Cass Elliot's departure from ABC Dunhill Records and their bubblegum marketing of her was probably the greatest career move that this awesome vocalist ever made. RCA obviously had better things in mind for her, treating her with the same sort of care that they bestowed on Harry Nilsson. The company let this pair of world-class vocalists choose their own material and brought them together with great musicians and arrangers. The end result was possibly Elliot's finest solo album. She was certainly more comfortable with the material. One of the best performances is Judee Sill's "Jesus Was a Crossmaker," which is vaguely reminiscent of Laura Nyro's fine work of the period. Elliot's version of Randy Newman's "I'll Be Home" is also a standout. Elliot's sister, Leah Kunkel emerges as a sensitive songwriter on this record, and Elliot's reading of "When It Doesn't Work Out" is absolutely graceful. Arranger/conductor Benny Golson's work perfectly frames one of the voices of a generation.
by Matthew Greenwald
Tracks
1. I'll Be Home (Randy Newman) - 3:42
2. Baby I'm Yours (Van McCoy) - 2:34
3. Jesus Was A Cross Maker (Judee Sill) - 3:08
4. That Song (Bill Dean) - 2:14
5. When It Doesn't Work Out (Leah Kunkel) - 4:30
6. I'll Be There (Bobby Darin) - 2:27
7. Disney Girls (Bruce Johnston) - 4:11
8. I Think It's Going To Rain Today (Randy Newman) - 2:46
9. Cherries Jubilee (Marilyn Messina) - 4:41
10.It's All In The Game (Carl Sigman, Charles Dawes) - 3:19
Personnel
*Cass Elliot – Vocals
*Carl Wilson - Vocals
*Sherlie Matthews - Vocals
*Marilyn Messina - Vocals
*Janice Gassman - Vocals
*Venetta Fields - Vocals
*Mike Lang, Don Randi - Piano
*Jack Nimitz - Baritone Saxophone
*Jerome Richardson, Moacir Santos - Tenor Saxophone
*Maurice Spears - Bass Trombone
*Dennis Budimir - Guitar
*Larry Carlton - Guitar
*Ed Carter - Guitar
*Al Casey - Guitar
*Louie Shelton - Guitar
*Clark Burroughs - Vocals
*Benny Colson - Vocals
*Reggie Colson - Percussion
*William "Cat" Anderson - Trumpet
*Gino Bozacco - Trumpet
*Carl Fortina - Keyboards, Musette
*Benny Golson - Backing Vocals, String Section
*Jules "Stix" Greenberg - Backing Vocals
*Ed Greene, John Guerin - Drums
*George Hurrell - Photography
*Bruce Johnston - Keyboards, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Fender Rhodes
*Carol Kaye, Joe Osborn - Bass Guitar
*Clydie King - Vocals, Backing Vocals
*Eddie Kusby - Trombone
*Grover Mitchell - Trombone
*Maurice Spears - Trombone
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