Jimmy Webb

There are thousands of songs from the '30s, '40s, and '50s that are considered popular standards and Michael Feinstein has covered a good portion of them throughout his extensive career. On occasion, a more modern composition would slink its way into his repertoire, such as a tune by the prolific songwriter Jimmy Webb, whose numerous hits include "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park." Eschewing traditional pop standards, Feinstein has collaborated with Webb to record his first full album of modern pop songs, Only One Life: The Songs of Jimmy Webb.

Tunesmith: The Songs Of Jimmy Webb is a 2CD 2003 compilation from Australia honoring the music and songwriting of Jimmy Webb. Raven Records made this.

UK collection. Ace's highly regarded and extremely popular Songwriter Series continues apace, with several exciting projects in place for release in the second half of 2022 and beyond. This month we welcome Jimmy Webb onto our expanding list with "Clowns Exit Laughing", a deep dip into this prolific tunesmith's extensive catalogue of the past six decades. After a period of establishing his credentials as a writer with Motown's West Coast office, Jimmy really came into his own in the mid-60s with classic songs like 'By The Time I Get To Phoenix', 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Up, Up And Away'. Everyone wanted to record a Jimmy Webb copyright, and a great many people did as this CD demonstrates. Although Jimmy has never stopped writing, "Clowns Exit Laughing" naturally concentrates on a time when a new Jimmy Webb classic seemed to appear every other week. As is always Ace's policy with the Songwriter Series, each featured artist performs only one song but we are sure that inclusions by the likes of Tony Joe White, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield and other major names will disappoint nobody. Also included for collectors are several rare, seldom-heard original versions of songs primarily associated with other artists, such as Don Ho's original of 'Galveston' and James Darren's first recording of 'Didn't We'.

The essence of Jimmy Webb’s artistry is exemplified in an unlikely place on this five-disc set, which collects all of his 1970s studio albums plus a 1972 live concert and an assortment of outtakes. It’s the last of those outtakes, a duet with Harry Nilsson on Boudleaux & Felice Bryant’s “Love Hurts”, that reveals the truth.
Webb had recorded the classic ballad for his 1972 album Letters, then cut this subsequent take with Nilsson in London but decided not to use it. In the liner notes here, Webb explains he and Nilsson were “smashed out of our minds” when they cut the track, and confesses he nixed it because he felt Nilsson’s vocal was too melodramatic: “Somewhat hypocritically perhaps, I felt he was too far gone…”

A set of early demo recordings, redubbed and reorchestrated by the record company without Webb's participation or consent. None of his known hits or better songs are here, and the sound isn't terribly impressive either. Webb reportedly hated this release, which tried for the same effect as those early Randy Newman albums on Warner Bros. with far less success, artistic or commercial. Of purely historical interest.