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From: Soxman2004
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  • This is the first time I've seen this video in it's entirety from the UK. He sang it live and virtually just like the record...even better! He seemed to choreographed the video after Joe Cocker. He was obviously a big fan at the time and even recorded Joe's Delta Lady for his Cassidy Live lp in 1974.

  • This is the original version of I Write The Songs, though Captain & Tennille and then Barry Manilow sang it the same year. David had a top ten hit with it in the UK and Barry brought it to #1 in the US.

  • Written by Bruce Johnston from the Beach Boys.

  • @nutleyguitar1968 was it? really? are you sure? could be? i thoght it was from barry

  • @AlexBoi2013 It was only because his record company thought this would never be a hit! Said it wouldn't appeal to people. That is why they wouldn't bring it out as a single...... guess who lost their hair!!!!!!

    And, with all respect, Loser??? Never heard of a loser that's still on top after 40+ years. You can dislike a person, not liking his music , but give the guy credit for his talent please!

  • If you like the solo work of David Cassidy, you'll probably like listening to my bubblegum music radio show "Echo Valley". It's online, free and just for fun. I play The Partridges and David Cassidy almost every show! Google " echo valley bubblegum " and you'll find it! :)

  • The late Carl Wilson sings the 2nd vocal. Written by another Beach Boy Bruce Johnston (David's manager atthe time) as a tribute to Brian Wilson. I believe this performance is from "Shang-A-Lang", the Bay City Rollers' 1975 U.K. Tv series on LWT. Great song!

  • Barry Manilows version is very good, but this is just AMAZING. Thanks for posting :)

  • davids more believeable when he says he wrote the songs that made the young girls cry bbecause lets face it manilow never had a bunch of crying screamin girls at his concerts

  • It's so Beautiful and David sing's it with so much Power and with his Full Heart !

  • your awsome david ,it was nice meeting you .69 ferreira

  • Tears flowing says it all

  • Amazing blue eyes..rocks the song.:)x

  • he's fine as a 'Partridge', but c'mon...compared to Barry Manilow...

    no comparison whatsoever~~

    this performance is just plain awful.

  • what i liked about cassidy is he didnt sound like anyone else. thats all you can ask for. great soulful voice.

  • I never liked this song much until I heard David sing it. David is usually very passionate when he sings, closing his eyes, using his whole body. He's not a big man, so I think he has to put his body into it to project his voice. Anyway, David's singing caresses with such tenderness. It's really beautiful. TY for posting!

  • I just love his breathy singing....so so sexy and romantic....ah, David Cassidy......

  • I LOVE YOUTUBE!!! Great to see this again.:) Thanks especially to Soxman..:)

  • hÌhi_ÄNÿÕNé_wÂnnä_chãt_wíth_mé­_i_féèl_sÕ_lÓNElÿ_tõDåY♪

  • I love this song and makes my whole soul sings. Thanks for this video.

  • It's beatiful!

  • Loved david.

  • I agree whit slider876 I mean his voice is just so great!!!!!!!! , I just don't no what to say. I mean I don't know if any body could everrrrrrrrr could, ever sing it better than David . ITS JUST GREAT!

  • This song by david is just so great,10 times better than manilow I mean I don't think any body could sing it better than David, There is just something abought the cassidys that make them GREAT. What I don't know? , but they have it. if there is any singers that I whould ever like to meat in person they whould be it.

  • i don't think anyone should be allowed to sing this song unless they write songs.

  • Cook from Skins sings it better!

  • Earlier I made a comment that David cassidy wrote the song,I write the songs..

    My mistake sorry..But that doesn't change the fact that david is still number one..

    every song he touches he makes it his own..

    hey Let's put it this way if he sang the dictionary and made it into a record I would buy it.

  • FYI...David recorded this before Barry did. Maybe if it had been marketed better by

    RCA, it would had the same success that Manilow's version had. Just sayin'

  • @allramful Captain and Tenille released it on their album "Love Will Keep Us Together but David had the first released single of the song.

  • There's only One thing,that you guys did not know, David Cassidy wrote this song.

    Just cause someone else sang it first and made it's own and a hit..

    Doesn't mean anything to me..David will always be number one in my book

  • @allramful I'm sorry but your information is incorrect. David Cassidy did not write this song. Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys wrote it in 1975, and won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for it in 1977.

  • His version is good and more emotions compared with Barry Manilow

  • that would be Carl in the beck ground

  • @longtimin very true. Carl Wilson sang back up on Bruce's version. Barry sounded best, though. RIP Carl!

