Back in "what Frank is listening to #27 – Home is where the Heart Is" I put forward a "defence" of David Cassidy. Refer to that if you wish.
This album does nothing to change my defence.
Also, refer back to #27 for biographical detail on Cassidy.
This is a concept album of sorts and the title says it all … it's the story of a pop stars rise and fall. Granted this is not a new concept: Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" and Ray Davies via The Kinks in "Everybody's in Showbiz Everybody's a Star" mine the same fields, but here there is one interesting twist … Cassidy mania had been getting bigger year by year since 1969 but had been on full throttle for the preceding two – three years to 1975, so he was living it in real time.
He had, in any event, been withdrawing from public performance and public life after 650 people were injured and one 14 year old girl was killed in a crush at one of his London concerts in 1974. By all accounts the incident had a devastating affect on him. He was also drinking whilst his relationships were falling apart. I'm sure he was wondering where it would take him and where it would end.
And something that is greatly underestimated is the pressure put on solo performers to cope with their fame … bands, after all, have each other to rely on, or at least they share experiences even if they don’t like each other (as if that would happen).
In the midst of all this Cassidy came out with this album which you would expect to be dark, which it isn’t. But it certainly is cynical, or, quite cynical for a mainstream pop star. Some of the cynicism is tongue and cheek and with all good introspective albums there is other things going on. Cassidy seems to be drawing a parallel with teen pop stars of other eras (hence the Beach Boys and Gene Vincent covers perhaps) and also seems to have a genuine affection for things past, though loneliness and disillusionment seem to be the main themes.
Maybe only a teeny bopper popstar of such crazed popularity could pull off a successful disillusionment of fame album?
The only 70s equivalent I can think of is David Essex (whose albums all hint at the same dissulionment and culminate thematically with his film "Stardust"). Oddly Essex's career also mirrors Cassidy's – from pop teen star, films, TV to stage and a low key popularity. Public personality wise he also doesn’t seem that dissimilar to Cassidy.
The trouble of course is that as your audience ages they desert you (like rats on a sinking ship), those teens who adored you, by the nature of their worship, were always going to move on. Unfortunately also, it becomes difficult to attract new fans.
Accordingly the industry that created a "David Cassidy" eventually did what they do best, regardless of the artists worth, and that is, they dump him and find someone else to replace him and hype up.
For one moment though (here on this LP) he almost transcended his teen stardom. And he did it with such aplomb by taking control of his life and biting the hand that fed him … by having a dig at the musical industry. Could Michael Jackson, George Michael, Rick Astley, Justin Timberlake, or any number of teen idols say the same?
The album was co-produced by David Cassidy and Beach Boy Bruce Johnston and Cassidy is in fine voice throughout and he is actually quite a good singer interpreter …
Tracks (best in italics)
- When I'm a Rock 'N' Roll Star – Cassidy – very smart song with a slight touch of the glam bombast about a rock 'n' roll star on the rise.
When I'm a rock and roll star
Tight leather suit
Isn't he cute
Acting all cool and aloof
I'll be knockin' 'em dead
Sayin' it's goin' to his head
Look man, whaddya expect from a small-town boy like me?
- Be-Bop-A-Lula – Davis, Vincent – A thoroughly convincing version of the Gene Vincent 1950s classic though Cassidy sings it more like Elvis that Gene. Having said that Gene was aping Elvis on the original anyway.
- I Write the Songs – Johnston – the magnificent MOR song as made famous by Barry Manilow, but this is the original version (! – I never knew that) and written by producer and Beach Boy, Bruce Johnston. The Manilow version is the poppier powerhouse but this version is a little more quirkier and evokes a lot more of the loneliness of the musical "artist".
- This Could Be the Night – Cassidy, Nilsson – a 50s type song … I don’t know how (the legendary) Harry Nilsson got involved but anything he touches is worth a listen.
- Darlin' – Love, Wilson – the Beach Boy classic from 1967s opus magnificent "Wild Honey" … and as good as the original, almost … seriously.
- Get It Up for Love – Doheny – nice innuendo in the lyric in this pulsating funky pop tune which would fit on any self respecting blacksploitation film of the 70s. How if fits in on the theme on this album I'm not sure – maybe as comment on changing musical styles for the narrator hero of this album. Either way it's well sung by Cassidy.
- Fix of Your Love – Cassidy, Ellingson – This track flows directly on from the last.
- Massacre at Park Bench (Dialogue) – Austin, Austin, Cassidy – a spoken word that takes a swipe and star fallen from grace done through the dialogue of a bum who has found the narrator hero in the same situation as him.
- Common Thief – House – funky guitar and quite catchy … though you would never guess it was Cassidy it you didn’t know.
- Love in Bloom – Cassidy, Furay – a nice bit of optimism … not everything has to be downbeat kids.
- When I'm a Rock 'N' Roll Star (Reprise)- Cassidy – …
And …
The album is not without it's faults but it's intriguingly good.
Chart Action
US
zip
England
Album #22 1975
Singles
I Write the Songs / Get it Up For Love #11 1975
Darlin #16 1975
Sounds
When I'm a Rock 'N' Roll Star
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAVQOGdADPc
Be-Bop-A-Lula
attached
I Write the Songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l86u5PUttiQ
live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_6cwUso8CA
and attached
Darlin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqMsEQwxZzY&feature=related
Fix of Your Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBZ3PqdaXi0
Common Thief
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMt7rx5ShLQ
Website
http://davidcassidyfansite.com/HomePage.html
Discography
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb/dcassidyfan/dcalbums.html
Bio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cassidy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Johnston
(originally posted: 11/07/2010)
