Harry Chapin got together with a team of studio musicians and made it halfway to heaven with this mix of humor and heart that made him famous. Chapin had started out singing in Brooklyn Heights Boys' Choir and formed a band with his brothers Tom and Stephen while he was in high school. He became a documentary filmmaker after dropping out of Cornell University. His film 'Legendary Champions' was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1968; but he decided to focus on music in 1971. He began playing in nightclubs around New York with John Wallace, Tim Scott, and Ron Palmer. Chapin was courted by Jac Holzman of Elektra Records and Clive Davis of Columbia, eventually signing with Elektra when they agreed to give him free studio time. His debut album 'Heads & Tales' featured his bandmates and his brother Stephen and produced a top thirty hit with 'Taxi'. 'Sniper and Other Love Songs' came later that same year. 'Short Stories' came the next year and gave him a top forty hit with 'W*O*L*D'.
For his next album, Chapin left behind Wallace, Scott, and Palmer and recorded with a bevy of studio musicians at Connecticut Recording Studios in Bridgeport with producer Paul Leka. The sessions for 'Verities & Balderdash' featured Harry Chapin on guitar and vocals; John Tropea on acoustic guitar and sitar; Don Payne on bass; Allan Schwartzberg on drums; Don Grolnick on piano, electric piano, and harpsichord; Ron Bacchiocchi on synthesizer; Irving Spice as concertmaster; George Simms, Frank Simms, and Dave Kondziela on background vocals; and Zizi Roberts on female vocals.
'Verities & Balderdash' became his biggest album, going to number four in the US album, carried by the massive success of the dramatic 'Cat's in the Cradle'. Chapin would express: "I've got nothing against selling out, but just let me do it for something that matters. Not so I can be Number One With a Bullet, as it were, but so I can leave this world feeling like I made a difference."
http://harrychapin.com/
http://www.harrychapinmusic.com/
'Cat's in the Cradle' became a number one smash hit. Chapin's wife Sandy had written the lyrics about her previous husband and Chapin adapted it after their son Josh was born.
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and there were bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking 'fore I knew it and as he grew
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad
You know, I'm gonna be like you"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when
We'll get together then, son, you know we'll have a good time then"
When my son turned ten just the other day
Said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on and let's play
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today
I got a lot to do" he said, "That's okay"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know, I'm gonna be like him"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when
We'll get together then, son, you know we'll have a good time then"
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and he said with a smile
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later
Can I have them please?"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad, We're gonna have a good time then"
Well, I've long since retired and my son's moved away
Called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time"
"You see, my new job's a hassle and the kid's got the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
Yeah, and the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad, we're gonna have a good time then"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUwjNBjqR-c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev5inols7cQ
'Verities & Balderdash'
full album:
https://myspace.com/harrychapinfan8/music/album/verities-balderdash-8826969
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz1GRxB-UBk
Side One
"Cat's in the Cradle" (Sandy Chapin, Harry Chapin) – 3:44
"I Wanna Learn a Love Song" (Harry Chapin) – 4:19
"Shooting Star" (Harry Chapin) – 4:02
"30,000 Pounds of Bananas" (Harry Chapin) – 5:45
"She Sings Songs Without Words" (Harry Chapin) – 3:31
Side Two
"What Made America Famous?" (Harry Chapin) – 6:53
"Vacancy" (Harry Chapin) – 4:00
"Halfway to Heaven" (Harry Chapin) – 6:10
"Six String Orchestra" (Harry Chapin) – 5:25
'Soundstage' playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL95A539EC95EB6B17
No comments:
Post a Comment