  • We will all have our own opinions, I believe we should respect one another. I didn't post here to preach. I simply would like to remind all that a Beach Boy composed this wonderful song ! Bruce Johnston ! I'm proud to share, I 1st met him in '68-Thanksgiving eve, Boston. At 1st I didn't know him. We played a little piano together-what a 'regular' guy. While touring in '75-I bought the sheet music 2 this & was so happy to see Bruce's name. DAVID does a great job.

    7

  • David, no you don't - Barry does!! x

  • sorry Barry Manilow sings this with so much more passion , this is a good version however Barry wow

  • This is an under-rated artist and version of the song... That was beautiful... he did the song awesome justice.

  • This is a softer version than the Manilow version. Sorry,much as I loved Cassidy, way back. he doesn't have the real sentiment that Manilow portrays.

  • @TheIcewitch54 This WAS David's first. He explains it on "David Cassidy, Greatest Live Hits Live" I lost any respect for Manilow after watching that DVD by Cassidy.

  • This is not a good version of I Write The Songs, Cassidy should have chosen a different path!

  • Far superior to Barry Manilow's version. David Cassidy puts raw emotion into the song, whereas Manilow sings more coldly. David Cassidy exudes warmth and coompassion with this song that Barry lacks.

  • @ajb1776 I assume you are a Cassidy fan. Purely as an outsider of both artists both versions are as sugar coated and sickly as the other. At the end of the day the facts tell the truth. The music buying public preferred manilow`s version # 1` , Cassidy # 11.

  • Bullshit! David yodels. Clean the wax out of your ears those 19 of you who think David sings this better than Barry.

  • I prefer David´s version. I love this song and his voice.

  • David I love you and youdo write the songs with Passion !!

  • Beats Manilow in every respect! What a voice and you gotta love someone who cloese their eyes when singing!!

  • I am surprised at some of the comments on here. DC is/was a pretty boy and this may have affected peoples' judgements when comparing his version of this song to BM. As I am currently learning this song, BM,s performance has far more going for it than DC's. DC seems to struggle on some of the notes that BM finds effortless - and I am not a fan of either artiste!

  • @newcrossboy  Im sorry I dont agree with you. Barry Manilows voice is out of tune!

  • Perfection!

  • @62klang absolutely agree!

  • Perfection!

  • II remember 1972 being in love with David Cassidy. Posters on my bedroomwal, had all of his albums (still do). My sister was an Osmonds fan at the time.....wonder what David is doing now hard to believe he is now 60 years old. Incredible voice.

  • @813Ellen David Cassidy has a show in Vegas called Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat. He still looks awesome and his voice is still beautiful!! Google it and you'll find links about what he's up to now.

  • @813Ellen @813Ellen David Cassidy has a show in Vegas called Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat. He still looks awesome and his voice is still beautiful!! Google it and you'll find links about what he's up to now.

  • @SalvatoreBromance Wes Farrell who produced The Partridge Family albums changed the pitch of Cassidy's voice to make him sound younger on the first couple of PF albums. The PF's third album, Sound Magazine, features his unaltered voice (for ex. "Brown Eyes" or "One Night Stand"). Also, "I Write the Songs" is from his later post-PF solo efforts that most definitely featured his 'real' voice.

  • Loving this video bring back loads of memories. David Cassidy's the best

  • thank you!!! I'm a fan of both Barry and David....and have seen then both live in the past few years.

  • cook sings it better

  • @Otto10k actually he does

  • ich bin ein großer Fan von David Cassidy seit 1973.

  • David You are awesome !! Yoo wrote teh songs!! I LOVE YOU !!

  • yep, he did not write this song,  DAVID, not dabid as was spelled in one post, sings it very good!

  • Yeh well Dabid was the best and he wrote it.

  • @64VSG No, David Cassidy did not write this song. "I Write The Songs" was written by one of The Beach Boys, actually, Bruce Johnston.

  • he's sining live, isn't he?

  • @Greenthigh Yup. The recorded version has also been uploaded if you want to compare the two.

  • As a born-again Christian could I just publically apologize for the garbage written by NicholasPOGM. Thanks.

  • whoa, very ugly not even Idol worthy

  • man this guy david cassidy can sing! its to bad that he didnt do more with his grrreat voice, more songs that sound like this, I WRITE THE SONGS. HIS VOICE SOUNDS GREAT IN THE SONG! LOVEDIT!!!!

  • You are all so funny...........but seriously, better than Barry? not in a million years..........hasn't time proven that? Barry is 65 and still packing them in........all over the world....David is , however, just as cute as ever.....

