Jennifer Warnes - Easy To Be Hard

[JohnGLewis1964]

This was of course a great hit with Three Dog Night.

[swampzoid]

i could listen to her sing forever and never be bored.

[bubblybabs]

Nowadays she'd have to have half her boobs sticking out and a barely there outfit on in order to be considered for a TV show...

[chichillguy]

yes very similar to lynn kellog the original broadway shiela repalced by diane keaton then melba moore who has a vid on youtube of song in concert liked 3 dog night version n cheryl barnes wud luv t see other versions by artists

[KitchensLady]

@chichillguy I like the Jennifer Warnes version better than Lynn Kellog's version. But both are great! :)

[dsfddsgh]

Seeing this clip now i do remember Jennifer Warnes on the Smothers Brothers show. I remember thinking the girl on the show with the glasses was a bit nerdy looking. But you have to remember i was only about 8 years old. LOL

[neonmoon82]

I just saw Jennifer Warnes at McCabes in Santa Monica this evening, She was wonderful and her voice has lost nothing if anything it is actually better. She is coming to McCabes again on October 28 and 29th.

[sheoconnor]

@neonmoon82 Wish I could have been there. My nephew Billy Watts was on guitar. Heard fantastic reviews and the next two are sold out.

[MrJacMac1986]

She is kinda of a sexy nerdy hippy chick

[2030matrix]

she is awesome woooow!

[Reyelee]

@Edelwulf Oh my god, if you think that, then you probaly don't even know what the draft is. Just... wow.

[VatiVulk]

She walks like a zombie.

[MyronJPoltroonian]

@MyronJPoltroonian Sorry for the multiple posts. I'm still trying to get the hang of this infernal interwhatsis.

[MyronJPoltroonian]

She was young then (I think that was from the Smothers Brothers Show) but I played with her before that, before Hair, etc., back in the days of the Paradox and at the Chez Cary (pronounced with a French accent, of course. What else would you expect from the owner, Cary Sinclair?) in Orange County, Ca.. Hopefully, I'll finally get to see her again this June at what may be the last Paradox Biannual Reunion. "P-3" as Steve Noonan calls it.

[toucheturtle300]

Shirley Bassey sings this much better. Not so wooden and stiff.

[absoftitanium]

@toucheturtle300 Shirley Brassy, you mean? >;^)

[RelativelyFamous]

@Edelwulf LOL not true at all and literally made me laugh out loud

[tedabracci]

@Edelwulf Your right cuz i was there, she recorded it and on the flip side she had me sing with her Flesh Failures which is the last song of the show.

[eatsleep3D]

beautiful song

[Seasass]

@Edelwulf LOL, and "Aquarius" and "The Flesh Failures" were by the Fifth Dimension before they were in the musical, right? (In case anybody out there didn't get it, I'm being sarcastic.)

[leftfootlouie]

@Edelwulf WHAT ARE  YOU like 5?

[jonesk123zero]

Jennifer is real! & she is awesome! xoxo

[thanksyounow]

@jonesk123zero Definately scenes from back in the day.

[jonesk123zero]

@thanksyounow - of course, still real, then - still real now - adorbs xo =-)

[TheDavey222]

ithink she's freaking people out.....she acts like shes gonna reach over and somone how easy it is to be hard on their ass

[Markgr122]

wow

[TheGodParticle]

Wow, i bet she had people reaching for the contrast button back then.

[jayjarnold]

Forgive me if this is a repeat of an earlier, unseen post; She released this as a single in 1969 as by "Jennifer," a few weeks before Three Dog Night's version hit the charts. While 3DN hit the Top-10, Jennifer's stalled at #128 on the 'Bubbling Under The Hot-100' chart. Her version here sounds closer to the 3DN version than her own Parrot Records' recording. Interesting.

[markt133]

I think she was starring in a version of "Hair" about this same time. Anyone who liked the Smothers Bros. Comedy Hour should read "Dangerously Funny", a book about the show; it's really very good.

[guddaysunshine]

At first , I thought this was Jan Brady.

