Jimmy Webb - By The Time I Get To Phoenix

[NonInflatable]

I met Jimmy Webb a few years ago, doing a show here in my small town in Sussex.

Absolutely charming, friendly, unpretentious man, totally unaware of his importance.

I asked him to sign a montage photograph of MacArthur Park I'd put together.

He wrote on it "It didn't melt after all".

[2011littlejohn1]

This guy is the Cole Porter of his time. And Cole Porter is probably the greatest all round composer of the USA (I'm from the UK).

[mythtree]

Predisposed to first experiences, thinking Glen was it, ironically that's what the radio played but yes John Walker is just as competent, and Marvin Gaye gave it a go, and Isaac Hayes, well, what can I say? But this... This seasoned performance by Mr. Jimmy Webb of his profound masterpiece gets to the heart of it. What is there beyond perfection? You look elsewhere, then you look back & see, were you blind? Love.

[TheHazeyQ]

As a pro singer and vocal coach there is no way that Webb is a weak vocalist - though any response is personal, and that is how it should be. Saw this many years back when it first broadcast and never forgotten it so glad to find it here. :)

[Broaart]

Sounds great!!

[caribbank1ng]

legit

[dorothyparker100]

I have looked all through the comments and, unless i am mistaken there is no reference to John Walker, (of the walker brothers) singing this song. It is on Youtube. I think it is the best interpretation of this song. I do however, agree with someones comment , that the writing of the song is more important.

[daveg176]

Jimmy Webb is to Glen Campbell what Burnie Taupin is to Elton John.

[woodhd]

@daveg176 ??? bernie taupin is a hackneyed lyricist elton john is composer of mediocre lobby music jimmy webb is a master songwriter who has written timeless and immortal classics ... glen is a clothes horse with a good voice and presentation

[oeyesea]

as performed by the man who lived the song.

[tunesmith100]

Jimmy Webb.....what can you say....one of the true greats of songwriting.

[oxlotol]

Jimmy webb is a musical icon with his deep heart wrenching songs. A true genius.

[toneebee]

The best

[notfarc1]

you are awesome..thank you for the graet music

[glennbo72]

Jimmy Webb is no Glenn Campbell and Glenn Campbell is no Jimmy Webb. They both have their unique talents but without the song ,you got nothing. I enjoyed this performance a lot.

[tunesmith100]

@glennbo72 , A great song is a great song. Jimmy Webb will be remembered for many many years for his writing. In a hundred years it will be Glen who ?

[tomcglden]

A writer AND a performer. Bravo!

[HaberfieldChiro]

Absolutely fantastic 60s and 70s songwriters who other people recorded? Top 3 would have to be Jimmy Webb, Laura Nyro and Carol King.

[ToeIn2194]

@HaberfieldChiro Beautiful choices. Bravo!

[michaelgadsby]

My word... this is so very evocative. Quite beautiful.

[thomascow1]

Great song

[unclebobunclebob]

It's important to feel and get the feeling across...to me, that's even more important than a Michael Bolton or Celine Dion voice, singers who are more into their own histrionics than honoring the song.

[jbjumpback]

Poem interpreted by the author.

Can't be better.

[cordedpoodle]

Some people are easily amused... and what are the qualities that make a "good singer?"

[unclebobunclebob]

@cordedpoodle It's important to feel and get the feeling across...to me, that's even more important than a Michael Bolton or Celine Dion voice, singers who are more into their own histrionics than honoring the song.

[firefighterfuture1]

i don't think he's a weak singer at all

[Triton61]

I love the the part @2.02 - "she'll be sleeping" ... Definitely a very heart-felt performance..

[nuipret]

a little bit of trivia for yoy guys! when glen was recording this in the studio jimmy wanted the words to be ''though time and time again i tried to tell her so'', glen wouldn't sing it that way and continually sang ''though time and time i tried to tell her so''. jimmy lost that battle and so glen's version is the one that got recorded.

[nuipret]

jimmy.....YOU CAN'TSING!!! i'll get some flak from jimmy webb fans for saying this but i'm a big guy and i'll accept that! so for all you jimmy lovers who feel as though they wanna kill me!....WHY? this guy is in the top three songwriters of all time and i admire him so much. but he just can't sing !

but if anyone says he CAN sing all i can say is that's great, horses for courses etc ! i respect your views. i am giving my opinion of his bad singing, not his awesome fantastic songwriting.

