This is one of those albums who's history has been lost in the mists of time. I can't remember exactly when in 1974 I bought it or why, but at the time I enjoyed it - an oasis of middle-of-the-road pleasant music during a year when I also bought other albums of various genres - T. Rex 'Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow', Nilsson's 'Pussy Cats', Gram Parson's 'Grievous Angel' and Cat Stevens 'Buddha and the Chocolate Box' etc., etc.
Paul Williams is a prolific singer/songwriter, but I'm sure many only know his name by association with covers of his work. I've seen one reviewer (Charles Donovan) describe his voice as "a weak, bleating non-instrument" which I think is very unfair. It's a distinctive voice and as with some other singer/songwriters it may not be the best in the world but it is the only one that can translate the words into music with original feeling.
Paul has written such a broad range of material that he really defies categorizing. Many of his songs were picked up and made popular by 'adult contemporary' artists along the lines of -
The Carpenters .. 'Rainy Days and Mondays', 'We've Only Just Begun', 'I Won't Last a Day Without You'
Three Dog Night .. 'An Old Fashioned Love Song', 'Family of Man', 'Out In the Country' as well as Helen Reddy with 'You and Me Against the World' and Barbra Streisand's 'Evergreen' from "A Star is Born".
Some of his other work though spans a wide and diverse range of styles and artists. The soundtracks to the 1974 movie "Phantom of the Paradise" (in which he also acted) and the joyous 1976 "Bugsy Malone" starring a young Jodie Foster. How could anyone forget Kermit the Frog singing 'Rainbow Connection' or the lyrics to the cheesy long running TV show "The Love Boat".
Even his very early work was taken by artists who were polar opposites. 'Fill Your Heart' was co-written by Paul and Biff Rose and it was recorded on Biff's first album, but two other artists also covered it. One - on one end of the spectrum - was Tiny Tim on his album 'God Bless Tiny Tim'. The other - as far from Tiny Tim as possible - was David Bowie on his 'Hunky Dory' album. Talk about the odd couple !!
Even more remarkable was Paul's contribution in 2012 to the Daft Punk album 'Random Access Memory'. He co-wrote 'Beyond' and also co-wrote and sang on 'Touch'. In 2014 he and Nile Rodgers spoke about Daft Punk at the Grammies. Paul related a story about them .."Back when I was drinking, I would imagine things that weren't there and I'd get frightened. Then I got sober and two robots called and asked me to make an album."
I like this 'Here Comes Inspiration' album for a number of reasons. It has Paul's own versions of some of his classic songs .. 'You and Me Against the World', 'Rainy Days & Mondays' but also has a bit of fun too. The opening track, just 54 seconds long, mentions a couple of Paul's contemporaries, Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson. The track is called 'Nilsson Sings Newman' which was actually the title of a Nilsson album from 1970.
"You don't like Schumann
Or Randy Newman
And Nilsson's not your cup of tea
You say Van Heusen is the shirt worth choosin'
But you're still undecided about me"
Two tracks later he tends to disparage himself again on 'You Know Me' with a comparison to Cole Porter and a comment about his own height (he's 5'2") ..
"Sentimental fellow
Sometimes overmellow
Writing verses no one plans to do
I know I'm no Cole Porter
I'm noticeably shorter
Do I deserve to have someone like you".
Singer, songwriter, actor and author, Paul turned 81 in September 2021. You'll hear his music everywhere you go but just occasionally do yourself a favour and listen to him doing it himself. It's not the best voice, certainly not the worst, but it's honest.
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ReplyDeleteTo this day, I still remember us coming out of the cinema in Auckland, after watching Bugsy Malone. Walking down the footpath/sidewalk, singing We Could Have Been Anything That We Wanted to Be.
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