MacArthur Park

The late 90's Los Angeles band The Negro Problem did a progressive pop version on their 1997 album Post Minstrel Syndrome. Irreverent, pre-ice raids and worth a listen...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvnW6bcHJI4

https://genius.com/The-negro-problem-macarthur-park-lyrics

Richard Harris is the only version, imho. 

Webb wrote one helluva song. I thought it was schmaltz back in the day. 

Can you imagine being a hi-fi dealer sitting a potential buyer down in front of a 200K system and the buyer asks to hear MacArthur Park by Richard Harris?

It's hard to beat the Richard Harris version but Beggars Opera did a great version on their Pathfinder album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vagDX_7yYYo

Yeah I'm old song so Richard Harris but I do love Donna Summers Version.....lol

Trumpeter Maynard Ferguson’s version is well known in jazz circles. I had a vinyl record of it in 1975, nearly recorded around the same time as DS’ version. 

...another for Maynard Ferguson.

However, even though I was a horn player back in the day, his version may have one of the best saxophone solos of all time.  I can still hear it from memory in its entirety.  

+ another for Maynard. 

As a horn player I have to say Maynard Ferguson's cover.

My second favorite was my High School Symphonic Band's version with a full trap set.  We were a touring band and we visited schools all across North and South Carolina in the late 70's.  MacArthur Park along with ELP's Fanfare For The Common Man were two of those face melting tunes guaranteed to bring the house down.      

@lspowers ....( Pardon the lack of Welcome mat, someone keeps using it to clean old LPs'... )  Yeah, I've got the same bent when listening about....

Keeps the woofers dusted.... ;)

the highwayman is my fave of webb's songs but my fave version of macarthur park is by Richard Harris. 

Another vote for the Maynard Ferguson version.  While you're at it, check out his cover of the Theme from Shaft!

Anther vote for Maynard Ferguson's cover!

While you're at it, check out his version of the Theme from Shaft.

And more recently, Rosabel's 2013 Club Mixes of Donna Summer's version!

But the RH version is it for me. My dad had the LP.

I like the DS and RH versions too. 

Gottta check out the Maynard version. 

The Four Tops do a nice version too. 

Waylon Jennings!   

oh yeah the RH version for me. One of my first purchases after I discovered Discogs. My wife hates this song but I love the tune and the arrangement, the chord changes and time changes. Webb was a great writer and arranger. Love the tunes Glen Campbell did. Like Bacharach and David with Dionne Warwicke.

First time posting just joined last week. Have really enjoyed this forum. Can't really say I'm an audio file at this point, but I'm trying. 

As I'm 72 I am very much interested in progressive rock and neo progressive rock. I worked at a radio station when I was 18 in that's when I first ran into bands like yes, genesis, Emerson lake and Palmer etc 

Point is the best version of MacArthur Park in my opinion is by Neil Morse band.

You would hate it if you don't like progressive rock but in terms of Dynamics and beauty I think is fantastic listen to it quite frequently.

Richard Harris for me, definitely.

I'll add Neil Young and Mink (Willy) DeVille to the list.

DeKay

https://youtu.be/nZBH-ArhhyY?si=ZZlg57XbPoLXriRH

@dekay Good version. Like it a lot! Another song I really have been into lately is Ohio by CSNY. Throw in some Peter Paul and Mary, Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, and you have the songs of my early childhood -- all on vinyl, natch.

Just found this on Youtube (as performed by the author and new to me).

Been thinking a lot about MacArthur Park since yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73v1RqRPKGk&t=17s

DeKay

The only version I knew was Richard Harris' - the Donna Summer one passed me right by... Great song!

I don't know if I can take it....

Maynard Ferguson did a heck of a cover of this tune.  I listened to it often back in the day...a looong time ago. 

Mike

@hilde45 Nice thread starter-I'm 68, so the Richard Harris version is the one I'm most familiar with. 

"MacArthur Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left my cake out in the rain (whoo!)
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took too long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again, again"

Jimmy Webb has had a fantastic career. These are his Billboard Top 10 hits.

I remember listening to Glen Campbell's versions of his songs, on an AM radio, late at night.

01. MacArthur Park – Donna Summer, 1978
02. Wichita Lineman – Glen Campbell, 1969
03. MacArthur Park – Richard Harris, 1968
04. Worst That Could Happen – Brooklyn Bridge, 1969
05. Galveston – Glen Campbell, 1969
06. Up, Up And Away – The Fifth Dimension, 1967
07. All I Know – Art Garfunkel, 1973
08. Honey Come Back – Glen Campbell, 1970
09. By The Time I Get To Phoenix – Glen Campbell, 1967
10. Where's The Playground Susie – Glen Campbell, 1969