The park has a small lake and walking paths, fronting on L.A.’s Wilshire Boulevard, and in the mid-1960s also had paddle boats and ducks. The park’s origins date to the late nineteenth century and earlier names, but by the 1940s became MacArthur Park, named for the famous military man, General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur Park is located in the Westlake area of Los Angeles, near downtown. Her offices were located just across the street from MacArthur Park – an actual place in Los Angeles – shown above from a late-1950s-era post card. Horton, then called “Susie.” She worked for Aetna Life Insurance company in Los Angeles. At the time, young Jimmy Webb was smitten in young love with Ms. But added to this song’s musical and lyrical features, and perhaps more importantly, are its cast of interesting characters and storyline – including its inspiration, rejection, successful release, surprising range of covers, and its musical accolades. Still, “MacArthur Park” rose above those supposed handicaps and became a hit in its day and would also become a hit for several other artists in later years.
And fourth, it was not sung by a mainstream pop music star. Third, its lyrics were baffling, confounding and/or distracting for some, and would later draw long-lived critique and parody. Secondly, it was a pretty complex song musically. First, it ran more than 7 minutes at a time when 2-to-3 minutes was more the norm for pop radio play. More on that later.īut initially, in the music business of its day, “MacArthur Park” was a hard sell and went nowhere. It would also spawn more than 100 cover versions.
And indeed, in 1968 the song did grow on a great many listeners, defying the odds on several levels, as it sold more than a million copies and would win a Grammy.
But given a chance, say its fans, the song will grow on you.
The song’s lyrics, arrangement, and structure are somewhat unusual and may seem a bit confounding. “MacArthur Park” is actually a love song – or rather, a lament over love lost – though it might not convey that message to all listeners at first impression. 2 in the U.S., also topping charts in Europe, Australia, and Canada. It became a top hit on the Billboard music charts in June 1968, reaching No. “MacArthur Park” is a song written and composed by songwriter Jimmy Webb in 1967 and first recorded by Irish actor and singer, Richard Harris. Richard Harris, an unlikely music pop star, but the Irish actor helped make “MacArthur Park” a 1968 hit.
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