Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 22. I Write The Songs

 

In the early fall of 1974 David cut his hair. 

A coverage of that ‘event’ appeared in Mirabelle and Bravo, and his pics with a new cut were published in many newspapers all around the world. David talked about changes in his life, about a film script he was seriously thinking about, and that cutting his hair was a kind of a statement. It was showing that Keith Partridge was left behind. 

A lot of fans were very disappointed by his new look. Girls who were first of all interested in his image. 

The new haircut changed David. With short hair he looked very young, shy, and vulnerable. 

The leitmotif of many articles about David in the 70s were the movie roles he was offered. The title role in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, or in ‘40 Carats’ as a young man in love with a much older woman. A lot was written about his plans to make a film about Paul Getty III. 

In February 1974 he said in an interview how he’d have loved to work with his father, Jack Cassidy. ’He’s an excellent actor and I respect him very much.’ He said that he looked at a lot of screenplays without finding any that he’d really liked. ’I’m not going to do a movie unless it’s really, really good.’ 

When he retired, David was still written a lot about in teen mags - even though his pics slowly disappeared from their covers. In December 1974 Tiger Beat published his pics with short hair, and on the same page a note about his younger wild half brother, Shaun. But David didn’t care if Shaun became a new teen idol. He was working on his new music.

David Cassidy signed with RCA Records a long term recording contract. He wanted to be a serious recording artist in his own name and to reach people with his new music. A group of the outstanding musicians were hired to work with him. At first they were distrustful and didn’t know what to expect from the former teen idol. But only at the beginning because they very quickly recognized David Cassidy’s talent. He became friends with many of them. 

Among others who recorded with David Cassidy three albums for RCA were - Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson, Ricky Fataar (Beach Boys), Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell (America), Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco), Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman (Flo and Eddie), Ned Doheny, Henry Diltz, Bryan Garofalo, Emory Gordy, Bill House. Jim Seiter, Ron Tutt, Leland Sklar, Jim Gordon, Cyrus Faryar, Trish Turner and Gloria Griner. 

David co-produced all three of his albums. He played the guitar, percussion, keyboard, and wrote or co-wrote all the songs. He thought about covering Elton John’s hit ‘I’m Going To Be a Teen-Age Idol’ for his first RCA album, but he wanted something more personal. 

He wrote himself a great song, ‘When I’m A Rock’n’Roll Star.’ The first track from the album which was called ‘The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall’. Produced by Bruce Johnston, released in July 1975, it was another David Cassidy’s concept album, a very personal and honest story about the rise and fall of the pop star and about his unhappy love. The album was also a proof of his sense of humor. After years of being worshiped, he could poke fun at himself. 

It showed what an outstanding, charismatic and versalite singer David Cassidy was. The range and power of his rich, remarkable voice. He could sing any kind of music, and was an amazing interpreter. His covers were always his own and very personal. 

The album was a success in the UK, Europe and South Africa. In England it was number 22. David became a Male Vocalist of the Year in Germany. In August 1975, the single ‘I Write The Songs/Get It Up For Love’ was number 11 in the UK. ‘Darlin’ was a hit in South Africa in July. 

‘I Write the Songs’ written by Bruce Johnston, was first recorded by ‘Captain & Tennille’ for their album ‘Love Will Keep Us Together'. Bruce Johnston thought that David recorded it because he knew the song had a big hit potential. Bruce told Mike Morsh for his book ‘The Vinyl Dialogues’ that it was a kind of ‘life insurance‘ for David and RCA. Bruce personally thought it was the weakest song on the great concept album ‘The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall’ was. 

But even though David’s ‘I Write the Songs’ charted in 11 countries, someone else made that song popular all over the world. Barry Manilow, whose version was not as emotional as David's and more commercial. It was Clive Davis, the Arista president’s personal decision, he persuaded Barry to record ‘I Write the Songs’. The single was released in the USA in October 1975 and became 'The Song Of The Year.’ 

David was in London in June 1975 to promote his music. He appeared on some tv programs, and there were a lot of press interviews. It was noticed that he still couldn’t go anywhere without security, and fans were waiting for him many hours outside tv studios he was rumored to be. 

Sue Byrom from Record Mirror visited David at his home in Encino in the fall of 1975. She discovered that David Cassidy was someone completely different than the popular views on him. At home, he was first of all more relaxed and she wrote : ’You realize that what a lot of people think is mickey-taking is actually his sense of humor. He’s gentle and hospitable.’ 

 We can learn from the article that already in the fall of 1975 David had material for the next album, different and more edgy with more original songs. Sue also had an opportunity to see David at work, at the recording studio. She saw how hard he was working and how he took part in every stage of the production.

 ‘The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall’ got mixed reviews - mostly good. David’s vocals were praised along with his courage and determination. But the album didn’t take off in the USA. The promotion wasn’t good enough. David personally traveled all around the country. He was trying to interest radio people and critics with his new music. 

He didn’t do a promotional tour. It could have been very risky, and he didn’t want an audience of screaming teenage girls interested only in his old hits and the way he looked. He still hoped he would find new, mature fans. 

 The author from UPI understood his dilemma: ’’Cassidy has no illusion about establishing himself as a solo artist on the basis of a single album and he plans no personal appearances until a new audience has been found. ’I couldn’t do any of those old hits’ he says ‘it would be like doing somebody else’s songs, but it’ll take time for people to reevaluate me as an artist,  a writer, a singer. Two or three albums from now, if the experience changes, and there is interest in me, then maybe a tour.”

The Partridge Family brought him fame and money, but in 1975 he must have regretted doing the show. He attended some concerts played by his friends, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek from America. At the time America was one of the most successful bands in the USA, and they invited him on stage to play together. The same happened at Eric Carmen’s gig. They all knew how good David was as a singer and guitar player. 

In Honolulu, he sang with America their hit ‘A Horse With No Name’. It must have been a strange experience for him. David said that half of the audience had no idea who he was. People were listening to the music.. 

Many years later, in 2011 someone wrote about ‘The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall’: 

‘With this album he proved he was more than prefabricated star, the listening public may not be ready for this revelation, but 35 years later, the proof of his talent is still to be heard.’ 

 Nothing has changed in 2023..