David Cassidy's Songs Turning 50 in 2026
1976 was truly David Cassidy's annus horribilis. Personal tragedies, and the end of his dreams of becoming a successful recording artist on his own terms. Breaking down again..
On February 12, 1976, Sal Mineo was killed. He was stabbed in the heart by a mugger just outside his apartment in LA. He was only 37. It was a great personal loss for David, Sal was a friend since 1965, and they were always supportive of one another. David, deeply moved, paid for Sal Mineo's casket.
In March 1976, David Cassidy's second RCA album was released in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, Turkey and France. 'Home Is Where The Heart Is'. Produced by David and Bruce Johnston, but it was entirely a David record. More than any other album recorded by him in his whole career. He was in control and wrote or co-wrote 7 of 10 songs, and 3 covers from that album were outstanding, and even better than the originals. Some great reviews appeared in music press in the UK, praising David's confidence and intelligence, his vocals, his mature, rich voice.
The author of 'Tomorrow', Paul McCartney, said that David took the song to its ultimate potential. In David's interpretation it became a very powerful, outstanding rock number, and when he performed it on Tiswas in March 1976, he also looked like an epitome of a rock star. Much slimmer, with long hair again, sexy and very sure of every move he made.
In March he promoted his new album in Europe, appeared on TV programs in England in France.
But although critically well received, the album, one of the best in David's catalog, didn't chart in any country.
The tiredness, burnout, disappointment, drugs and alcohol and hard partying started to show on him. He became a chain smoker again. Giovanni Dadomo who met him in the morning on the day he guest starred on The Russell Harty Show, wrote about David, "His skin is stretched taut across the cheekbones. Still boyishly good looks, but much thinner, eyes raw and red as if they belonged to some alien."
50 years ago the last David's RCA album was recorded, 'Gettin' It In The Street'. He co-produced it with Gerry Beckley, again wrote or co-wrote 7 songs, and the other two were great covers. Very adult-oriented album, full of passion, sadness, loneliness, anger and sarcastic humor. Music was darker, David's voice more mature and huskier, also because the album was recorded in Colorado, at the famous studios at the Caribou Ranch in the Rocky Mountains.
Many fans regard this album, so outstanding and again so personal, as their favourite. Since he resigned in 1974, David Cassidy made amazing and very fast progress, as a producer, songwrter and primarily as a singer.
David had great hopes regarding this album. It had quite a lot of publicity, because Mick Ronson, a famous English guitarist was working with him. But after the title song managed only no 105 in the US, the album was shelved at the very last moment. It was released on schedule only in Germany and Japan.
David did everything he could do to write and produce own, good, high quality music. He was working so hard, but didn't get new fans. The interest in his musc wasn't there. It was a huge disappointment that the album wasn't released.
He stayed at home, he couldn't sleep, there were parties, or he was playing music all night long with some new friends. His mum tried to help him, even moved in, but resigned very quickly. He refused his father a loan, and they stopped seeing each other. He had some girl friends but got bored with them very quickly. He started losing old friends, people who wished him the best. Even Sam Hyman left him. He couldn't stand watching David killing himself. When Sam told hm he couldn't be around because of it, David's only comment was, 'I understand', and Sam moved to Colorado.
Comments
Post a Comment