[darius595]

not bad

[iriswigle]

This song was sung on stage in a studio before Bobby Darin died, 1973 and before the Sharon Tate attack which would make it the fall of 1968...before October 02, 1968. But, after, 1967, and after June Mixer was shot in the head and body which was in June 1968...possibly the fall after Robert Kennedy had been shot as telephone records would show calls between Robert Kennedy and Elsie Wigle's Crawford phone number in Ontario. Just thinking out loud folks.

[shambaby]

I believe Jennifer was in one of the first productions of HAIR. This is how the song was originally written! She is a goddess of a singer and human being.

[iriswigle]

Jen also swung more to singing like Janis Joplin with a little of Sharon Tate, thus, a different tone....rite?

[iriswigle]

Jennifer Warnes also sung with Bobby Darin in, "Simple song of Freedom". The blond hair and voice, this song and Bob's song of Freedom reminds me of Sharon Tate so I wonder if this was made late 1969 and 1970????

[iriswigle]

This song and blond hair reminds me of Sharon Tate and also Bobby Darin's song "If I was a Carpenter" as the female in the audience singing in the background with Bob was Jennifer Warnes...right?

[iriswigle]

The hairdo and song reminds me of Sharon Tate.

[rcentinella]

Such a rarity! Love it!!!

Villagrand: eu adorei, pô!

[joey1127]

OMG, she is still stunning today after all these years!!!!

[Heidi19689]

Though I like Jennifer Warnes beautiful voice, I prefer other covers of this song.

[mfremery]

Wat een verkr van dit nummer.

[giles422]

how silly of me. It was HER song, wasn't it? Of course of course. Great post...

[onehorse973]

Thanks so much! I remember watching this very performance and falling in love with that creamy rich voice and that winsomely beauty she possessed. She is still as authentic as she's always been--only now as a grandmother.

[duanape]

great woman and great voice

[CorinneAct]

Thrills me again, still the best after all these years.

[villagrand]

não gostei, prefiro o original que é melhor.

trash!

[SacMyk]

how about a needing friend...?

[ikivee]

THANK YOU!!! I've loved her since seeing her in Hair at the Aquarius theater in Los Angeles. I've seen her perform many times and feel her heart when she sings. I was so happy to see this, thanks again.

[znarf541]

White soul??? Maybe...

[TEB1952]

znarf541 - it's better than soul; it comes from the spirit.

[EdTracey347]

Jennifer Warnes sang two duet songs - with two different partners (the other being Bill Medley) - that each won the Academy Award for best song in a period of five years. Quite impressive.

[Markhirsh]

She is dancing around the beat - that is not singing in exact time with the music a technique that only the best singers can get away with - Frank Sinatra and Charles Aznavour are masters of this way - I'm not sure she quite pulls it off.

[VealParmigiana]

Charles Aznavour was a Master, the Master in France. Frank Sinatra had a better voice, but in my opinon Charles sang with more feeling and was a better entertainer.

[JBME]

WOW..I Never heard this one Sung by Jennifer Warnes Before. She's one of my Absolute Favourite Singers ! Is she still performing and if so..what, where & when ?

[MiltonJenkins]

She just performed in Seattle tonight (May 11 '09)..she performs in Santa Monica next on her four city tour.

[JBME]

Thanks ! Do you know if she's coming to Perform in Vancouver, Canada ? I'd LoVe to hear her concert.

[MiltonJenkins]

She plays Vancouver BC this Thursday May 14th at the Chan Shun Centre! Act fast!

[JBME]

How much are the tix ? May 14 is TOMORROW..'thanx'

[myronjenkins]

JW at Chan Shun Concert Hall Vancouver May 14 Tix are 50 bucks + from what I see

check her site Thanks!

[JBME]

please send me the link to her site.

[Forestski]

Wow - - I love Jennifer Warnes but, jeeze, I think someone gave her some bad drugs, man.

[54spiritedwill54]

What a beautiful voice and a lovely woman

[Spectres]

Three Dog Nights version is WAY WAY better then this. There's no comparison.

[nhf7170]

She has a great lower register. So powerful.

[EdTracey347]

The classic definition of a contralto.