[ChicagoSouthDan]

@nuipret He's a better singer than Bob Dylan

[nuipret]

@ChicagoSouthDan mmmm....that's a big MAYBE my friend!

[ourmissboo]

@nuipret -- You say Jimmy Webb can't sing. Well, you are wrong. He has a soft voice that doesn't carry very well, so you have to listen carefully, but his singing is beautiful. This particular video has the volume down way too low -- even turned all the way up, I can barely hear him sing -- but the emotion he puts into the song is really nice.

[nuipret]

@ourmissboo of course you are so very right! i think my problem is that i tend to rate glen campbell as a superstar and therefore anyone who can't sing as good as him is no good!!

[mastertusk]

@nuipret Glen Campbell is a Superstar...but if a man can't sing his own songs something is wrong...I enjoy hearing it from the guy who knew what it was all about...as well as a fully packaged song by the record company who made the real bucks....

[nuipret]

@mastertusk ah now....this is why i said i'd get some flak off jimmy webb fans mastertusk!! and yet the ''flak'' has been constructive and put across sensibly by everyone who has disagreed with me! (what a cool channel this is!). of course, the best interpretation of any song SHOULD be by the songwriter, only it isn't always so. glen is a real pro singer/musician. jimmy is a pro SONGWRITER!!

but man, ain't he damn superb?! he works hard at creating great stories in a song. thanks jimmy.

[mastertusk]

@nuipret well I let you off lightly..haha...a bit later (or earlier in the morning) i would have given u heaps plus a few @*&% etcetera. Seriously when you consider how old Jimmy was when he wrote most of these its really amazing. The same can be said about Simon & Garfunkel...lots of people have done their songs over the years and some preferred the other versions...does'nt really matter as long as you like it...now Britney Spears contribution to the debate may be questionable...

[nuipret]

@mastertusk without looking, don't know how old jimmy was when he wrote his great songs. if he was young then he showed great maturity as a lyricist, if he was old then he's had experience on his side. either way he is a genius of the songwriters world. i've never preferred any s & g song to their own versions. but i know what you mean man. yeah....britney! she WAS a sexy chick. don't know what happened to make her a laughing stock in the past couple of years she needs to cut her coke more!

[mastertusk]

@nuipret ..well he was about 21 when this song came out by GC but I heard he was about 16 when he wrote some of his hits...special.

Keep up the good work! Nice to share some thoughts.

[nuipret]

@mastertusk yeah man. thanks. stay cool and good luck.

[Triton61]

His vocal maybe be weaker than Glen but the emotion he brought out of that song is outstanding... gives me goose-bumps.

[gordonw01]

Good songwriter.Shame he never got the credit he deserved,particulary for the Glen Campbell hits he wrote.

[crazykeyman]

@gordonw01 Yeah he's probably crying all the way to the bank. I don't know for a guy who is known more for his writing and not singing I think most people of this era know who Jimmy Webb is. As a keyboardists I was very aware of him and his songs.

[gordonw01]

@crazykeyman Yes but he wasn't famous for his own songs in a mainstream sense.....not talking about musical people in the know.

[crazykeyman]

@gordonw01 Well you got me because being a musician and composer my interests and knowledge tend to get concentrated in this area. I would be interested to know if other non-musicians that grew up in this era feel the same as you. I always thought of his fame as similar to Burt Bacharach's fame.

[rdangelo]

The end theme from Midnight Cowboy can be superimposed over the end of this.

[chrismca]

What a great version! It's neat to listen to how much Glen Campbell got his melody and phrasing from the piano part as much as the actual melody line Jimmy uses here. Very interesting. Thanks for the great post.

[Mintaraga81]

I've never heard this version before. But I must admit, this is as good as Glen Campbell's version. Both always made me wanna cry. A long story told beautifully in just approx 3 minutes by Jimmy Webb! And I didn't even know who he was/is. Awesome!

[erectus20]

Jimy webb , the best composer romantic music in years 60/70 ago in united state.

[erectus20]

Jimmy webb : the best composer of romantic music who born in united state. H'is a wonderfull .

