Cass Elliot (album)
Encyclopedia
Cass Elliot is the fourth studio album released by Cass Elliot
and the first album recorded for RCA Records
. The album was recorded in late 1971 at RCA’s Music Center of the World in Hollywood at 6363 Sunset and originally released in February 1972. It was produced by Lewis Merenstein
and conductor Benny Golson
conducted and arranged the album.
With RCA granting her artistic freedom, Elliot pursued a more pared down, sophisticated sound for her first album with the label. Most of the songs were performed live in the studio. Elliot chose mostly standards. Elliot saw this album as her opportunity to finally distinguish herself as Cass Elliot and not "Mama Cass."
in 1965 and written by Van McCoy
. This was the first single released from the album in February 1972 with "Cherries Jubilee" as the B-side.
"Jesus Was a Crossmaker" was originally written, performed and released by Judee Sill
just four months prior to the release of this album.
"That Song" was the second single released in April 1972 with "When It Doesn’t Work Out" on the B-side. The song was a particular favorite of Cass’ who at the time who was going through a divorce from her second husband.
"When It Doesn’t Work Out" was written by Elliot's younger sister, Leah Kunkel, one-time wife of drummer Russ Kunkel
, with whom she raised Elliot's daughter Owen after Elloit's death in 1974.
"I'll Be There" was originally written and recorded by Bobby Darin
in 1959.
"Disney Girls
" was written by Beach Boy
Bruce Johnston
and recorded by The Beach Boys on their 1971 album Surf's Up. Johnston, who was a friend of Cass’, along with fellow Beach Boy Carl Wilson
both played and sang backing vocals on it.
"I Think It's Going to Rain Today
" was written by Randy Newman
and released on his 1968 eponymous debut album and recorded by Dusty Springfield
that same year. It had previously been covered by a number of artists, including Judy Collins
and Helen Reddy
; it would later be covered by Bette Midler
.
"All in the Game" was originally written in 1951 by Carl Sigman
, based on a 1911 tune by Charles Dawes (US vice president 1925-29) who had died earlier that year. The song became a hit for Tommy Edwards
in 1958 and has since been performed by artists such as Barry Manilow
, Van Morrison
, Maureen McGovern
, and Andy Williams
.
emulating the same style and glamour he used on movie stars such as Greta Garbo
, Joan Crawford
, and Carole Lombard
in the 1930s.
, Liza Minnelli
and Rod Stewart
in years to come, the album was considered out of sync with the current musical trends.
Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
and the first album recorded for RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. The album was recorded in late 1971 at RCA’s Music Center of the World in Hollywood at 6363 Sunset and originally released in February 1972. It was produced by Lewis Merenstein
Lewis Merenstein
Lewis Merenstein is most famous as the record producer for the Van Morrison album, Astral Weeks, and as executive producer for Moondance, Morrison's 1970 album.Astral Weeks is listed as #19 on the Rolling Stone Magazine's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003...
and conductor Benny Golson
Benny Golson
Benny Golson is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger.-Biography:While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and...
conducted and arranged the album.
With RCA granting her artistic freedom, Elliot pursued a more pared down, sophisticated sound for her first album with the label. Most of the songs were performed live in the studio. Elliot chose mostly standards. Elliot saw this album as her opportunity to finally distinguish herself as Cass Elliot and not "Mama Cass."
Songs
"Baby, I’m Yours" was originally released by Barbara LewisBarbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis , is an American singer and songwriter whose smooth style influenced rhythm and blues.-Career:Lewis was born in Salem, near Ann Arbor, Michigan...
in 1965 and written by Van McCoy
Van McCoy
Van Allen Clinton McCoy was an accomplished musician, music producer, arranger, songwriter, and orchestra conductor. He is known best for his 1975 internationally successful song "The Hustle", which is still played in dance halls and on radio to this day more than thirty years since his death...
. This was the first single released from the album in February 1972 with "Cherries Jubilee" as the B-side.
"Jesus Was a Crossmaker" was originally written, performed and released by Judee Sill
Judee Sill
Judee Sill was an American singer and songwriter. The first artist signed to David Geffen's Asylum label, she released two albums, then worked briefly as a cartoonist before dying of drug abuse in 1979.Her eponymous debut album was released in late 1971 and was followed around eighteen months...
just four months prior to the release of this album.
