by Robert Wilkinson
Today we send out a Happy Birthday to two incredibly gifted vocalists and a great composer!
Cass Elliot, of course, was THE VOICE in the Mamas and the Papas. She died way too young of a heart attack at age 32 in 1974 (NOT choking on a sandwich), but her powerful pipes left us some beautiful music for the ages. Today we have a few of her best!
From the Smothers Brothers show in 1968, Cass doing "Dream a little dream of me." Here's another great version in b/w of Cass doing "Dream a little dream of me."
From the Midnight Special tv show in 1972, Mama Cass and John Denver doing "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
Here are the the Mamas and the Papas at Monterrey Pop doing their first major hit, "California Dreamin'."
At the Hollywood Palace in 1966, the Mamas and the Papas lip-synching their monster hit, "Monday Monday."
A special treat! Mama Cass, Mary Travers, and Joni Mitchell doing Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released."
From 1972, Mama Cass and Julie Andrews doing a great medley of Simon and Garfunkel songs! "59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy), Sounds of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, Scarborough Fair, Homeward Bound, Bridge Over Troubled Waters."
Cass solo live doing her hit "Make Your Own Kind of Music."
Here they are in 1966 doing the oh so soulful (and thought to be revolutionary at the time!) “Dancing In the Streets”
From 1967 on Ed Sullivan, here they are live doing their autobiographical hit “Creeque Alley”
Here’s one of Cass’ signature tunes, done in 1967 with the Mamas and the Papas, “Sing For Your Supper”
You can hear here powerful soaring voice in other Mamas and Papas hits! Here are the original studio versions of:
“Words of Love”
We'll close with a studio version set to still photos of Cass doing "Does Anybody Love You." Now we move to Bill Medley, the extremely soulful voice of the Righteous Brothers. One of the top groups in the 60s, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield could send cold chills through your spine with their soaring melodies and harmonies! For your birthday enjoyment, here are the Righteous Brothers! Here they are in b/w on Shindig doing their first major breakthrough, the Phil Spector produced blue eyed Soul monster hit "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling." Here they are again in 2003 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions in great form doing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling."
Live in 1966, here they are doing “(You're My) Soul And Inspiration." Here’s another live performance on Hullabaloo from 1966 of “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration.”
From 1965, a great live performance of "Just Once In My Life."
Here they are on Shindig in 1964 doing a dynamite song that Bill wrote and Mitch Ryder rode into the top 20, "Little Latin Lupe Lu." Also from Shindig in 1964, the Righteous Brothers doing "Let The Good Times Roll" and “Baby What You Want”
Here are the Brothers doing the Little Richard hit, "Keep A Knockin'."
From 1981, doing a live performance of their final major hit, "Rock and Roll Heaven."
We'll finish Bill's birthday salute with 7 1/2 minutes of him performing live in 2006, led by a montage before the performances. Bill Medley live in Branson MO.
We close today's birthday celebration with a toast to the great Paul Williams (who is not the Paul Williams of the Temptations, nor the boxer, nor the rock critic!) As Wikipedia notes, he's "an Academy Award-winning American composer, musician, songwriter, and actor.... best known for popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song", Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World", and the Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays", as well as his contributions to films such as "Evergreen" from A Star Is Born and "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie." So here they all are!
I saw these guys back in the early 70s, and they put on an amazing stage show. With 3 lead singers, it was quite an experience! For your enjoyment, Three Dog Night live in 1975 doing Paul's composition, "Old Fashioned Love Song."
Here's Helen Reddy in a duet with Kermit the Frog doing Paul's song "You And Me Against The World."
Here are the Carpenters on MTV doing two of Paul's tunes. "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days And Mondays."
From "A Star is Born," the divine Ms. Barbra Streisand doing "Evergreen." Here she is again live on New year's Eve 1993, doing "Evergreen."
We'll close today's birthday celebration with a song sung by Kermit the Frog for The Muppet Movie. This was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1979, when the single of this song reached #25 on Billboard's "Hot 100 Singles" chart. For your enjoyment, Kermit (Jim Henson) singing the Paul Williams composition "The Rainbow Connection."
I hope you've enjoyed this birthday blast through the past as we also join with millions pondering the global importance of International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Avast ye lubbers - time to celebrate! Arrrrgh......
© Copyright 2012 Robert Wilkinson
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