  • Gostaria de saber se o David um carinha que tanto gostei na minha infância e lindo ,casou ,teve filhos....enfim !!!

  • those were the days

  • this is the best version of this song, way better then barry's version. lol i think david is stoned in this

  • As you listen to the lyrics, keep this in mind. Satan was the very first angel created. He was actually the one who sang unto God before he fell in sin. He was the angel of music. So, yes. He has been "alive forever." He did write "the very first song." And when he is "in your heart... he feels young again, even though he is very old." There are many statements in this song that are extremely evil to say the least. The ones I shared here are but a few. This is why music is so messed up today.

  • @NicholasPOGM hey I am interested to what you said, can tell you some other songs that's good to hear but evil in such a way? Thanks, I am also religious.

  • @NicholasPOGM If you replace the word "music" with "Jesus" or "GOD" (the Creator) I think you get the deeper meaning unlike the garbage that you proposed. It's a shame you replaced "music" with "Satan", as if Satan has the ability to create anything. He doesn't. It shows how screwed up your mind really is, Nicholas. Also, since Satan is a created being, he hasn't been alive "forever". Only GOD has been alive forever.

  • @MagicFire236 I didn't write the words to the song or the Bible. As we all know, Satan is a liar when ever he speaks. As far as man is concerned, with his limited lifespan, Satan would appear to be "alive forever." I forgive you for assuming the Truth I shared was a lie. No need to respond. I shall not give you the opportunity to sin again. I care for you as a Christian should. I will pray for you. God bless.

  • @NicholasPOGM From the way you just twisted your own words around to try to fool yourself . it seems that you are the liar. Adding the word "appear" (which is not even in the song) to your explanation is a real stretch. I assumed nothing. From your previous statement, you think that Satan lives inside people, when the Bible says that our bodies are the temple of "the Holy Spirit", so only GOD can look out through our eyes. (A line from the song) Let's see how you twist words this time. :(

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  • I'm under the impression that David Cassidy had a #1 hit with this song in England before Barry Manilow adopted it. Also, this performance shows me a tortured soul. This guy is completely stoned AND hits every note with passion. Most stoners nowadays just lip sink - this is not a pre-recorded version and you ought to give him his props. He may not have written the songs, but he damn sure made the young girls cry and it shows in this performance.

  • This is the most raunchy singing and display of acting. This is not his fortae of music. David Cassidy needs to stick to his kind of music, more rock and roll. Barry Manilow shows and sings w/so much compassion for his music. This song is known to be a Barry Manilow icon song. I've seen Barry Manilow in concert to many times to count. No one can sing that song like Barry.

  • @Barrybaby100 barry doesnt put the feeling into the song that david does, barry does have a good voice but he needs to put more feeling into his songs and stop sounding plain. david is the greatest singer to walk this earth

  • David Cassidy....my big love before Adam Lambert....:)

    Still like his songs a lot and have all my old Casettes from this time..even knowing they dont work anymore..

  • no comparison to Barry! this is a joke right?

  • GREAT VOICE  XXXXBABSIE HUGS

  • Manilow's version is a yawner. Of course poor Barry is nothing to look at, especially compared to the most gorgous man who ever lived. I saw David a couple weeks ago, I'd pay to just look at him for an hour and half, even now. He may be turning 60 but he a beautiful 60.

  • very young

  • I agree with abosolutely everything you say. David is such a beautiful man!!

  • omg this is hysterical and priceless but no comparison to Barry Manilow.

  • @leah1959 Do you mean to say Cassidy is better? I hope so

  • Lets get this straight folks the Cassidy version of this song is the best!!

  • oh no!!! have you ever heared sinatra sing it? this is hell of a difference!

  • @korittkeslady Hi I heard Sinatra singing it last night and I must admit he was good but Sinatra is one of the all time greats so I expected his version to be good as well

  • This was originally done by David. Barry so-called stole it. David made that clear on his video "David Cassidy: Greatest Hits Live." I never liked Manilow all that much, and after hearing that he stole this from David---I have no respect for Barry.

  • Does David actually say that in the video? If so, he's the one losing my respect. He didn't own the song, so Manilow couldn't have stolen it from him.

    Manilow's "perfect elevator music" arrangement just proved more popular (it helped that Arista promoted it over Cassidy's version - that's what fuels DC's frustration I'm sure). Clive Davis at Arista had to convince Manilow to record it.

    Never liked this song until I heard Cassidy's version.

  • No.... this was originally done by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys. Bruce actually wrote the song.