[MrBrammetjee]

Sorry.. but just like this song out of the musical Hair way better.. now I'm about to listen to the Three Night Dog ;)

[jayfey77]

is this the same show george harrison made an appearance on?i know he came on by himself when jennifere warnes was on the show too?she probably got to meet a beatle on this show.

[Juliaillinois]

Jennifer wasn't in the off-Broadway or Broadway plays - she originated Sheila in LA -So she wasn't on the album.

The plot changed over the years - that's why it is sung differently. Sheila was white & the lead female hippy - she was singing sadly to one of the two white male lead hippies. The movie gave the song to an African American unwed mother who didn't like hippies, an entirely new character who wasn't in the play at all - she was angrily singing the song to the lead black guy.

[poobah2009]

I wonder if she still has that outfit.

[goodg9]

you are on a roll today.

[Juliaillinois]

The 1979 movie was not the original. The play opened on Broadway in 1968 and 6 months later in LA with Jennifer Warnes playing Sheila who sings this song in the play.

The girl who sings the song in the 1979 movie is good, but her character and scene were not in the play where the lead female hippy, Sheila, sings it.

[motus]

was jennifer the original singer? I listened to the broadway recording yesterday and it was much better than this rendition.. the movie version is great as well

[RJRanke]

This was the first time I heard this song-and truly realized how wonderful and sensitive a singer Jennifer was.I am always happy to hear of anything in her career.

[noelcosmic]

have you ever heard the original version? give me thumbs down, I don't care, but there's no feeling in the song when she sings it. Look at the original!!!

[bearcat409]

who sings original version?

[noelcosmic]

Search on YouTube for Easy To Be Hard + HAIR, you'll fine the scene from the film...

Look at all that drama that happens before Cheryl Barnes starts singing that song. After that you might understand why I don't feel anything when I hear Jennifer sing it... The song comes from the film "HAIR" directed by the Czech Milos Forman.

[Helivz]

Three Dog Night sings the original version, back in ....... 1969.

[bearcat409]

just watched Three Dog Night version, very good but I'm hooked on Jennifer Warnes

[Helivz]

All the versions are kool. Remember the musical "Hair" starring Treat Williams?

I like the Three Dog Night version cause that was the first one I heard over the radio as an Elementary school kid.

It reminds me of the fall of 1969 and early 70s, as well as barbecued chicken.

Yes, I am a bit eccentric, but harmless.

*Smiles

[bruceok]

Three Dog Night covered this song; original was from "Hair." I saw Jennifer Warnes in "Hair" in Los Angeles; sitting about four rows back; I never knew, until now, how fortunate I was. She worked closely with Leonard Cohen over the years; co-writing with him and backing him up.

[Helivz]

Very awesome tune isn't it? I remember it from the fall of 1969, when I was entering the third grade. It reminds me of baked, B.B.Q. chicken.

It does speak volumes of truth.

[justicelost1]

jennifer IS the original version...Yup showing my age

[Juliaflo]

@justicelost1 She played Sheila in a production of Hair, lest we all forget.

Merry Christmas.

[Rosannasfriend]

@noelcosmic I don't know how you can say she has no feeling, I can see, hear and feel it. She may not show it in the way we're used to from Cherly Barnes in the film, but it is there. Plus, I think this was done before the film anyway.

[imaribbily]

Endless well of beautiful music. This girl can sing!!!!

[idigyoubaby]

Jennifer takes the song to its roots. I hope to see her sing live one day. Her voice and her music moves me so.

[imaribbily]

when Jennifer sings the angels stop and listen what a voice!!

[pandorabangles]

Lol!!! Oh, brother.  Like a bad episode of

"The Brady Bunch." Jan finally accepts that

she needs her glasses and gets a gig on a

local TV show.

[wandre9]

Pandorabangles for the win! Funniest comment I've ever read on YouTube!

[T8M13Y]

I've never heard this version, it's beautiful.

[StonefieldJim4]

Blimey, that's a blast from the past. Was Ms Warren singing with Leonard Cohen by then? Thanks for this. Excellent stuff.

[joanlagoy]

Beautiful Jennifer, such a sweet angelic

voice.

joanie

[smartkart]

All performances on the Smother Brothers show were lip-synced.

