The Best of Paul Williams

by Paul Williams

Overview

At the time of this collection's original release in 1974, Paul Williams had firmly established himself as a premier songwriter in the industry, releasing six albums of his own and scoring major hits with the Carpenters and Three Dog Night. Considering that the Oklahoma native had originally come to Hollywood as an actor in the 1960s, his subsequent move to music was quite a fruitful one. This lean anthology is culled from Williams' early-'70s albums and contains his own versions of "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays," the former of which became a signature song for Karen and Richard Carpenter in 1970 and remains a popular wedding favorite. Classic pop cuts like "Inspiration" and "Loneliness" show an inventive and crafty songwriter working in a similar milieu as contemporaries Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman. Many more hits and other anthologies would follow, but this collection, though brief, captures Williams in his creative prime. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	05/27/2014
Label:	CREATURE MUSIC
UPC:	5060051331886

Tracks

1. Waking Up Alone
2. You and Me Against the World
3. Nice to Be Around
4. We've Only Just Begun
5. Inspiration
6. An Old Fashioned Love Song
7. Loneliness
8. That's Enough for Me
9. Rainy Days and Mondays
10. I Won't Last a Day Without You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Paul Williams   Primary Artist
Jerry Whitman   Vocals (Background)
Dave Garland   Organ
Daffy Jackson   Kazoo
Teddy Boy Friesen   Kazoo
Sherlie Matthews   Vocals (Background)
Tom Bahler   Vocals (Background)
Gary Mallaber   Drums,Percussion
Danny Kortchmar   Guitar (Acoustic)
Art Munson   Guitar
Colin Cameron   Bass
Craig Doerge   Piano,Tack Piano
Stan Farber   Vocals (Background)
Bob Brookmeyer   Trombone
Kenny Ascher   Piano,Keyboards,Horn Conductor,String Conductor
The Hobbit   Kazoo
Kerry Chater   Vocals (Background)
Jessie Smith   Vocals (Background)
Al Aarons   Trumpet
Clydie King   Vocals (Background)
Russ Kunkel   Drums,Congas,Shaker
Gene Cipriano   Oboe,Sax (Tenor)
David Spinozza   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (Classical)
Leland Sklar   Bass
Marti McCall   Vocals (Background)
Bobbye Hall   Percussion
Michael Utley   Organ
Jon Joyce   Vocals (Background)
Dick Hyde   Tuba
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals (Background)
Ron Hicklin   Vocals (Background)
Tom Scott   Flute,Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
David Parlato   Bass
Gene Morford   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Joe Garnett   Cover Painting
Roger Nichols   Composer,Lyricist,Art Direction
Chuck Beeson   Design
Leopold Mittmann   Cover Painting
Michael J. Jackson   Producer,Coordination
Luke Weall   Repackaging
Paul Williams   Composer,Lyricist
Kenny Ascher   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
David Spinozza   String Arrangements
John Williams   Composer,Lyricist
Tom Scott   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Harry Mittman   Cover Photo
Frank DeLuna   Mastering