  • I never heard this version before, David sang it before Barry. I love Barry`s version but now when I hear this...wow David have even better voice than Barry more personal a awesome voice ! I love this too !!

  • Beautiful version. Barry sings it like a "Schnulze" as we say in Germany, David makes it something very special. Thanks for the clip.

  • What means schnulze ?

  • I didn't know the English word, but maybe it is tearjerker, schmaltzy song, weepie....does that make sense?

    Nothing against Barry Manilow, but I prefer this version.

  • @I understand and I also prefer this version much more, his outstanding I even maild David Cassidy to tell him, I mean after all this year it`s time for him to hier the truth, his the best !!

  • my goodness he is gorgeous and I love both barry's and david's...but is it just me or does david look a little high or just tired? i don't know....he just keeps rolling his eyes back in his head and I don't remember him doing that in his earlier years....he's gorgeous though! oh i could listen to him all day

  • I like Manilow a lot but whatever anyone says Cassidy...and sorry ....he was far better looking.... did release this first and I think it is the better version...........albeit it is not associated with him as much.....it should be. (This is off Top Of the Pops)

    Love Manilows 'The one that got away' ...and 'Mandy' etc etc

  • @cassidy322

    I heard his vesion was a hit in the U.K. but since he had been away from The U.S. so long the record stores couldn't get it. I had my Good friend Henery from Peaches records get me one from the U.K. plus Romance which was not even put out in the U.S.

  • This takes me back to my childhood.

    God he was hot!!!

  • god i forgot how much i fancied him in thoses days....... mind you i still do lol

  • thats a bit harsh

  • I love it, when was this recorded?

  • still Manilow's version is the best.

  • barry manilow made this song famous.not  anyone else

  • David was the first to record the song written by The Beach Boys Bruce Johnson in 1975, this was followed in the same year by Captain and Tennille and then Barry Manilow. I still love David's version the best.

  • I am Dutch, so my English is not so well. This video is my favoriet... I am fan from you sinds I was 13 years old, 37 jrs ago. Untill now I watch every song on youtube daily, specially the old ones. Your warm voice, awesome looks and sexy performance I haven't seen since 1973 by someone else. You're still the best, most sexy singer and great performer of all time!!!

  • just listen to that rich warm voice . amazing he sings it as he means it

  • This version is far better than Manilows (which I listened 20 years before David version- unknown here - Brazil)...).

    just my opinion

  • Not bad but what's with the Joe Cocker arms?

  • David sings this song so beautifully.I think Barry is a wonderful performer and I really enjoy many of his songs. I have seen him in concert 3 times, he is a great entertainer and I enjoyed the shows. But if you are comparing voices, IMO David is by far the better singer. He can sing any genre, any range. His voice is amazing.

    Thank you Soxman2003 for posting this great video.

    [PS. to the person who said he was rolling his eyes to the back of his head, LOL -- He's singing up to the balcony.]

  • @lotsamusic01 Totally disagree with your assessment. I'm just saying.

  • @lotsamusic01 I like that we like different versions. I'm happy to like what I like, and don't feel the need to champion either artist. Shall we just enjoy what each of them brings, and reserve our own heartfelt preferences. We are supposed to be different, but should remember to embrace the variety it brings, rather than use it as a stick to beat one another. Sorry to preach, jus' want us all to enjoy our own choices. T

  • @lotsamusic01 You are absolutely 100% off your rocker if you think that Cassidy is a better singer than Manilow! ;-()

  • No competition Cassidy feels he way through the song perfect! Manilows version is flat on feeling it's as simple as that!!!

  • @ppcasey9 Yeah Barry made millions, people KNOW its Manilow's song. FAIL. Just like Cassidys drunk driving bust LOL

  • @ppcasey9 Hey bud, you are absolutely 100% off your rocker if you think that Cassidy is a better singer than Manilow! ;-()

  • Wether or not one preffers casidy's verson of this song to Manilow's is a personal point of view. I enjoyed both versions but I preffer Barry Manilows version due to the fact it's more organized & symphonic. Plus it was the first version I heard on the radio back in 1975 when I was 7. Besides that Barry Manilow or David Casidy did NOT write this song. It was origionally written by a composer named Bruce Johnson and it was sung by the Partridge family, the Capt & Tineile & of course Barry Manilow

  • Dont thin TRE404 comment that Cassidy hated singing this song holds water at all.............what a load of rhubarb...........where do you get that idea from...........he always sang it at gigs.

  • I like Manilows music..................but do think Davids' is the far better ...and first ....version

  • Well said Elle! David is far better than Barry Manilow!!