"That Song" was the second single released in April 1972 with "When It Doesn’t Work Out" on the B-side. The song was a particular favorite of Cass’ who at the time who was going through a divorce from her second husband.
"When It Doesn’t Work Out" was written by Elliot's younger sister, Leah Kunkel, one-time wife of drummer Russ Kunkel
Russ Kunkel
Russell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
, with whom she raised Elliot's daughter Owen after Elloit's death in 1974.
"I'll Be There" was originally written and recorded by Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
in 1959.
"Disney Girls
Disney Girls
"Disney Girls " is a song written by Bruce Johnston for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1971 album Surf's Up. The lead vocals are by Johnston, who also plays keyboards, moog bass, and mandolin....
" was written by Beach Boy
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
and recorded by The Beach Boys on their 1971 album Surf's Up. Johnston, who was a friend of Cass’, along with fellow Beach Boy Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson
Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
both played and sang backing vocals on it.
"I Think It's Going to Rain Today
I Think It's Going to Rain Today
"I Think It's Going to Rain Today" is a song written by Randy Newman, and appears on the album Randy Newman, as well as The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1 and all of Newman's official and bootleg live albums...
" was written by Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
and released on his 1968 eponymous debut album and recorded by Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
that same year. It had previously been covered by a number of artists, including Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
and Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy , often referred to as "The Queen of 70s Pop", is an Australian-American singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of those 15 songs made the Top 10...
; it would later be covered by Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
.
"All in the Game" was originally written in 1951 by Carl Sigman
Carl Sigman
Carl Sigman was an American songwriter.-Biography:Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his Bar exams to practice in the state of New York...
, based on a 1911 tune by Charles Dawes (US vice president 1925-29) who had died earlier that year. The song became a hit for Tommy Edwards
Tommy Edwards
Tommy Edwards was a singer and songwriter. His biggest-selling record was with the multi-million-selling song, "It's All in the Game."-Career:...
in 1958 and has since been performed by artists such as Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
, Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, Maureen McGovern
Maureen McGovern
Maureen Therese McGovern is an American singer and Broadway actress, well known for her premier renditions of the Oscar winning songs "The Morning After" from the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno in 1974.-Early life:McGovern was...
, and Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
.
Cover
The album cover was shot by Hollywood photographer George HurrellGeorge Hurrell
George Hurrell was a photographer who made a significant contribution to the image of glamour presented by Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s.-Early life:...
emulating the same style and glamour he used on movie stars such as Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo , born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, was a Swedish film actress. Garbo was an international star and icon during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. Many of Garbo's films were sensational hits, and all but three were profitable...
, Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
, and Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard was an American actress. She was particularly noted for her comedic roles in the screwball comedies of the 1930s...
in the 1930s.
Reception
Although praised by critics at the time, the album was not a hit. Although many artists would embrace and have success with standards such as Bette MidlerBette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
, Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
and Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
in years to come, the album was considered out of sync with the current musical trends.
Today
The album was reissued by RCA on CD in 1988 and once again by RCA Japan in November 2000. Collector's Choice Music released the album, on August 25, 2009, on a CD featuring Elliot's follow-up album, The Road Is No Place for a Lady, with three bonus tracks. Sony Japan released the album on November 10, 2009 in a paper sleeve replica of the gatefold vinyl album with two bonus tracks.Track listing
- "I'll Be Home" (Randy NewmanRandy NewmanRandall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
) – 3:39 - "Baby I'm Yours" (Van McCoyVan McCoyVan Allen Clinton McCoy was an accomplished musician, music producer, arranger, songwriter, and orchestra conductor. He is known best for his 1975 internationally successful song "The Hustle", which is still played in dance halls and on radio to this day more than thirty years since his death...
) – 2:33 - "Jesus Was a Cross Maker" (Judee SillJudee SillJudee Sill was an American singer and songwriter. The first artist signed to David Geffen's Asylum label, she released two albums, then worked briefly as a cartoonist before dying of drug abuse in 1979.Her eponymous debut album was released in late 1971 and was followed around eighteen months...
