After a while, can you take your eyes off the heavy petting about to break out, behind Marvin Gaye‘s left shoulder, between the tuxedo-clad gentleman and his lady?
And what is it about “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” that made it one of the most heavily covered songs of its time? Is it really that great a song? Beside Nick Cave and whoever covered it on a likely Hal Willner-produced Jimmy Webb tribute album has anyone covered this song since the mid-’70s? I mean, I like the song possibly more than I should myself. For me, it’s one of those songs endemic to the soon-to-be-failed aspirations of slightly groovy middle class families at that time. You may be familiar with my take on this from things I’ve written in the past regarding my love for Dionne Warwick and her treatment of the Bacharach/David catalog – or my relationship to giant stereo consoles and conquistador sculptures. I’ll tie it all together someday, I promise.
i think maybe it’s just a great song, that’s all.
if Nick Cave & Marvin Gaye can sing it and have it come off well, as they do, it must just be a great song.
That is a pretty square appearance for Marvin Gaye. For a possibly even more square rendition of a better Jimmy Webb tune you need to go in this direction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qoymGCDYzU
You recently went off about “Green Eyed Lady” which maybe a better aural signifier of early 70’s hip middle class style. Would you prefer “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)”?
Maybe the time is right for a “Mad Men” styled series about domesticity in the early 70’s. The main character can work at a defense contractor and live in a split level in Darien, CT. It would have a cool soundtrack.
Campbell’s version is definitely the best. To be clear, I kind of love that song, but I am wondering whether it’s a song that’s greatness is especially tied to its time and place. I wonder if there are other songs like that, from other periods. Do young people identify with “By the Time I Get to Pheonix” as easily as our generation does?
I’m 42 and don’t get the appeal at all. It has to be a time and place thing.
Yeah. Can’t say I have ever understood the cult of Jimmy Webb, but that’s what cults are all about, I guess. I admit to a certain attachment to GC’s rendition of Wichita Lineman. And is it fair to assume that this clip comes from Playboy After Dark?
It sure has that vibe, misterioso. I’d love to see a DVD collection of musical performances on Playboy After Dark. Whenever I’ve come across a clip from that show it’s pretty cool. I bet the interviews are good too.