[stpjjf]

No one can doubt the talent of JM as a song writer-but can he sing like Glen campbell -can he hell.

[Filklore]

However, Glenn Campbell never did manage the phrasing in the last verse - instead of Webb's line "Though time and time again I tried to tell her so", Campbell always incorrectly sang "Though time and time I tried to tell her so".

Apparently this was something that Webb pointed out to Campbell more than once, but Campbell went for easy scansion, instead of accuracy.

[johnlv12]

@Filklore Doesn't Jimmy here sing "though time and time again you know I have tried to tell that little woman so". No idea how he write it originally. An interesting related bit of trivia: Webb repeatedly tried to get Richard Harris to leave the possessive "s" off when he sang "MacArthur's Park" to no avail- it's supposed to be "Macarthur Park".

[Filklore]

@johnlv12 Yes, you are right, that's what he sings in this version. I think part of this is natural improvisation - you tend to vary things a little when you have sung a song so many times.

However, I am amused at the number of extra syllables he has effortlessly fitted into that very same line that was a bone of contention with Glen Campbell, so I wonder if he is also making a point!

[HunterMann]

Great song, but when I hear him sing it makes me want to pay for 3 months of voice lessons for him.... yikes!

[xTjPx]

Jimmy Webb just like Laura Nyro interpret their own songs better than the singers who made them famous.

Brilliant.

[mnc90034]

Ok, he sings this one much better than wichitaw lineman, Still Glen Cambel made jimmys songs come to life.

[RJiminez51]

it is very very hard to write 1 timeless song let alone dozens

[javelin1010]

Jimmy's writing partner Burt Bacharach wasn't much of a singer and it was really noticable when he'd 'sing" a duet with the likes of Dionne Warwicke. Great timeless tunes though. Thanks for the music and thanks for the post.

[gbarry11]

Burt wasn't Jimmy's writing partner. Burt Bacharach co-wrote tunes with a guy named Hal David. I'm not aware of any Webb/Bacharach partnerings.

[musicmann1967]

Bravo man!!! Thanks for this post. This guy is pretty incredible. Always a great writer, but he's a really good interpreter of the tunes as well, despite his weak-ish voice.

[lilysmumkate]

jimmy webb is the one cd i would have on my desert island choice think its call ten easy peices....magic xxx

[bastlake]

*applause*

[NonInflatable]

I met Jimmy Webb in Haywards Heath in Sussex a couple of years ago.

A magical evening and he took the trouble afterwards to have a few words with everyone who wanted to meet him.

Totally unpretentious and charming.

[altazboy]

One of the 100 people I most wish I could be friends with in my lifetime.. Mr Jimmmy Webb. What a genius. Thanks for this post.

[sengseal2]

a mega talent~!

[script360]

monster songwriter

[ToeIn2194]

again..superb treat,Folks,this is a gift,and you said no one ever gave you anything.

[loubob11]

goosbumps... his phrasing is so much better that Glen's... although I grew up with Glen's version and it still is haunting...

[vagabondsongs]

I guess as the song writer, it holds more meaning to him.

[wamij2]

jim is the author but there are many fine versions.

Glens's though is definitive ; he prhases 3 and 5 against 4 and it really flows... it takes a great singer to draw those lines out and it somehow struck a chord as it should.

[to me J.w. is the pinnacle of posters]

[RJiminez51]

dats right

[BloozeDaddy76]

A soulful, heartfelt performance by Jimmy Webb, and I'm starting to think I like this as well as Glen Campbell's classic hit version. I've read that Webb was a weak singer, but he really puts a lot of heart and feeling into this performance, even though Glen is the stronger vocalist between the two.

[thechetatkins]

well ya ,

and since Webb wrote it,

maybe he knows how it should go,

"heartfelt "and all.

Weak singer maybe,

Great Writer Certainly.

[rvcrvc2]

Did you ever hear Burt Bacharack sing, Blooze. Now THAT's a weak singer

[ladybluluv]

beautiful sounding song..very sad. but why does he keep wanting to leave her? it sounds so mean..and just leaving a note? that.. in a way.. bugs me, but otherwise a nice song.

[rvcrvc2]

Wow, ladyblu, that's the hook of the song. She "drove" him to leave, though she obviously didn't mean to & loved him, as well.

