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Richard
Harris
British singer/actor
A
Tramp Shining
The
Webb Sessions
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Titles
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RICHARD HARRIS
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A
Tramp Shining - 7.5
The
first of two collaborations with legendary American songwriter
Jimmy Webb - both of which had a surreal feel to them with some
classic songs and the incomparable MacArthur Park which has been
lauded and ridiculed in equal measure but which is still one of my
favourite songs of all time. In Harris' slightly discordant voice,
Webb strangely found the perfect foil for his songs with their
lush melodies and heart-felt lyrics. The title track is also a
stand-out typical Webb offering. |
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The
Yard Went On Forever - 9
Simply
one of my favourite albums of all time. Webb's music has more
complexity to it here and there is a thematic feel that holds the
whole thing together. The title track is a strange affair written
almost in the style of MacArthur Park. Elsewhere there is great
beauty in the pieces which weave melodies in a complex fashion as
in The Hymns from the Grand Terrace and the whole thing rounds off
with one of Webb's most plaintiff songs in That's the Way It was. |
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The
Webb Sessions 1968-1969 Raven Records 1995 - 8
This CD features the albums
"A Tramp Shining" and "The Yard Went on Forever" which
to me have long been cult albums. They show songwriter Webb at his most
melodic and the strange marriage between his songs and the voice of Irish
actor Harris works wonderfully. To me no other singer has been able to
interpret Webb's work like Harris. This culminated in the
brilliant episodic "MacArthur Park." But here are melodies
galore, lyrics that are obtuse and obscure and wonderful arrangements.
This was Webb at his best. Get rid of your preconceptions and give it a
listen. You might just agree.
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