Webb Sessions: 1968-69

Richard Harris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 24, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Raven [Australia]
• ASIN: B000003IX5
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,447 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Prelude/Didn't We?/Interlude

2. Paper Chase/Interlude

3. Name of My Sorrow/Interlude

4. Lovers Such as I

5. In the Final Hours

6. MacArthur Park

7. Dancing Girl/Interlude

8. If You Must Leave My Life

9. A Tramp Shining

10. The Yard Went on Forever

11. Watermark

12. Interim

13. Gayla

14. The Hymns from the Grand Terrace

15. The Hive

16. Lucky Me

17. That's the Way It Was

18. One of the Nicer Things

Editorial Reviews

Since the late 1960s Jimmy Webb has been one of the truly enigmatic American songwriters, impressing with such diverse works as 'Wichita Lineman', 'Do What You Gotta Do', 'I Keep It Hid' & 'The Moon's A Harsh Mistress'. But perhaps his most towering achievement & one of the most astonishing collaborations in contemporary music, occurred in 1968 when Webb used imposing Irish actor Richard Harris (of CAMELOT fame) to dramatically interpret a truly bizarre & amorphous 7 minute orchestrated epic called 'Macarthur Park'. Although it was greeted with some bewilderment it became a global hit, reaching #2 in America. This seemingly odd association continued for two Dunhill albums, 'A Tramp Shining' (1968) & 'The Yard Went On Forever' ('69) & one single A-side ('One Of The Nicer Things'), all of which have been included on this single disc. Both albums are presented in their original sequence & include the

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written and performed, an absolute treasure., April 19, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Michigan,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Webb Sessions: 1968-69 (Audio CD)

I don't know what to even compare these songs to, they are that unlike anything else. This release contains both Albums; "A Tramp Shining" and "The Yard Went On Forever". For me the songs from "The Yard Went On Forever" are the best. These aren't just pop ballads, they are touching and poetic works of art.

The mixing of the incredible lyrics of Jimmy Webb and the distinctive and emotion filled voice of Richard Harris and the lush and almost "Camelot" feel to the orchestration make for one of the most pleasurable listening experiences I've ever had. The "Yard Went On Forever" portion of this CD has long been unavailable, and it's great to have another lost treasure from the late 1960s return. "MacArthur Park" is but the tip of the iceberg in this set of songs. If you liked the experience of that song than you will love this CD set. It will become one of your favorites.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Historic Webb /Harris Sessions Get A 2nd Hearing, April 29, 2005

By 

Gavin B. (St. Louis MO) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Webb Sessions: 1968-69 (Audio CD)

It's shameful that both "A Tramp Shining" (1968) & "The Yard Went On Forever"(1969) have both been out of issue for so many years in America. "The Web Sessions 1968-69" contain the entire content of collaborations between arranger/composer Jimmy Webb and Irish born singer Richard Harris in the late sixties. Often critically maligned, the sessions deserve a second hearing. Both albums are complex and enigmatic musical statements that have never been fully appreciated, on their own terms, as musical acheivements.

A venerable reissue label in New Zealand, Raven Records, has remedied the situation by reissuing both albums on a single CD, at a very reasonable price. The title is the "Webb Sessions 1968-69" by Richard Harris. Both "A Tramp Shining and "The Yard Went On Forever" are presented in their exact sequence as the original vinyl issues.

"A Tramp Shining" (1968) became a surprise international best seller (#2 in the USA) on the strength of songs like; "MacArthur Park", "Lovers Such As I", "Didn't We", and the title track, "A Tramp Shining". With the exception of "MacArthur Park", all of the songs fall within the reach of conventional songwriting.

The unconventional structure and impressionistic lyrics of "MacArthur Park" were a precursor to the content of the second collaboration, "The Yard Went On Forever" which was recorded the following year.

I've always thought the second Webb/Harris collaboration "The Yard Went On Forever" was better of the two. It can be argued that Webb over-reached with his bold, experimental approach,and doomed the album to commercial failure. It certainly wasn't the kind of album that Webb's fans expected from him.

Many of the song structures are amorphous with abrupt changes in both tempo and melody. The lyrics are inscrutable and surreal. It seems Webb wrote the lyrics entirely for texture and effect, not meaningful content. I found myself liking "The Yard Went On Forever" for the exact same reasons that many people disliked it. It's allure is it's unconventional form and ambiguity of it's content. The songs defied the elegant lyricism of "By the Time I Get To Phoenix" or Witcha Lineman" which fans regarded as signature Webb compositions.

The songs of "The Yard Went On Forever" sound like the result of an encounter between the Billboard Top 40 and the psychedelic underground. The end result is an endearingly eccentric album that's a near perfect pastiche of the divergent paths of popular music in the late Sixties. The result did not please critics, or anyone else for that matter. The album was greeted with overwhelming apathy by all.

In hindsight, "The Yard Went On Forever" is one of those rare albums where the visionary ideas of the artist are at odds with his own talent to unerringly appeal to commercial sensibilities. It is a far nobler deed to champion a flawed masterpiece, rather that praise an mediocre album that is the fashionable statement of the moment. A single magnificent failure holds far more interest, than a dozen textbook successes. In that context, "The Yard Went On Forever" is one of the most interesting and unorthodox albums of its era.

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE STORY BEHIND THE WEBB SESSIONS!, May 30, 2002

By 

"yaaah69" (albuquerque, nm United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Webb Sessions: 1968-69 (Audio CD)

The scene is Lake Tahoe and the year is 1968 and Richard Harris has put out an LP, the title is "AND THE YARD WENT ON FOREVER". The front cover had Harris sitting on a couch in a large yard, and a picture of Harris on the back with a red bandana and cowboy hat on... and the songs were Jimmy Webb's and all of us working in the casino's at the Lake, knew the story of how those mind bending haunting song's were written and why.

Jimmy was head-over-heels in love with a chorus-line girl in Las Vegas. He dated her, wooed her, but she didnt respond to his heart-felt love. Jimmy was in agony and if you caught a glimpse of him in those days you could see it on his face. He had a broken heart when he found out that the love of his life was just plain not interested. You can hear and feel his agony in the album. The reference to the mother of his love,'she rode the couch as a coach an nine', refering to the watchful eyes of the mother when he went to visit. This is not an urban legend and I cannot remember just how far they went, but McCarther's Park would suggest they might have had wedding plans. I can still feel the deep meaningfulness of every song and I'm so happy to be reunited with the Webb Sessions. Jim faded out for a few years then came back to do some specials and score's for TV and Movies. I would rate this a 10 if they went that far...
ciao yaaah69