Various Artists, Tunesmith: The Songs of Jimmy Webb (Raven Records, 2003)
Jimmy Webb was a millionaire by the time he was twenty-one years old! Why? Because he was a Tunesmith, a composer, a songwriter. He had written hits for Glen Campbell ("By the Time We Get to Phoenix"), Fifth Dimension ("Up, Up and Away") and many, many more. Raven Records, that antipodean bastion of remastered collections, has gathered these songs and dozens more to create Tunesmith: The Songs of Jimmy Webb, a double disc set which presents the hits and the misses. It's engrossing listening.
Webb is the son of a Baptist minister in Oklahoma, but his finely crafted little symphonies belie his rural upbringing. Often presented with big productions, orchestras and choral backing, Webb's songs are the antithesis of the lone songsmith, singing to his own rough acoustic guitar accompaniment. He was a bit of a throwback to the intricately constructed melodies of Cole Porter and the Gershwins. And yet, as he proved on his solo Ten Easy Pieces CD, where he played his Top Ten songs with minimal accompaniment and his own homely voice, these are deeply personal songs.
The first disc of this set begins with a few early, lesser-known tunes. "Love Years Coming" by Strawberry Children sets the tone of mega-production and angelic harmonies that would mark Webb songs for many years. This group featured Webb on lead vocals. Girl-group The Contessas covered "I Keep On Keeping On" in the mid-60s. These obscure tunes fit neatly between the classics. Brooklyn Bridge's stately "Worst That Could Happen," or the Fifth Dimension's "Up, Up and Away," Glen Campbell's "Galveston" and the extraordinary "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris punctuate performances like "How Sweet It Is" by The Picardy Singers and "Requiem: 820 Latham" by The Executives. I describe "MacArthur Park" as extraordinary because EVERYONE has an opinion on this song, whether they love it or despise it. Once you've heard it, you never forget it. To hear Webb sing it solo, accompanied only by his own piano, is an experience to be treasured. This reviewer was privileged to see Webb in concert, and he makes these songs intimate and personal.
Disc One also includes Paul Revere and the Raiders ("Song Seller"), Scott Walker ("If Ships Were Made to Sail" and "Where Does Brown Begin"), The Fortunes, Hugo Montenegro, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and Nancy Wilson. It's a mixed bag. And it's all about the songs. The recordings sound crisp and fresh. Raven's remastering is fine. And the liner notes by resident music historian Glenn A. Baker are newsy and factual. Raven does a marvelous job with this package. And we're only halfway through.
The Association's rendition of "P.F. Sloan" kicks off the second disc. Their harmonies are rich and tight on this tribute to the songwriter who wrote "Eve of Destruction." A funky slow medley of "Wichita Lineman/By the Time I Get to Phoenix" by King Harvest provides a highlight. Then Jennifer Warnes, Judy Collins, Mark Lindsey, Ian Matthews, Art Garfunkel and The Supremes take on tunes like "All My Love's Laughter," "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress," "The Name of My Sorrow," "Met Her On a Plane," "All I Know," and "5:30 Plane," each artist working his or her own magic with the dense melodies and thoughtful lyrics Webb provides. The mark of a good song is that indescribable juxtaposition of notes and words. Webb is a master of songwriting. He even wrote a book about it. Anyone interested in writing their own songs should own a copy of Tunesmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting (Hyperion Press). Webb explains even the most mundane aspect of putting a lyric together. It's a must have.
And this collection is a must-have, too, if you want to track the development of Webb as a writer. When Judy Collins begins to sing, over piano accompaniment, "See her, how she flies. . . " you are immediately entranced. Beautiful. The Highwaymen add country credibility to "The Highwayman." Arlo Guthrie links generations with a version of "Oklahoma Nights." Little Feat's Lowell George covers "Himmler's Ring" with a jazzy horn section, and girls "ooohing" in the background.
The album concludes by bringing Webb right up to date. REM does their own version of "Wichita Lineman," and Everything But the Girl take on "Where's the Playground Susie?"
Two discs, forty-six songs, all from the pen of Jimmy Webb. Fascinating listening and a treasure trove of obscure recordings. Raven does it again!