[RICHMOND94114]

she sings the song from the perspective in which it was written to be sung. in humility... that's why this version is so perfect. that's why three dog night did a spectacular job with it...

[palinlondon]

If she's singing live then it's a terrific version of the song - strong voice full of emotion.

[xxbulldog74]

WOW i could understand every word.....Now i understand what makes here the pro she is!!!

[wparker887]

Its so weird hearing the difference between a white woman and a black woman sing this song. I love her voice its great!!! I think I just prefer a black womans voice! She is a great singer...only thing that bothers me is her diction...but other than that its great!

[bmrocks59]

she sounds very nervous...

[yomamadontdanz]

great job jennifer!i didnt know she covered this nero classic,wow!

[bmrocks59]

hmm, still prefer Chuck, sorry, i don't think anyone can touch him...

[Tyler380]

I love her glasses....She is giving a lesson to the kids on Idol...

[sammy1995]

Great performance, this is a hard song to sing solo.

[IShootPpl4funNmoney]

WOW, this was before Jennifer found her direction as the best interpretor of leonard cohen's music, huh?

taking on a laura nyro's tune at that time is not easy task. no wonder she's so good as she is.

p.s.

dominique777, glasses look good on jen, i'm a guy and i think glasses look good on women ;)

[powergirl901]

I wonder where that old commercial for American Express is with Sally Eaton from the Broadway cast? She had the straight blond hair and round glasses; the singer who performed "Air" from the show?

[markahorn]

Abosolutely beautiful, captivating. Jennifer owns this song. Simply moving. Hard to describe. Love you Jennifer.

[scottjs2002]

There is also another song of hers that has been forgotten!!! Its called It goes like it goes and was the theme song for the movie Norma Rae. I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[2old2Rock]

There's a video from the movie that includes that song here:

watch?v=3qilQ_gfm3w

[richfincm]

@2old2Rock : This one is just the song and better quality: watch?v=GOgfRijoeYA

:)

[philip0460]

Jennifer Warnes' voice is so beautiful. She had 2 number one hits and a top 10 hit (Up Where We Belong, I've Had the Time of My Life, and Right Time of the Night) and then we didn't hear much more from her. Along with Helen Reddy, Jennifer is probably the most underrated pop singer of my generation!

[tuttt99]

Jennifer Warnes is the most UNDER-rated female vocalist in the world.

[21041631]

What a beautiful voice and a lovely woman, ty for posting this

[dominique777]

JEN,REMOVE THOSE EYE GLASSES!

[markahorn]

Dominique 777- Not to be mean but Jennifer has very poor eyesight and that was before contact lenses. Poor thing wouldn't have been able to see a thing.

[bhoogren]

Yes. I found myself holding my breath.

[xtcBEBOP]

Jennifer was in the LA cast of Hair at the Aquarius Theater. What a great group the cast was! She is one of the best and underated.

[bpfeis]

Solid, but I like 3DN version better.

[defoenitely]

She looks breathtaking.

[jamieo123]

This is one of my favorite songs ever, and I love this version. Thanks for posting!

[julianveronica]

i was looking for the milos foreman movie version, but i was surprisingly pleased with this cover.

[2old2Rock]

Actually it's not a cover. Jennifer was in the cast of "Hair" at the time so she actually originated the song. I love the film version as well. Wish someone would post it!

[ByHermosaBeach]

Jennifer didn't technically originate the song. It was sung Off Broadway by Susannah Norstrom and in the original Broadway production by Lynn Kellogg.

Jennifer Warnes did create the role in the Los Angeles production. It was fun seeing this - thank you for posting!

[michaelfrank8278]

@2old2Rock Jennifer Warnes didn't originate this, Lynn Kellogg recorded it on the 1968 Hair BC album. Warnes didn't record this for Hair, either, for which the song was originally written.

[capnboffo]

I'm late to this party, but JW was in the west coast production, the original was melba moore in NYC both great!

[aseltym]

This was breathtaking, thank you for sharing it

[wacmpr]

Love this cover....a very young Jennifer indeed.