[rvcrvc2]

Author, author... One of the most wrenchingly, brutally love songs ever written. 3 simple verses, told from two perspectives, austensibly over the course of a day, but providing insight into the past and the future of both parties.

[arthurdonachy]

hey prosim85 ,never think it might just be you

[mysticmaverick1]

I saw him last night at the Cutting Room in New York City was he was just exquisite. He writes such hauntingly beautiful songs and his voice provides a rare poignancy and sadness that no one else can touch. Jimmy, come to Washington, DC - Blues Alley!

[stevew12345]

I assume he has a webbsite{no pun} i got to see this guy live. Im 45 min from blues alley

[mysticmaverick1]

stevew12345 - I put Jimmy's manager in touch with talent buyer for Blues Alley, not sure if they can afford him, but I have suggested the Birchmere in Alexandria or Wolf Trap The Barns in Vienna, both in VIrginia.

[stevew12345]

The Birchmere would be awesome,i listened again , i was in tears, i gotta see this guy and meet him

[belitnakoff]

agree completely. I love the line in Wichita Lineman where he sings " And I need you more than want you". Just a haunting, beautiful line".

[kellputt51]

absolutely... spot on...

[DoffDave]

Mr Webb - You are a genius, sir!!! Thank you!

[audrey661]

great artist

[ToeIn2194]

crying..this is so amazing....just what my soul needed..thank you for this post

[larlekool]

Holy Cow! This version of "...Phoenix" is totally, absolutely, totally completely unbelieveably fantastic!

[prosim85]

JoanMRui:

Well, if you are just 14 yrs old you still haven't even earned your wings to post here.

Issac Hayes was a great singer (RIP) but he only did this song justice in his own way.

You have to know the landscape and the lonliness of the destinations that Jimmy wrote about. I have lived in Phoenix, Oklahoma and now I live in Albuquerque

Glen Campbell did and still does the best version of this song.

Oh yeah, I went to Spain one time. The poeple were total assholes everywhere I went.

[prosim85]

No no, It was originally recorded by Glan Campbell.

[JoanMRiu]

Great, but I prefer the original (Isaac Hayes). But play in the piano... beautiful.

[donmerk]

this is the guy that wrote it....

[grahamski]

What do you mean the original?...This was originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965, and the man in this video wrote the song.

[rusrod]

isaac hayes was not the original artist! he said evrybody has his own way of doing a "thang", and now i'm gonna bring it on down to soulsville!!! A CLASSIC IN IT'S OWN RIGHT HOWEVER ALL 18 MINUTES OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!

[ohiogal4u]

Such emotion and feelings --- Jimmy Webb is the greatest of all times. He has written GREAT songs for those stars who have made it big. Tears for this gal listening to this....

[SilverZipperRecords]

check out Dillon Campbell's "Time Will Heal"...he sang backup on Glen's new album ad is being presented with the first ever father-son acheivement award in music history...pretty exciting...

[UbiDuboi]

hey

[BloozeDaddy76]

I always wanted to hear Jimmy Webb sing his songs that Glen Campbell made famous. I read somewhere that he was a weak singer, but I think he does a very respectable job here on this great song. Glen has the better voice for sure, but Webb sings this with feeling and puts his own style to it.

[ktoad4]

I didn't know he wrote a book but I'll look for it on Amazon. I've always been in awe of Jimmy Webb's songwriting. Forgive me for not haviong the time to read through all the posts, but wasn't he just 17 when he wrote McArthur's Park? (SP) Sure it's weird, but stunningly beautiful. I was only 4 yrs. old but I've never gotten it out of my head. God gave Jimmy Webb a gift that I am happy he shares with us.

[jameala]

That is about right. At 17, I was burning ants off of the sidewalk with a magnifying class and he was writing McArthur Park. Doesn't seem right somehow.

[ohiogal4u]

Hello Ktoad4 - on YOUTUBE and found your comments on Jimmy Webb. Were you able to find his book on Amazon? Please respond and thanks so much!

[1Th1617]

SO beautiful!! I love Jimmy Webb's music. Thanks for posting this.

[11stroke]

One of the saddest, most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written. Thank you for sharing this.

[acfg59]

Everyone MUST read his book, "Tunesmith" if you are the least bit interested in writing music and lyrics. It's FABULOUS 2X.

