'Wow, That Cat Can Sing!'

-

Too good quote to not use it as a catchy title. From Johnny Ray Miller's book of course, my new source of fascinating, unknown information as well as many emotions. 

Reading about David Cassidy, how he is remembered by people who worked with him in the early 70s, who were witnesses to his rise to the top, his struggles. His insane schedule. Everyone repeats how great a professional he was. And that he was smiling a lot, and very kind, a great guy and how  wonderful was working with him, because he appreciated the talent of the musicians. 

But there were also a lot of things he couldn't stand regarding the show and its music, sometimes, especially on Monday morning (after playing concerts at the weekend), it was better to get out of his way. And that he was ambitious and as Louie Sheldon said, "He always had this little bit of a serious side to him." (Johnny Ray Miller, When We're Singin', Negley. Ohio, 2020, p.265.)

How not to love and miss David Cassidy, he was so special and one of a kind, 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS32TrVNUY8

I've already found in Johnny Ray Miller's book a lot of interesting info I never heard about. For example I've never heard that David appeared on Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour TWICE! The second tme with Shirley Jones and Susan Dey. Or even more exciting (for me) info that David recorded one more The Association's hit, 'Along Comes Mary' for his 'Rock Me Baby album. (p.236) Wow! I'm a great fan of Tandyn Almer and this particular song. As we know in 1976 DC recorded, but not released, another Tandyn Almer's gem (co-written with Carl Wilson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFHa3QOvk

It's so emotional reading how David's vocal talent developed. What an extraordinary story, really worth a great biopic, I laughed reading what Wes Farrell said after watching the pilot episode, "Does that kid David Cassidy sing??"(p.207) 

Tommy West described David's young voice, "Pure pop, with a touch of Broadway" So true. But I loved the best (so far, still a lot of reading for me), what William S. Bickley, the story editor of the show's Season 4 said. It was while filming 'The Last Howard' episode. He said that he liked David's voice, knew his records etc, but only while on the cruise, he really realized the scale of David's talent. 

It was on that night in the ship's nightclub, when Shirley and David performed a few songs, a kind of mini concert. Bruce Kimmel played piano for them. First Shirley .."And that David got up and sang songs..(..) I remember being stunned that he was such a good singer. Even though I heard him sing I Thnk I Love You, and all the others, which was all good. But singing those old standards was when I first realized, Wow, this guy can really sing!" He was astonished that David could sing anything he wanted, any kind of music. "I thought, Wow, that cat can sing!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhIl93zAuJU

You can find Bruce Kimmel's memories regarding filming this episode (and that mini concert) on The Offical Website of David Cassidy

https://www.davidcassidy.com/fansite/TvFilmPages/TPF_S4_E7.html


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. A David Cassidy Biography. Chapter 1

-
Image
  Chapter 1 The Divorce David Bruce Cassidy was born on April 12, 1950 in New York City. He was born into show business, it was running in his blood. His parents were young and glamorous working actors. Jack Cassidy was 23 years old, Evelyn Ward 3 years older, both very busy with their career, frequently touring and absent. David spent his early years with his maternal grandparents in West Orange, New Jersey, just 20 miles from New York. He felt he was different from other kids, didn’t exactly fit in, his school friends’ parents didn’t look like his, they had ordinary jobs, like his grandfather, Frederic Ward, who all his life worked as a utility meter reader. David was a small child, slightly built, and had to wear glasses. During his life he underwent 5 eye operations. It wasn't easy to be the youngest, and not to have a brother or a sister. Someone to fight with, but also to play with, and to share love, good and bad experiences. He was a lonely child, brought up by honest,...
Read more

Robyn Millan

-
Image
  I learnt yesterday that Robyn Millan died last year. Someone published a post about the TPF's episode where she'd appeared as a guest star, 'Dora, Dora, Dora', Season 2 episode 1, aired 50 years ago, on September 17, 1971. And there was a comment about that episode that the script was poorly written, sexist etc. Maybe, no one would dare write something like that now, but the world looked different half a century ago.   I was truly sorry and sad yesterday because of Robyn. She started her short career in 1965, 33 credits, mostly tv roles - Mission Impossible, The F.B.I, Hawaii 5.0, Ryan's Hope, The Monkees. But we for ever would remember her as Dora, the girl Keith fell in love with, and Robyn, the girl David dated for a while.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmZnk9RFKm0&t=1s In December 1971 on Photoplay Magazine an interview with Robyn was published, she said about David, "He is just marvellous and really knows how to handle his success.(..) We hit it o...
Read more

Two Weddings In Las Vegas

-
Image
First 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. The film premiered in the UK 30 years ago, on May 13, 1994.  A low budget film, made in 6 weeks, became unexpected success, all over the world, earned just mountains of money, and made of  Hugh Grant international star. It's also a film with a very strong David Cassidy's connection.  The script was written by Richard Curtis (born in 1956), whose partner (they married after many years in 2023), a popular broadcaster Emma Freud, was (and still is) a DC fan. She gave some interviews about her love for DC and meeting him in person. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogl0mA_15ys 163 000 views, this one scene. Someone wrote 6 years ago, 'RIP David Cassidy. We know we loved you'. We still do. Two weddings in Las Vegas. Beau Cassidy and his fiance, Stephanie, just got married there. Something different was planned, in Europe, in September. And according to Sue Shifrin, Las Vegas was the last minute decision and that's the reason Dav...
Read more