This Could Be The Night / Harry Nilsson and David Cassidy

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Yes, I know, it was written by someone else and first recorded by The Modern Folk Quarter in 1965. Can you believe it that Henry Diltz was playing in this band, and on this song, and it was 61 years ago! And he still is with us, more energetic than many much younger, and so full of life. Amazing, wonderful man.

He knew everyone, all those legendary musicians from the 60s and 70s and 80s, all of them, but David Cassidy was someone special for Henry Diltz. A friend. We all are waiting for his (and Johnny Ray Miller's) book. 

So the song was written by Harry Nilsson and Phil Spector, or better say it's credited jointly to them, it was written in tribute to Brian Wilson.  What the song was about? Brian Wilson put it the best, 'Well, the idea they've been dating and waiting and finally they made love. I love the message.' (Alyn Shipton, 'Nilsson : The Life of a Singer-Songwriter, 2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMvVpM8ub_c&list=RDCMvVpM8ub_c&start_radio=1

It's so lovely and should have been a hit, but at the time it wasn't released as a single. Nilsson recorded it several times, also a demo intended for The Monkees, and Henry Diltz  in 1989. Yes, Henry. And on You Tube  there is something really extraordinary. Henry Diltz (with very long hair) and The Characters (the same guys who played for us in WO last year!) performing the song in 1987.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7P3SzZvxVY

It's fun, it rocks, but it's still the same song.

And now David's version. He made completely different song out of it. Recorded for his first RCA album. Credited jointly to Harry Nilsson (again) and David Cassidy. But it's David's song. His own. The music, the lyrics and the interpretation. You don't have to know English to get the message listening to his sexy, raspy, bluesy voice.. But it's really interesting to compare the lyrics of the original and David Cassidy's version. It's not about people dating and waiting a lot of time. No, it isn't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sgero04Twc


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