The King of Rock And Roll excells himself in this 1996 track from the various artists album ' The Songs Of West Side Story ' . Done as a kind of Blues / Waltz, it is of course a girls song as a norm and only Richard could get away with this gender reversal version and boy it really works !
The album also has a great version of 'Somewhere ' from Aretha Franklin too.
from The Songs Of Westside Story (RCA 09026 -62707-2), available on CD
I can't believe how great this is! Really part of Hugo's best period, when he was using some of his best players, and best ideas! The track starts out with this plunky Carol Kaye like bass line, alongside funky harpsichord, and the vocal begins in his typical "choral" style. Really faithful to the turtles original, with all the twists and turns of his crazy arrangements. Check out the vocal effect on the chorus, where he runs the tracks through a Leslie speaker! Crazy stuff.
from Good Vibrations (RCA LSP-4104), available on CD
This exquisite recording of this well known song was actually given to David Cassidy by the composer, Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys. David's version is an extremely sensitive take on the song and far less commercial than Barry Manilow's; the latter version being recorded after he heard Cassidy's! David also has the distinction of being the first artist to have a hit with the song. His recording was huge all over Europe before Barry Manilow heard it, recorded it and took it to the top in the USA.
from The Higher They Climb The Harder They Fall (RCA) available on CD - When I'm A Rock'n Roll Star (Rhino Records)
A great kind of euro-surf discoteque tune. Trobbing percussion and a cool snakey guitar. Claus did a lot of these "Brass-ploitation" LP's for RCA in the mid sixtes. Some surf, latin , and a really cool soul one that i've been trying to track down. Very solid stuff from one of the best arrangers ever!
This song grabs you and doesn't let go. Catchy, melodic and flowing... It's very hard not to listen to this song without bobbing your head along with it. The slurred southern drawl of the lead singer, and the sparkly melody really put you in a specific place and time. A very cool track, and one that's perfect for drinking to.