Yesterday Once More

22 Jun 2016

Parks And Gardens

Hi Listeners,

This week we are presenting songs about parks and gardens. The most controversial song was about an actual park in Los Angeles. MacArthur Park written by Jim Webb and recorded by Richard Harris in 1968 divided the listening public. To some it was the ‘worst song ever recorded’ and to others it was a masterpiece. The issue raged around the unusual lyrics – ‘Someone’s left the cake out in the rain/I don’t think that I can take it because it took so long to bake it/And I’ll never have the recipe again’. Jim Webb said the song was about what he observed happening in MacArthur Park at lunch times. To him ‘the cake’ was an ordinary object he observed at birthday parties in the park. But, I think, he underestimates his own lyrical power. It’e the very way he describes the elements that sets it apart from mere observation. My view is that the lyrics are wonderful and profound and the orchestration and Richard Harris’s voice together produce a sad, haunting, beautiful lamentation about a lost love affair.

Other songs included in the program are Lyn Anderson’s “I Never Promised You A Rose Garden’, ‘Saturday In The Park’ from Chicago and the family group, The Cowsills ‘The Rain The Park And Other Things’. Tow other songs based on actual places are Freddy Cannon’s tribute to a New Jersey Amusement Park -‘Palisades Park’ and The Zombies’ ‘Beechwood Park’. Th ultimate garden (according to some) is the ‘Garden Of Eden’ – a one hit wonder from American singer, Joe Valino. Ringo Starr was given a rare chance to front the Beatles with the recording of the novelty song ‘Octopus’s Garden’.

Playlist