Higher They Climb the Harder [Import, Original recording remastered]

David Cassidy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 24, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Bmg Int'l
• ASIN: B0000V4MDK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,603 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. When I'm a Rock 'N' Roll Star

2. Be-Bop-A-Lula

3. I Write the Songs

4. This Could Be the Night

5. Darlin'

6. Get It Up for Love

7. Fix of Your Love

8. Massacre at Park Bench (Dialogue)

9. Common Thief

10. Love in Bloom

11. When I'm a Rock 'N' Roll Star (Reprise)

Editorial Reviews

Full title - The Higher They Climb The Harder They Fall. First time on CD, Japanese 24-bit remastered reissue of the former teen idol's 1975 album, features 11 tracks including a cover of Gene Vincent's 'Be-Bop-A-Lula' & the Beach Boys' 'Darlin'', as well

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Cassidy, March 18, 2004

By 

J. Collins "Paradise Bar & Grill" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Higher They Climb the Harder (Audio CD)

My copy of this release came with a 20 page booklet (including the cover art), track listings, lyrics for all the songs (in English and Japanese), original production notes and 'thank yoos'. The album art is nicely repro'd as well. Apart from a small Japanese obi strip, the rest of the package is pretty plain. As the track listings here show, there are no bonus tracks, just the original ten tunes and reprise.

"The Higher..." itself isn't the best digital reissue I've ever heard, but considering how lousy the original RCA Records pressings were, this CD's sound is phenomenal. I purchased four or five of those vinyl lps, and every one suffered from distortion, particularly in tracks where Cassidy's vocals were mixed high. If you listen closely to this CD, you can hear the occasional sound drop-out, but they're all minor. The overall sound is excellent, considering the age of the source tapes.

Musically, this is one of Cassidy's strongest lps, and features him in prime voice as well. Though I know "The Higher..." charted well abroad, here in the U.S. it was no great shakes. Maybe it was the teenybop backlash, maybe it was shoddy promotion stateside...whatever the reason, it didn't get a fraction of the play Cassidy's earlier albums received. And, of course, THAT'S a shame, 'cause this album comes together beautifully, on a number of counts.

For a concept lp, this one does a great job of working classic material alongside 'modern' originals. Who'd have thought 'Keith Partridge' could do a convincing "Be Bop A Lula" ? Better yet...that he could perform dreck like "I Write The Songs" and make it listenable ? Cassidy scores on both counts, but he's most impressive on the original tracks. "This Could Be The Night" and "Darlin'" evoke the same 50's nostalgia as "Be Bop...", but with more emphasis on vocal harmony. Interestingly, the 70's light rock production incorporates the retro elements without making them sound hokey.

The original side B starts with the killer "Get It Up For Love," and is immediately followed by another rocker, "Fix Of Your Love." Both are danceable, even in this bass-lite recording. After the spoken interlude ("Massacre...") there's another lite-rock gem in "Common Thief." The sad-sweet "Love In Bloom" is perfectly poised before the closing reprise. Fans are left to wonder how much of the drama they've just listened to comes from Cassidy's own life, and how much is for the sake of his art.

I have one small-sized quibble about this recording. That is, the version of "Darlin'" included is NOT the same version that appeared on the U.S. album release...not entirely any way. The basic backing track is the same (backup vocals, arrangment), but the lead vocal by Cassidy is an alternate take. A minor point to some fans, but this vocal track contains none of the intensity found in the original, and sounds like it came from much later in his career. To make matters worse, the substitute vocal is mixed low, so the original background vocals tend to drown Cassidy out.

Otherwise, this disc is a must-have for this David Cassidy fan. Though I initially balked at the price tag, I think it's worth it. I hope the same company re-releases another Cassidy gem, "Home Is Where The Heart Is."

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The First of Cassidy's Brilliant 70s RCA Trilogy, December 13, 2003

By 

P. N. Clark "Music Fan" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Higher They Climb the Harder (Audio CD)

"The Higher They Climb..." was a concept album (semi autobiographical) that launched a "new", post teen idol and mature Cassidy on the world market in 1975. The album was stunning release, co-produced by David Cassidy and Beach Boy Bruce Johnston. While it didn't sell extremely well in the USA it was hit in the UK, Europe and South Africa.

The album contains some wonderful songs including the hit singles "I Write The Songs" (penned by Bruce Johnston), "Get It Up For Love" and "Darlin'". Other notable tracks include "This Could Be The Night", "Love In Bloom" (penned by Cassidy) and the very funky "Common Thief". In truth, there isn't one bum track on this album.

When first released, the album achieved Gold status in several countries, earned Cassidy Male Vocalist of the Year in Germany and 6th best-selling single of the year in South Africa for "Darlin'". Cassidy's was the original hit version of "I Write The Songs", charting in 11 countries before Barry Manilow's commercialised and far less sensitive version hit in the USA.

This is a fabulous album. The recordings stand the test of time and demonstrate the calibre of artist that David Cassidy could have become at the time if (a) he had agreed to tour to promote his RCA recordings and (b) the self-proclaimed rock pundits had given him the respect and status he deserved. I thoroughly welcome the release of this album on CD and hope that David's subsequent RCA albums also see the light of day!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this album is definitly a new begining, March 29, 2004

By 

[e-mail] (lantzville, bc Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Higher They Climb the Harder (Audio CD)

First off i wanna say to the person who wrote that long review. you are pretty sharp you noticed that the version of darlin on this cd is not the same as the one on the lp. The lp version is much better something about david's vocals. This cd version lacks a little. The 4 albums he released on bell were good no doubt but the 3 rca albums are better there is a growth in the song writing and in davids voice it doesent sound as young as previous albums. I hope and i know that all you other fans out there do as well that dreams are nuthin, more than wishes cassidy live and home is where the heart is is released on cd. And im sure they will in the future. They released cherish, rock me baby and the higher they climb. And if you wanna hear even better music from david pick up his very rare (if you can find it) 1990 self titled cd with labor of love song writing wise its the best album he has done.