[robswartzer]

actually, it's "(we) were PRESSED in love's, hot fevered iron, like a striped pair of pants" (caught in love's passion).

I also translate the "danc(ing) between the parted pages" to represent the pages of life opening for Jimmy and his love, as they explored their new life together--never knowing what the next "page" (day of life) would bring for them.

Am I wrong about this?

[IngaMarr]

Skylark - I agree...but if you listen to the lyrics for "Nepenthe", "Orange Air", and "Requiem: 820 Latham" - all of them odd but poetic, you might sense a slight difference between them and a line like "between the parted pages/we were dressed in love's hot fevered irons/like a stripèd pair of pants" - great stuff, admitedly, but I smirk everytime I hear it. That said, I can't believe Webb is not seen to be as important as Bacharach or Laura Nyro.

[Skylark2020]

The more one knows about songwriting, the more one will recognize the greatness of Jimmy Webb.

[ergos645]

I love this version, Jimmy sings and plays the piano on it with such feeling, just perfect..thanks so much for posting, love Jimmy he is such a wonderful song writer..

[IngaMarr]

MacArthur Park - according to lore - was NOT a misstep. At the height of his success, Webb apparently wrote it on a dare that he could turn any lyric drek (sp?) into a hit. I think he even managed to influence the hiring of Richard Harris to record it, knowing Dick was not the best of vocalists - and it STILL became a hit. Best version of it ever? The 18 minute Donna Summer disco mix - it's like Bolero and Wagner on speed; it just builds and builds and...oh, you'll have to hear it for yourself.

[Skylark2020]

The story that JW wrote McArthur Park to prove he could make a hit of a "bad" song is demeaning to Jim and the song, and hardly deserves a response. It's not a bad song; to the contrary, it's a very GOOD song --with perhaps a couple of questionable lyric lines about "baking" and "recipes"-- as might be supported by the fact that the song hit #2 and then, ten years later, hit #1 for THREE weeks. That means a LOT of people like the song. It has a strong, enduring, 1-of-a-kind melody. JW is GREAT!

[salinagrrrl69]

MacArther Park: Thee Weirdest song I ever loved.

[jameala]

Well put :-)

[freespeechcure]

A beautiful, beautiful song.

It's great to hear its creator.

[blondstallion]

Jimmy Webb is one of the big five.

Johann Sebastian Bach, James Taylor, Richard Rogers, Serge Gainsbourg and Jimmy Webb.

It touches me deeply to hear him perform his own songs, something he only dared many years after composing them. Try to find his most hauntingly beautiful song "Christiaan no"

[fvrrljr]

My respects to you Jimmy I always thought it was Glenn Campbell who wrote it, but since I grew up with Glenn's version I like that version.

[stroodle222]

The greatest songwriter of all time!!!

His songs are poignant and have a lingering effect as someone has said on here. I love his melodies and the words / poetry he uses.

[emmett1909]

jimmy webb songs have such a lingering effect. the're timeless. i love the sound of his voice. he knows how to emote

[Foggystar]

Why should the two version be compared to each other? They're absolutely different. One is performed by its author (Jimmy Webb) and the other is done by a then popular singer. Both are great!

[funnyvalentine9]

Webb is arguably the best songwriter of his genre and decade. Songs like "Adios" have just never gotten the attention they deserve.

[MJJSpokesman]

NOt as good as Glen Campbells!

[FsharpMajor7th]

"NOt as good as Glen Campbells!" Yeah, I agree, this is BETTER!

[siamdesperado]

Something very nice about just being accompanied by the piano. Brings out the real sadness of the song, especially with Jim's voice and emotion.

[tbcass]

Fantastic. I like it better than GC's version and that's going some!

[readybeentaken]

I just love it.. Jimmy Webb, you are hot!!

[JohnWhapshott]

Another amazing song by a seriously underestimated writer. Apparently this song was written when he was thinking about leaving his girlfriend, so he's saying what would have happened. But in the end he didn't...

[professorrosseforp]

I wouldn't say Jimmy Webb is underestimated. I'd say he is widely recognized as one of the greatest songwriters ever -- and he deserves it.

[JWest596]

I agree but I still to this day have never understood MacArthur Park.

