Thursday January 13, 2021 “McArthur Park” Richard Harris
"MacArthur Park," clocking in at seven-and-a-half minutes, rose to number two on the American charts and shattered AM radio's established prohibition against playing singles of greater than three-and-a-half minute-length and it introduced us to the vocal stylings of Richard Harris, then the star of the movie Camelot.
But more importantly it established Jimmy Webb as a songwriter to pay attention to.
Songwriter Jimmy Webb was signed to a writing contract in 1966 by the always overlooked singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and manager Johnny Rivers who then recorded an early version of Webb’s “By the Time I Get to Phoenix '' which would later be a number one hit for Glen Campbell.
Rivers was managing and producing the Fifth Dimension and he had that group record the Jimmy Webb tune ”Up Up and Away” which was a top ten hit for them and also the Grammy Song of the Year in 1967. The Fifth Dimension, again with Johnny Rivers producing, would record an album of Jimmy Webb songs including “Worst That Could Happen”, a huge hit for the Brooklyn Bridge.
Stay safe and well…and Richard Harris left us in 2005 but as he went he left us with this remarkable song and many memorable movie roles.