Audio Autopsy, 1976: David Cassidy, "Gettin' It in the Street"-Beach Boys, America & Mick Ronson Influenced LP + the Unreleased "Then I'll Be Someone" by Carl Wilson/Tandyn Almer
Audio Autopsy, 1976: David Cassidy, "Gettin' It in the Street"-Beach Boys, America & Mick Ronson Influenced LP + the Unreleased "Then I'll Be Someone" by Carl Wilson/Tandyn Almer
A worldwide superstar for 5 years (1970-74), many of David Cassidy's fans seemed unwilling to "get" David 2.0. Fellow rockers, though, knew his talent, and lined up to record with him.
Great piece, Brad! I especially enjoyed the deep dive into perception -- a psychological and, dare I say, emotional study into the phenomenon. I do question your assertion that Bryan Adams and Richard Marx were ever seen as brilliant, or more than marginally talented, even by the most generous of fans but then again I may have not run in those circles or read those magazines.
I am now inspired to go check out the DC catalog (when I can find the time!) after reading your praises.
Thanks, Steve! I appreciate your compliments! As for Adams and Marx, my argument was that, simply due to their mega-sales, the fog of time tends to have people ASSUME they were incredible i.e. "They were popular, they must've been great!"
You should know me well enough now to know that there's no way on God's green planet that I thought either were anything close to "good" (the most I'll give them is that they were mediocre and pedestrian, at best)--but, they sold records (in quantities far greater than post-Partridge Cassidy), and the general public tends to think sales = fabulousness. I simply used them as an example...but, you could slot in Bon Jon Bovi or fellow formula/corporate rockers like Journey as filling in for Adams and Marx, IMO.
In other words, do hundreds of millions of units sold ALWAYS (or at any time) equal musical brilliance or aptitude? My fear (and experience in the biz and just talking to people) is that many in the media and the general public go by that exact formula, and die at the altar of that flimsy equation! We might be able to field a decent discussion thread on the subject!
Happy to hear you're inspired to check out some of David's post-Partridge output! I'd love to know what you thought of the Wilson/Almer song ("Then I'll Be Someone") David sang at the piano!
I suppose that I think a good number of those millions (I am hoping) can appreciate the music and the artist and still find them beneath the bar of brilliant. Maybe I’m being naive.
But your mentioning Bryan Adams reminded me that I was curious if your impression of Ryan Adams. Specifically his 2022 album FM. I liked it much more than I expected, even if it is front loaded for sure.
The opposite of that argument, though, and maybe I've not made it clear...and, this might help: The obverse is what I've been focusing on with David Cassidy: Wildly brilliant musician on all fronts (post-Partridge, when he's had the freedom to be himself, artistically), and no one bought his records.
Why? Again, public PERCEPTION is, largely...."Gee, he didn't sell any records; he must suck." As for the million-sellers, there must be some level of "good" the public's perception is of that artist (say, Bryan Adams, et al), or else they wouldn't have bought the single or album...of course, they liked a song or songs, but part of that $ equation has to be perceiving that musician as something close to good or competent.
As for Ryan Adams, I've only heard enough (in the past) to know further listening wasn't necessary. As for the new album, I certainly need to hear it, and would like to, based on your recommendation. Will keep you posted.
Thank you very much for this really great article. It was such a shame that David Cassidy became a teen idol, and even some of his fans still cherish only his old 'Keith Partridge' image, not the music he recorded. But of course life is life, and there are many great musicians no one's ever heard about. That's showbusiness, the career choices DC made, also because first of all he wanted to be an actor, like his father. I love his music, his was one of the greatest voices of the 70s. Thank you again. I enjoy reading your articles very much.
Thank YOU, Weronika! As always, I appreciate your being a part of FR&B...your dedication in reading, commenting, and subscribing! And, of course, sharing his book excerpts with me that was such a huge part of this article!
I just came across this video (I wonder if you've seen). It was from that very same time frame ('76-'77). I've been wanting to write something about the hilarious and extremely musical Flo & Eddie---maybe THIS will get me off my duff...Flo & Eddie & Dave, doing, of all things, a Beach Boys tune!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbXvn-NTdQw Thanks again!--Brad
Oh yes I know, it's from DC first RCA album, 'The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall, the single Darlin'/This Could Be The Night, was #16 in the UK, and a great hit in...South Africa. This is the first part of that program, Flo & Eddie & Dave having fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNiqYGn_ebg
I had actually forgotten Dave covered "Darlin'" on "The Higher..."! I was so taken by Dave even ever KNOWING Flo & Eddie (whom I've followed longer than Dave....as mid-'60s Turtles, then late-'60s Zappa sidemen)! I'd have to check the liner notes, but I now wonder if Flo & Eddie did the sessions for Dave's album! Flo & Eddie did the high harmonies on T.Rex's "Get it On"...they were incredible, and like Dave, got around, and seemed to know EVERYONE! Thanks again, Weronika!✨🎶💖👍
Wow, that's a surprise for me, T.Rex, they truly knew everyone., like Dave (btw he didn't like being called Dave, but I like it ). DC also did backing vovals for some of his friends in the late 70s, The Dobbie Brothers, Jim Krueger, Randy Meisner and of course America and Richie Furay. And he recorded Timothy B. Schmit's, 'I Can See Everything', and it's amazing, better than Poco's (in my opinion, but I'm a fan). Thank you again, you have made my day.