  • How dare you dis David?He recorded this before Barry Maniow,and while this was'nt his best performance,his recorded version knocks spots off all the others

  • David's version is quite different from the more familiar Barry Manilow version. I have the Captain and Tennille version of this song, which I think is really great. It's interesting that all three versions were recorded around the same time, yet they all have their on style, proving that in those days there was a lot of variety, unlike today.

  • David is sooooooo cute

  • Look, he was an incredibly horny looking bloke with a fantastically horny voice and way of singing, and we didn't even know how short he was. EOE.

  • Hilariously well put, Melodyalice. Thanks for revising the suit comment, Soxman. Cassidy wears this white suit in a 1977 TV Thanksgiving special as well, so it's probably safe to say he wasn't copying Travolta (Saturday Night Fever was released in December 1977).

  • Did he always perform like this, ie: like he was drunk or high on something? I don't get it, I don't think the song suits his style. I can't hear the sincerity or truth in the words. I don't believe him when he says he writes the songs. But I believe Manilow....

  • Sincerity and Truth are not intrinsic qualities of pop music - nor of any music. It's up to the artist to imbue their performance with those qualities.

    Cassidy was clearly there for the paycheck. I'm sure he hated the song, and was resentful that he had to sing it, admittedly frustrated rocker that he was.

    I'd bet a week's pay that he got backstage afterward and kicked a wall. I'm serious! His performance here just screams his frustration.

    He shoulda just sang it as "I Hate the Song."

  • David Cassidy is no Barry Manilow? Doubt it was his goal since he recorded the song first. Listen to David sing rather than look at him perform. His chorus alone has more emotion than Barry's whole rendition. DC has clunkers in his repertoire but this isn't one of them. Thx for this video, Soxman. Would you consider revising your comment to "...while wearing a suit Travolta wore three years later in Saturday Night Fever."? ;)

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  • que es esto !!!!! esta horroroso parece drogado , david is very BAD

    VIVA BARRY

  • Where was this from and when was it, does anyone know?

  • He does tend to overemphasize a bit. But if we look back in history, we find that David, and Barry Manilow recorded this Bruce Johnston tune at about the same time. People just chose BM's version.

  • Cassidy seems pretty full of himself here.

  • Im sorry but no matter what you lot say, I still think David is the best!! I liked some of Barry Manilows records but his version of " I write the songs" was out of tune

  • He may have had the looks but he's no Barry Manilow. That performance would not have even got him through American Idol !

  • Well, I don't know about that.. The show did kind of jump the shark (IMO) after season 3

  • It's a run of it..but it leaves us wondering..hell, we could get Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and do better!...find Bennie Mardonis if he still gives a damn..David ESSEX did well winning, as..The Greatest!.-in a catagory of pop rock n roll star but I don't think this try at it 'a seasoned player!

  • Bennie Mardonis? 'Into the Night' Bennie Mardonis?

  • Okay... I liked David Cassidy but this performance is a bit much heh... great vocals but slightly flamboyant.

  • Have you heard the recorded version? Sumerkis posted it. It's less "flamboyant" without the moves. HIs vocals give me goosebumps.

  • NO! Barry Manilow is fabulous at this song....David is rubbish at it!

  • david is fabulous at this song....barry manilow is rubbish at it

  • brillant song

  • Sorry David but no one sings this like Barry, this just ain't happening :-(

  • Yeah. This..well.....sucks to say the least.

  • Thanks for posting this. I actually like this song now. Barry's version makes for great elevator music but David's version is soulful and gritty. Much prefer it.

  • David Cassidy may have dived into the schmaltz vat momentarily, but Manilow made a career of it. He is the quintessential lounge/Vegas act that just happens to be mega-produced. Yes, Barry technically has better vocal skills -- but David's actually got soul when he sings. It's your choice...

  • I once heard from a pastor that the "I" refers to Satan! Positively ridiculous. Aside from the hair, the suit and the moves, David Cassidy sings this to near-perfection.

  • damn, is it me or does jack (skins-cook) sing just like him? haha aawesome :D

  • Great video! *****

    Thank you!!

  • Sixty years old next year!

  • i love david cassidy always did awsome he is and till this a favertite still . he great and made it threw to where hes at awsome to him

  • Beautiful.

  • Cassidy's  version is the best!

  • he doesn't have a bad voice but this is such a cheezzee song.

  • does anyone know where i can view cook doing tis song on youtube??

  • do a search, mate

  • Comment removed

  • the best version is on skins

  • Yeah,

    Cook from Skins does it the best