[fvrrljr]

maybe because you've never loved and lost it. music to me has been my writing on the wall I just wasn't listening before then when it hit the fan The song Hit me like a Ton of bricks.

[rvcrvc2]

There's always something special about the way the composer performs his songs. I'd never heard JW do it - thanks for the post, Allan

[yahooserious73]

That is one heartbreaking song.

[thompsonlake]

Never seen him sing!

So cool!

what a writer!!!!!!!!!!

[iluvmusickp]

I needed a dictionary to decipher the prose he wrote... he's that good... I'm impressed.. I am.

I think any wannabe songwriter should add him as a 'must have'.. for their career..

he great!

and I must say he's a pretty good performer as well.

a great composer and pianist.

kudos to this guy!

[iluvmusickp]

I'm currently reading his book.. he's amazing! I must say this guy is a writer first, and a musician second. maybe both. I don't know... read it.. 'tunesmith'.. I have to say, it could be written by a scholar from the Harvard University of lit.. the guy is that good.. I was astonished at the artistic component of his prose.. this man is an artist. I needed a dictionary to

[brigidharkn]

Go Jimmy. You're our man in Northwest Oklahoma. Keep writin' & playin' and we'll keep listenin'. Here's to our buddy Zevon. Pat

[qtprettyp]

I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL

[daniel000047]

There must be something to it. His songs are recognized by everybody. I perform them on the piano. I do not consider him to be that interesting of a performer though.

[TENRECORDS]

Singers are two a penny, but songwiters are a rare breed, singers are just a vehicle for the songwriters. Jimmy Webb was such awonderful songwriter, how many careers did he start, or save, or prolong? brilliant songwriter.

[allkeedup]

Thank God for this great gift to the world.What a writer.

[paulmarshall2007]

I agree with all of the above, he sings his own somngs better than anyone, especially with just piano and voice. reminds me of the first time I heard Carol King singing Natural Woman on the Tapestry album > I didnt think anyoine could do a better version than aretha franklin. But carol kings original effortlessly blows it out of the water .

[tarusaband]

ええなあ　、

[fergusof]

Nothing like seeing the real deal sing his own stuff. Someone mentioned they liked his music except for MacArthur Park. That is my favourite Jimmy Webb song. The obtuse lyrics, the complex orchestration and sung by, of all people, Richard Harris is so '60's. Love it!

[eloisecm]

This man is an underated genius. This man knows the deal. This man knows and understands the human condition. This man knows the delicate constructs of pure song. This man is a rare voice. He wrote this song from the perspective of leaving his lover, even though the circumstances when he wrote it were reversed.

We need more people in the world like Jimmy Webb. We need them more than anything.

[lswatching]

Nothing beats seeing and hearing the songwriter sing his/her own song.  And darn, isn't he cute?!!

[Aprilbrew]

You should have seen him spicing up the hymns in his dads church in Oklahoma. Great as always.

[C4Toalla]

Was lucky to chat with Jimmy a few times I saw him in cabaret settings, a true delight, and such a modest genuis, which is very rare.....God's melody's and chords flow thru Jimmy it seems...

[DrinkingStar]

Every song of his that he sings is as good if not better than those who recorded and made his songs hits.

[benwicke4]

Wow!! I need to search for a clip of Galveston.

[erectus20]

the wonderfull love's letter, thanks

[Original007]

Amazing. I always loved his songs....welll except for that ONE misstep....Macarthur Park. His songs ring true and always remind me of growing up in the 70's. They are signature songs of the era.

[VERB65]

this was beyond awesome

[ThePurpleHarpoon]

He never did get to Phoenix...

he loved her so bad,he drove for twenty minutes and went back.

[jeddyhi]

Beautiful is an understatement! This song makes me wish I was driving down a road in the late 60's...trying to get to Phoenix!!!

[jeddyhi]

I love it! Simply a beautiful composition with beautiful lyrics.

[Zep623]

Gorgeous!

[Branner]

When these songs are stripped down to their bare melody, you realize the sheer beauty of Webb's craftsmanship. Haunting pieces of music.

[Cherokee6194159]

you say well 90406428.

[90406428]

Jimmy Webb is one of the most profound songwriters in the last four decades, and this song just epitomized the time when the song first appeared. Thanks so much for unloading it!