Great piece, Brad! I especially enjoyed the deep dive into perception -- a psychological and, dare I say, emotional study into the phenomenon. I do question your assertion that Bryan Adams and Richard Marx were ever seen as brilliant, or more than marginally talented, even by the most generous of fans but then again I may have not run in those circles or read those magazines.
I am now inspired to go check out the DC catalog (when I can find the time!) after reading your praises.
Thanks, Steve! I appreciate your compliments! As for Adams and Marx, my argument was that, simply due to their mega-sales, the fog of time tends to have people ASSUME they were incredible i.e. "They were popular, they must've been great!"
You should know me well enough now to know that there's no way on God's green planet that I thought either were anything close to "good" (the most I'll give them is that they were mediocre and pedestrian, at best)--but, they sold records (in quantities far greater than post-Partridge Cassidy), and the general public tends to think sales = fabulousness. I simply used them as an example...but, you could slot in Bon Jon Bovi or fellow formula/corporate rockers like Journey as filling in for Adams and Marx, IMO.
In other words, do hundreds of millions of units sold ALWAYS (or at any time) equal musical brilliance or aptitude? My fear (and experience in the biz and just talking to people) is that many in the media and the general public go by that exact formula, and die at the altar of that flimsy equation! We might be able to field a decent discussion thread on the subject!
Happy to hear you're inspired to check out some of David's post-Partridge output! I'd love to know what you thought of the Wilson/Almer song ("Then I'll Be Someone") David sang at the piano!
I suppose that I think a good number of those millions (I am hoping) can appreciate the music and the artist and still find them beneath the bar of brilliant. Maybe I’m being naive.
But your mentioning Bryan Adams reminded me that I was curious if your impression of Ryan Adams. Specifically his 2022 album FM. I liked it much more than I expected, even if it is front loaded for sure.
The opposite of that argument, though, and maybe I've not made it clear...and, this might help: The obverse is what I've been focusing on with David Cassidy: Wildly brilliant musician on all fronts (post-Partridge, when he's had the freedom to be himself, artistically), and no one bought his records.
Why? Again, public PERCEPTION is, largely...."Gee, he didn't sell any records; he must suck." As for the million-sellers, there must be some level of "good" the public's perception is of that artist (say, Bryan Adams, et al), or else they wouldn't have bought the single or album...of course, they liked a song or songs, but part of that $ equation has to be perceiving that musician as something close to good or competent.
As for Ryan Adams, I've only heard enough (in the past) to know further listening wasn't necessary. As for the new album, I certainly need to hear it, and would like to, based on your recommendation. Will keep you posted.
Thank you very much for this really great article. It was such a shame that David Cassidy became a teen idol, and even some of his fans still cherish only his old 'Keith Partridge' image, not the music he recorded. But of course life is life, and there are many great musicians no one's ever heard about. That's showbusiness, the career choices DC made, also because first of all he wanted to be an actor, like his father. I love his music, his was one of the greatest voices of the 70s. Thank you again. I enjoy reading your articles very much.
Thank YOU, Weronika! As always, I appreciate your being a part of FR&B...your dedication in reading, commenting, and subscribing! And, of course, sharing his book excerpts with me that was such a huge part of this article!
I just came across this video (I wonder if you've seen). It was from that very same time frame ('76-'77). I've been wanting to write something about the hilarious and extremely musical Flo & Eddie---maybe THIS will get me off my duff...Flo & Eddie & Dave, doing, of all things, a Beach Boys tune!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbXvn-NTdQw Thanks again!--Brad
Oh yes I know, it's from DC first RCA album, 'The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall, the single Darlin'/This Could Be The Night, was #16 in the UK, and a great hit in...South Africa. This is the first part of that program, Flo & Eddie & Dave having fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNiqYGn_ebg
I had actually forgotten Dave covered "Darlin'" on "The Higher..."! I was so taken by Dave even ever KNOWING Flo & Eddie (whom I've followed longer than Dave....as mid-'60s Turtles, then late-'60s Zappa sidemen)! I'd have to check the liner notes, but I now wonder if Flo & Eddie did the sessions for Dave's album! Flo & Eddie did the high harmonies on T.Rex's "Get it On"...they were incredible, and like Dave, got around, and seemed to know EVERYONE! Thanks again, Weronika!✨🎶💖👍
Wow, that's a surprise for me, T.Rex, they truly knew everyone., like Dave (btw he didn't like being called Dave, but I like it ). DC also did backing vovals for some of his friends in the late 70s, The Dobbie Brothers, Jim Krueger, Randy Meisner and of course America and Richie Furay. And he recorded Timothy B. Schmit's, 'I Can See Everything', and it's amazing, better than Poco's (in my opinion, but I'm a fan). Thank you again, you have made my day.