Cass Elliot (album)

Cass Elliot is the fourth studio album released by Cass Elliot and the first album recorded for RCA Records. The album was recorded in late 1971 at RCA’s Music Center of the World in Hollywood at 6363 Sunset and originally released in February 1972. It was produced by Lewis Merenstein and conductor Benny Golson conducted and arranged the album.

Cass Elliot
Studio album by
Cass Elliot
ReleasedJanuary 24, 1972 [1]
Recorded1971
StudioRCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California
GenrePop rock
LabelRCA Records
ProducerLewis Merenstein, Benny Golson
Cass Elliot chronology
Dave Mason & Cass Elliot
(1971)		 Cass Elliot
(1972)		 The Road Is No Place for a Lady
(1972)
Singles from Cass Elliot
  1. "Baby I'm Yours"
    Released: February 1972
  2. "That Song"
    Released: April 1972

With RCA granting her artistic freedom, Elliot pursued a more pared down, sophisticated sound for her first album with the label. Most of the songs were performed live in the studio. Elliot chose mostly standards. Elliot saw this album as her opportunity to finally distinguish herself as Cass Elliot and not "Mama Cass."

Songs

"Baby, I’m Yours" was originally released by Barbara Lewis in 1965 and written by Van McCoy. This was the first single released from the album in February 1972 with "Cherries Jubilee" as the B-side.

"Jesus Was a Crossmaker" was originally written, performed and released by Judee Sill just four months prior to the release of this album.

"That Song" was the second single released in April 1972 with "When It Doesn’t Work Out" on the B-side. The song was a particular favorite of Cass’ who at the time who was going through a divorce from her second husband.

"When It Doesn’t Work Out" was written by Elliot's younger sister, Leah Kunkel, one-time wife of drummer Russ Kunkel, with whom she raised Elliot's daughter Owen after Elliot's death in 1974.

"I'll Be There" was originally written and recorded by Bobby Darin in 1959.

"Disney Girls" was written by Beach Boy Bruce Johnston and recorded by The Beach Boys on their 1971 album Surf's Up. Johnston, who was a friend of Cass’, along with fellow Beach Boy Carl Wilson both played and sang backing vocals on it.

"I Think It's Going to Rain Today" was written by Randy Newman and released on his 1968 eponymous debut album and recorded by Dusty Springfield that same year. It had previously been covered by a number of artists, including Barbra Streisand, Judy Collins, Dusty Springfield, and Helen Reddy; it would later be covered by Bette Midler.

"All in the Game" was originally written in 1951 by Carl Sigman, based on a 1911 tune by Charles Dawes (US vice-president 1925-29) who had died earlier that year. The song became a hit for Tommy Edwards in 1958 and has since been performed by artists such as Barry Manilow, Van Morrison, Maureen McGovern, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, Art Garfunkel, Robert Goulet, Nat King Cole, and Phoebe Snow.

Artwork

The album cover was shot by Hollywood photographer George Hurrell emulating the same style and glamour he used on movie stars such as Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford and Carole Lombard in the 1930s.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]

Although praised by critics at the time, the album was not a hit. Although many artists would embrace and have success with standards such as Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli and Rod Stewart in years to come, the album was considered out of sync with the current musical trends.

Reissue

The album was reissued by RCA on CD in 1988 and once again by RCA Japan in November 2000. Collector's Choice Music released the album, on August 25, 2009, on a CD featuring Elliot's follow-up album, The Road Is No Place for a Lady, with three bonus tracks. Sony Japan released the album on November 10, 2009 in a paper sleeve replica of the gatefold vinyl album with two bonus tracks. RCA released the remastered album to digital retailers in 2011 featuring three bonus tracks, with the album's last proper track retitled as "It's All in the Game."

Track listing
Cass Elliot[3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I'll Be Home"Randy Newman3:37
2."Baby I'm Yours"Van McCoy2:32
3."Jesus Was a Cross Maker"Judee Sill3:04
4."That Song"Bill Dean2:12
5."When It Doesn't Work Out"Leah Kunkel4:25
6."I'll Be There"Bobby Darin2:24
7."Disney Girls"Bruce Johnston4:07
8."I Think It's Going to Rain Today"Randy Newman2:43
9."Cherries Jubilee"Marilyn Messina4:35
10."All in the Game"Carl Sigman, Charles Dawes3:12
Digital Bonus Tracks[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)"Brooks Bowman2:33
12."We'll See"John Sebastian1:56
13."Try It, Baby"Berry Gordy Jr.3:24

Personnel
  • Cass Elliot – Vocals
  • William "Cat" Anderson – Trumpet
  • Gino Bozacco – Trumpet
  • Dennis Budimir – Guitar
  • Gary Burden – Art Direction, Design
  • Clark Burroughs – Vocals
  • Larry Carlton – Guitar
  • Ed Carter – Guitar
  • Al Casey – Guitar
  • Benny Colson – Vocals
  • Reggie Colson – Percussion
  • Mickey Crofford – Engineer
  • Venetta Fields – Vocals, Background Vocals
  • Carl Fortina – Keyboards, Musette
  • Janice Gassman – Vocals, Background Vocals
  • Benny Golson – Arranger, Conductor, Background Vocals, String Section
  • Jules "Stix" Greenberg – Background Vocals
  • Ed Greene – Drums
  • John Guerin – Drums
  • George Hurrell – Photography
  • Bruce Johnston – Keyboards, Vocals, Background Vocals, Fender Rhodes
  • Carol Kaye – Bass
  • Clydie King – Vocals, Background Vocals
  • Eddie Kusby – Trombone
  • Mike Lang – Piano
  • Sherlie Matthews – Vocals, Background Vocals
  • Maurice Spears – Trombone
  • Lewis Merenstein – Producer
  • Marilyn Messina – Vocals, Background Vocals
  • Grover Mitchell – Trombone
  • Jack Nimitz – Baritone Saxophone
  • Joe Osborn – Bass
  • Don Randi – Piano
  • Jerome Richardson – Tenor Saxophone
  • Moacir Santos – Tenor Saxophone
  • Louie Shelton – Guitar
  • Maurice Spears – Bass Trombone
  • Trent Strickland – Mastering
  • Carl Wilson – Vocals
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References
  1. Badman, Keith. The Beach Boys. The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band: On Stage and in the Studio Backbeat Books, San Francisco, California, 2004. ISBN 0-87930-818-4 p. 304
  2. Allmusic review
  3. http://www.discogs.com/Cass-Elliot-Cass-Elliot/release/1656233. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. " "Cass Elliot (Remastered) [Bonus Track Version] – Cass Elliot".
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