Alan’s TTIM Stories #55

“The worst song in modern history” remarked humorist Dave Barry; a number one hit for Donna Summer; a romantic lament from Jimmy Webb; a den of drugs, prostitution, and other crimes; named for a historic and controversial military icon; a neighborhood oasis in a congested urban city – all descriptions of MacArthur Park, a plot of land and a cultural phenonium.

Those living outside the Los Angeles metro area may not be familiar with the original inspiration for the song. It all started with a place. Originally named Westlake Park next to the Westlake neighborhood beginning in the 1880’s. A natural oasis in a congested city includes a lake fed by natural springs with trees and grass fields. Two pieces of the park are divided by famous Wilshire Boulevard. In the middle of World War II, a country in need for heroes, renamed the park for General Douglas MacArthur on May 7, 1942.

As the neighborhood fell on hard times, so followed the park. MacArthur Park became less known for the beauty of the space and more known for crime, drug use, gang activity, and homeless encampments. A children’s playground was closed because of fire damage.

City officials recognized the problems with several attempts to change the image from crime to family-friendly with a 2022 million-dollar renovation. The Levitt bandstand hosts summer concerts. Arts programs encourage the proper use of the park.

There is optimism for the future. The gentrification of the surrounding community attracts artists and new investments in restaurants and pubs.

A lovelorn singer/songwriter sat in the park – making observations of everything in sight. The park was a shared experience with someone. With that person no longer there, Jimmy Webb remembered scenes after a loving relationship came to an end.  

Richard Harris, Irish actor, fresh off his starring role in the cinematic version of Camelot, was eager to record music. Harris invited Jimmy Webb to London, known for hits like By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Galveston, Wichita Lineman, and All I Know. After reviewing numerous songs, Harris landed on MacArthur Park, an unexpected song for an unexpected pop singer.

They recorded the song with a mixture of styles, keys, and tempos over 7:41 minutes – an unusual length for a pop song. Listen closely to the story within the unusual lyrics as trailblazing poetry, famous for ultra strange imageries. Webb later said all the visuals described in the lyrics were actual observations.

Recorded in 1967, released in 1968, the song climbed to #2 on the Billboard 100. Webb won a 1969 Grammy for the arrangement.  

Since 1968, over 187 artists have covered the song.  The most impressive, in the middle of the disco era, Donna Summer released her version of MacArthur Park at the right time. It captured the #1 place on the Billboard 100 in 1978.

The timeless popularity of the song was accentuated by the latest resurrection by classical pianist, Micah McLaurin, with a full orchestra and sung by Amber Riley of Glee and Dancing with the Stars fame – available on YouTube beginning on June 11, 2024 – 56 years after the original.

 Love it or hate it, MacArthur Park has endured
better than the cake in the rain.

Sources:
Cultural Sonar
Wikipedia
YouTube
Los Angeles Times

Photos: Wikimedia Commons –
Creative CommonsAttribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Single recording image –
Fair Use copyright law of the United States

Author’s Note: I like the song.

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Follow announcements of Alan’s TTIM Stories at Facebook.com/alan.vandervoort or Instagram & Treads vandervoort_author, with all available posts at www.alanvandervoort.com. Novels by the author include: Sandhills – A Novel and Key Largo Summer, found at Booklocker.com and other online booksellers.