MacArthur Park, a song composed by Jimmy Webb

[WildRosie]

For those of us who are at least familiar with this dramatic story-song, and those who even like it (I do), which other singers could also have delivered a respectable performance of it ?

The 1968 hit by Richard Harris is perhaps the best known, followed by Donna Summer's disco stab in 1978. I believe Andy Williams also recorded the song.

P.J. Proby perhaps would have gone way over the top.

Sammy Davis Junior - a likely contender.

Glenn Close - would be worth hearing.

Tom Jones - see P.J. Proby.

Shirley Bassey, assuming she hasn't already recorded it at her peak.

Can't think of any others just now.

Joni Mitchell? She would have made it so painful and heart rending.

The Shellseekers is my favourite book. YY to the German obsession with it - I first read it in German on a school exchange as my partner's mum had it. Not sure why it's got such a strong Teutonic following though.

I've never really heard the proper version. My only exposure was via my DFs love of The Barron Knights and their version, Arthur Clarke.

Curtis Stigers would do civilised but you know there's real pain anguished, not too dramatic.

How about a Don Estelle and Windsor Davies Whispering Grass style rendition?

Tom Odell would be good. Or, as much as it pains me to say it, as I don't like her, but it's right up Adele's street.

Great Es off to look for the Shell seekers thread. I liked the Donna Summer version.

The song is about a failed, or at least failing, relationship. I suppose the 'sweet green icing flowing down' is appropriately symbolic of this decay.

No matter how symbolic, those lyrics are utter crap and the melody is worse than a dirge. The only song I hate as much is the Desr'ree winner about the ghost and the toast and watching TV. I can't believe that Webb could pen something as wonderful as Wichita Lineman and as awful as MacArthur Park - not his best career moment!

Freddie Mercury
Wierd Al

Not Madonna, not after her crimes against American Pie