Richard Harris's version of Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park," what's your opinion of it?

Hi all,
This is a song that some people love to death or they dislike. What's your opinion on Richard Harris's 1968 recording of Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park?" I personally love the song, it is a little unusual, but Richard Harris and the Wrecking Crew did a fabulous job recording it. I love the orchestration that Mr. Webb made with the Wrecking Crew, and it's just an absolutely amazing song. So, like I said above, what do you think about this version? Post your vote in the poll below and comment in the thread if you like.
Ryan

 

@Grant I noticed your avatar was the single cover for this version, any liking for this tune?

 

It's a beautiful tune and well recorded by Richard Harris and The Wrecking Crew.

The story goes that Richard Harris had a few drinks and kept singing "MacArthur's Park" instead of "MacArthur".

 

I can hear him saying "MacArthur's Park," I heard after those drinks, he insisted on singing it that way.

 

I voted for the first choice. And then there’s this one with Jimmy.
Love this:

 

I know MacArthur Park is one of those polarizing songs that people tend to love or hate. I have always been drawn to the complicated changes in tempo and melody and even some of the lyrics as well. I really do appreciate the Wrecking Crew's playing on the song as well, but my first exposure to this unique song was probably country singer Waylon Jennings version with The Kimberly's. It won a country Grammy award in 1969 for their duet version, and also featured a stellar string and horn arrangement by Elvis Presley's favorite Nashville orchestrator, Bergen White. This is somewhat ironic as Elvis himself was asked by the director of his 68 Comeback, Steve Binder, if he would have considered recording MacArthur Park if nobody else had already recorded it. Elvis surprisingly answered in the affirmative, which convinced the skeptical director that Elvis was still hip with his musical tastes after so many years of recording mediocre soundtrack material for his movies.

MacArthur Park by Waylon Jennings with The Kimberlys - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS7fQM41DUg

 

I've never heard Waylon Jennings' version of it. I'll have to check it out. Very interesting Elvis never recorded it.

 

I love this version as well. Thank you for introducing me to it!

 

There are some funny outtakes of Elvis screwing around with a few of the lines from MacArthur Park during the rehearsals for his 68 Comeback Special and he actually sounds like he would have done a great job with his incredible vocal range. You can see some of the outtakes on the Deluxe DVD version of his 68 Comeback Special. Elvis particularly has fun singing the line about "Someone left the cake out in the rain," and then following that line up with a "whoo!"

 

Donna Summer OWNS Macarthur Park. We'll never have that recipe again.

 

I have to agree.......
I do appreciate what went into Richard Harris' version .... but Donna got to me first, when I was just 13 in late 1978 .... and that will always be THE ONE for me . That said, the two versions are so different, it's hard to really compare them.... Honestly, if I think of Richard Harris my mind goes straight to the films A Man Called Horse, Cassandra Crossing, and Unforgiven .... not music !



MacArthur Park (song) - Wikipedia

 

I think it is a trick question to get us Donna Summer mutants out in the open.

 

Always had a problem with Harris, even before I knew he was an actor, not a singer. Too young to understand, but I have yet to warm to him after all these years. His performance goes from pathos to bathos in .06 seconds. Made all the more tragic just knowing Webb intended to pitch it to The Association, and instead it goes to Grandpa McCommunityTheater. Great music and lyrics, though.

I think I got that same sinking feeling in my stomach when I learned they were going to make a movie out of Mission: Impossible, but then Tom Hollywood stepped in and got it revamped as *TOM*CRUISE* in Mission:Impossible.

FWIW, I was fortunate enough to conduct my high school concert band in a faithful arrangement of it, the evening of my graduation.

 

Another one of my favorite versions of MacArthur Park is by the legendary Andy Williams, who truly had the vocal chops and tremendous range to pull off that last high note at the end of the song.

Andy Williams - MacArthur Park - YouTube

 

Love Donna's version.

 

He did bring it to the Association. They turned it down.

 

The Negro Problem always did my favorite version, though.

 

Reportedly as the climax of a side-long composition. The story is that the band told Bones Howe "Any two guys in this band could write a better song than that."

 

I actually had occasion to ask Jimmy Webb about this, and he said there was never a side long piece. The Association were nearly done with the Birthday album and didn't want to bump anything they had to make room for it, he said. My guess is that they were lazy.

 

This thread is surreal

 

my favorite since the day I first heard it on AM RADIO! I loved it!
we even discussed the song in school back then...

 

He certainly puts emotion into his singing even if it is unconventional.

 

Donna Summer sings "Macarthur's" too, every chorus.

 

MacArthur Park

Spring was never waiting for us, dear
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no

I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground beneath your knees
The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing Chinese checkers by the trees

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left my cake out in the rain
And I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no, oh

Songwriter: Jimmy Webb