) – 3:06 - "That Song" (Bill Dean) – 2:12
- "When It Doesn’t Work Out" (Leah Kunkel) – 4:28
- "I'll Be There" (Bobby DarinBobby DarinBobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
) – 2:25 - "Disney GirlsDisney Girls"Disney Girls " is a song written by Bruce Johnston for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1971 album Surf's Up. The lead vocals are by Johnston, who also plays keyboards, moog bass, and mandolin....
" (Bruce JohnstonBruce JohnstonBruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
) – 4:08 - "I Think It's Going to Rain TodayI Think It's Going to Rain Today"I Think It's Going to Rain Today" is a song written by Randy Newman, and appears on the album Randy Newman, as well as The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1 and all of Newman's official and bootleg live albums...
" (Randy NewmanRandy NewmanRandall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
) – 2:43 - "Cherries Jubilee" (Marilyn Messina) – 4:36
- "All in the Game" (Carl SigmanCarl SigmanCarl Sigman was an American songwriter.-Biography:Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his Bar exams to practice in the state of New York...
, Charles Dawes) – 3:14
Personnel
- William Cat Anderson – Trumpet
- Gino Bozzacco – Trumpet
- Dennis Budimir – Guitar
- Gary Burden – Art Direction, Design
- Clark Burroughs – Vocals
- Larry CarltonLarry CarltonLarry Carlton is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist and singer. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands...
– Guitar - Ed Carter – Guitar
- Al CaseyAl Casey (rock & roll guitarist)Alvin W. Casey was an American guitarist. He was mainly noted for his work as a session musician, but also released records and scored three Billboard Hot 100 hits in the United States...
– Guitar - Benny Colson – Vocals
- Reggie Colson – Percussion
- Mickey Crofford – Engineer
- Cass Elliot – Vocals
- Venetta FieldsVenetta FieldsVenetta Fields is an American singer best known as session musician for leading rock and pop acts of the 1970s including Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones...
– Vocals, Background Vocals - Carl Fortina – Keyboards, Musette
- Jan Gassman – Vocals, Background Vocals
- Benny Golson – Arranger, Conductor, Background Vocals, String Section
- Jules "Stix" Greenberg – Background Vocals
- Ed GreeneEd Greene (musician)Ed Greene is an American drummer and session musician.An early recording in 1971 has him as a member of the Donald Byrd Group, together with Thurman Green Harold Land Bobby Hutcherson Joe Sample and Wilton Felder , among others....
– Drums - John GuerinJohn GuerinJohn Payne Guerin worked as a drummer, percussionist, and recording artist worldwide.Guerin was born in Hawaii and raised in San Diego. As a young drummer he began performing with Buddy DeFranco in 1960...
– Drums - George Hurrell – Photography
- Bruce JohnstonBruce JohnstonBruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
– Keyboards, Vocals, Background Vocals, Fender Rhodes - Carol KayeCarol KayeCarol Kaye is an American musician, best known as one of the most prolific and widely heard bass guitarists in history, playing on an estimated 10,000 recording sessions in a 55 year career....
– Bass - Clydie KingClydie KingClydie Crittendon is an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist....
– Vocals, Background Vocals - Eddie Kusby – Trombone
- Michael Lang – Piano
- Sherlie MatthewsSherlie MatthewsSherlie Matthews is an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a backing vocalist for Pop, R&B and Rock groups from the mid 1960s to the present time.-Early life:...
– Vocals, Background Vocals - Maurice – Trombone
- Lewis Merenstein – Producer
- Marilyn Messina – Vocals, Background Vocals
- Grover Mitchell – Trombone
- Jack Nimitz – Baritone Saxophone
- Joe OsbornJoe OsbornJoe Osborn is an American bass guitar virtuoso, notable for his work as a session musician in Los Angeles and Nashville during the period from the 1960s through the 1980s. Osborn's work is widely admired by fellow musicians.Osborn began his career working in local clubs, then played on a hit...
– Bass - Don Randi – Piano
- Jerome Richardson – Tenor Saxophone
- Moacir Santos – Tenor Saxophone
- Louie Shelton – Guitar
- Maurice Spears – Bass Trombone
- Trent Strickland – Mastering
- Carl WilsonCarl WilsonCarl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
– Vocals