing or two about dramatic interpretation). Besides the lyrics, the music is beautiful. Complex chord, key and tempo changes in the form of a musical trilogy.

Richard Harris' version of MP is one of the most brilliant pop music performances of all time. Donna Summers', on the other hand, is a joke.

Sorry, Mr. Butter, but to label Donna Summer's version of this song as a "joke" is not being fair to Donna or the era in which her version was released. Mr. Webb composed a doozy of a "pop" song (lyrically, anyway) and Mr. Harris, a good actor (if not a great singer) simply did what actors do - he "acted" the song. Like you, I immediately picked up on Webb's metaphor and laughed at those who didn't "get it". How could they not miss it? Especially with Harris "acting" it out like he did.

To appreciate Donna Summer's version, one must take into account the time in which it was recorded and who sang it. Simply put, it was the disco era and Donna Summer was the reigning star at the time. Given her vocal talents and her Eurodisco brand of disco (long running times, orchestral arrangements - as opposed to "American" disco popularized by K. C. & The Sunshine Band, the Bee Gees, etc.), it only made sense that she sing a song like "MacArthur Park".

Actually, I think the song lent itself quite well to a disco arrangement. In fact, it's a wonder no one gave "Up, Up and Away" (another Webb tune) a disco treatment. Given the 60s drug culture, "Up, Up And Away" could be interpreted differently beyond its literal hot air balloon scenario; this other interpretation, taking into account that cocaine was the drug of choice among the disco crowd, would have fit in just as well in the 70s disco scene.

Getting back to "MacArthur Park", given that most - not all - disco was just a lot of "ear candy", it allowed Donna to flex her vocal muscles and put to use a great talent that was earlier written off by critics for her earlier "sex kitten" songs (e.g., "Love To Love You Baby", "Spring Affair"). A real melody with a real arrangement and real range - "MacArthur Park" is a classic. Compared with the crap riding the airwaves these days, I'd kill for someone with the vocal prowess to tackle this song or something similar to it.

Until then, I'll always have Donna's version. Harris' almost over-the- top delivery aside, hers is the one that's closest to my heart. Some people might look on disco as a joke, but some great songs came out of the disco era. Though Donna's version of "MacArthur Park" was a remake, her version was one of them.

Ruined the song forever for me.

Since my above post I've gotten Donna Summer's "On the Radio" best-of in the bargain bin, and my memory was correct. Real good voice. Silly song, but I enjoy it just the same.

awesome

"Dreamy Days" by Roots Manuva. Also referenced (if indirectly) on Wu-Tang's "Second Coming."

I am a hard-working college-educated Mexican American male, and you didn't mention MY category. You only see the bad, lazy people because that's all you want to see. Your racism feeds itself. I know many Latinos who live in YOUR area and surrounding ares who work hard, put the kids through college, and are an asset (see I can talk intelligently too-but you ignore it when we do that) to their community. Some of the "few" people you see going to work, who you also smeared, are just starting out , or students, and they can only afford to live in that area. YOU live in that area-does that mean that you are a lazy, fat, hotel worker? Are YOU too lazy to stay off the sidewalk? Your post slams LEGAL Mexicans-we have EVERY right to be here-I was born here, as were my parents, who started out in the Macarthur Park area.
It would be wrong if I said that all Native Americans were drunks who push gambling and avoid taxes-what you said is just as wrong. How dare you call your fellow human beings AN INFECTION. Do you know what a sociopath is?!? This Mexican does, and thinks YOU are one-look it up, you superior bitch! BTW if you take an illegal cab service, it's YOUR fault for not calling a real cab.
Your boyfriend probably looked at some Mexican girl because he's sick of your fat angry ass-THAT'S why you hate Mexicans.

early anti-Murdoch tirade obviously

The consequence of drinking warm wine being that you imagine that rivers flow through the sky.

Obviously, by my previous posts, I think it's one of the funniest songs recorded, and I love Jimmy Webb AND Donna Summer.

My girlfriend always thought it was a parody of something she knew nothing about. 'nuff said...

harris version, obviously.

-- Marcello Carlin

Back in the acid daze, there was an unsubstantiated rumour/scare tactic (spread by some anti-drug MD or scientist or something) that a bunch of hippies had dropped some Yellow Sunshine and stared at the sun for hours, eventually blinding themselves! Maybe that was what Webb was referring to?

Elvis Costello's an obvious place to go for some London parks: Regent's Park ("London's Brilliant Parade" and Holland Park ("Hoover Factory") come to mind, though the latter is really talking about the tube station.

The song "In Gunnersbury Park" by the band The Hit Parade.

I wonder if there is a famous park in New York City, mentioned in any popular songs, ever.

how can i get my grubby paws on the World of Twists version of this??

just heard the donna summer version for the first time (as i was getting my hair cut)

wau awesome

Donna Summers rules and i just made a bar of rednecks listen to it

Did they actually show this, all 7 and half minutes, on Top of the Pops?!?? July 18th, 1968, apparently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPOs8gRsBr4

This song is pure acid

He really got into kaftans for a while, didn’t he

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8JlQNIvIfI