Search - David Cassidy :: Dreams Are Nuthin More Than Wishes (24bt)

David Cassidy's Departure is One of His Best!

Music Fan-atic | Hogwarts | 03/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally, 22 years after it's initial release on LP on the now defunct Bell label, this collection makes it's debut on Japan's BMG label and it's well worth the wait and it's relatively high price sticker. This is Cassidy's third solo effort on the Bell label, home to all of the Partridge Family's recordings. This was the last LP released as a single recording for Cassidy, aside from the sadly yet unreleased "Cassidy Live" LP and his Greatest Hits. It is one of his first truly creative departures and contains some of his most soulful smokey vocals at their best. A truly mature, beautifully produced LP with a twist. The recording begins with an opening overture from the ending title "Hold On Me" which is minimalistic in music and showcases David's fine vocals and then segues into the piano pumping John Sebastian remake of the classic "Daydream" which David embraces and makes his own in an original honky tonk style.The single tune is followed by David's friend, song writer Tony Romeo's (writer of Partridge's smash "I Think I Love You")original "Sing Me" a great single release-worthy tune which was penned especially for David and was biographical in nature and lovingly rendered here. Next comes an homage to his father Jack Cassidy, the song "Bali H'ai" from the musical "South Pacific" which his father did on stage. A beautiful heartfelt redition followed by the tempo bulding sexually charged "Mae". Fittingly, next comes Cassidy's smokey version of the oft-copied "Fever" which David also makes his own. Another remake of a Partridge hit follows with Tony Romeo's "Summer days" which Cassidy already had a hit with the Partridge Family. The arrangements are different and th tempo changed but is more befitting this cleverly crafted set. Another gem here is David's version of Harry Nilsson's "The Puppy Song" one of my personal favorite's is a cutesy fun loving tune with a beautiful player piano sound in the background which adds to the daydreamer fantasy quality of the whole LP itself. The ninth selection is a remake of Terry Dempsey's "Daydreamer" a vocal masterpiece which tioghtens up the overall dreamlike quality of the selection. "Some Ol' Woman" is another fun loving sexually charged innuendo of a tome. Two of the biggest musical achievements by Cassidy are saved for the ending of the LP. Cassidy co-penned these tunes with songwriting married duo Kim Carnes and Dave Ellington. "Can't Go Home Again" and "Preying On My Mind" are two of my all time favorites by Cassidy and goes to show the true underlying talent of this artist that was long overlooked by the critics. Both are heart wretching tales of loss of love and innocence that Cassidy then felt. Two of the best from the heart of this truly talented artist. The CD wraps up with "Hold On Me" a great tune with solid meaningful lyrics. The LP has had a love/hate relationship with Cassidy fans everywhere. I t is a true departure from anything he had done to that point but in itself is a true musical achievement and in its time did not receive its proper attention it well deserves. Hopefully here,in this form as a re-release, it will receive the true acknowledgement it more than richly deserves whereas it is a undisputable milestone in this truly talented performer's career. A great CD which could make a believer out of the Cassidy detractors everywhere. A bluesy jazz oriented album for the discriminating tastes out there. Buy this CD! It's well worth the price of admission. A musical journey! Don't just listen, check out the lyrics, they are well worth your time. Rarely does an artist bare their soul so freely as this. This is David Cassidy!"

David Cassidy's Best

a Taiwanese Fan | Taiwan | 02/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""One of my best ones", wrote David Cassidy in his liner notes of the song "Can't Go Home Again" in the album. The statement could be applied to the whole "Dreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes..." album. For me, it is simply the best.



Cassidy gave his most brilliant performance here. More than 32 years after its original release, nearly 4 years after the announcement of re-release from Buddah; BMG's Japanese branch, BMG Funhouse, finally brought out the best Cassidy recording that Japanese man Jugo Nagisa in his liner notes would have to say, "Thank You David Cassidy (and BMG Funhouse) for (giving us) Summer Dream". He is probably speaking for all Cassidy fans.



This was the first real David Cassidy recording in the sense that it moved away from the Partridge Family sound. As a matter of fact, it could arguably be regarded as the first "Da-idy" record, pre-dated his 3 RCA releases. Gone was Wes Farrell, the Partridge Family producer. Instead, David Cassidy brought in his musician friends Kim Carnes, Dave Ellingson, Michael O'martian, Mike McDonald, etc. It would become a common practice in the next few albums. (With America's Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson, Turtles' Flo + Eddie, Richie Furay and Mick Ronson on the RCA albums and George Michael, Basia and Alan Tarney on "Romance").



David Cassidy's material selection and vocal performance was near perfect. "Preyin' on My Mind", "Hold on Me", "the Puppy Song", and "Daydreamer" were strong, while the cover of "Daydream", "Bali Ha'i" and "Fever" were charming. My personal favorites would be "Mae", "Can't Go Home Again" and the wonderful "Sing Me". "Dreams..." is the definite David Cassidy album to own. "This one is singing me", as David Cassidy would write.



The only complaint, if any, is that the Japanese offering does not contain "If I Didn't Care/Frozon Noses", the '74 singles, as bonus tracks (which Japanese prints usually do). Were that the case I'd give it a five and half stars.



All in all, this beautifully remastered cd vividly re-captured David Cassidy's capacity as a recording artist. While for all music fans it demonstrates Cassidy's caliber, for Cassidy fans it reveals that you probably can go home again. Now the cd re-releasing of two other RCA albums "Home is where the heart is / Gettin' It from the Street" (both 1976) would be the next thing which all Cassidy fans would really love to have a chance to go back again.



"

Worth the Very Long Wait!

F. Barton | Newport, WA USA | 03/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album, one of David's favorites, is finally making it's debut on CD. And I'm so glad it's from Japan, as they always do a remarkable job of remastering, and this release is no exception.



I agree with the previous reviewer that "Frozen Noses" should have been included also, as for 37 minutes of music -- this is quite a hefty price tag. I see it's released by BMG/Arista, and let's hope that the next release will contain the last two Bell albums from David, Bulletin Board, and Cassidy Live together, as a twofer, as these prove to be great sellers in any genre of music.



This particular album is quite a departure for David. And many of my friends who do not like him at all, love this album. Possibly for the sole reason that there are no electric guitars, and it's an incredibly smooth listen. The single "Daydreamer" went to No. 1 in England, while it was never released in the U.S. At the time of this album's release, Bell had just about given up on marketing David Cassidy in the States, though this and Live were released as lps in this country, singles never were.



I think the remastering on this CD is terrific, especially since I've been listening to a very good lp transfer for the past five years. The stereo separation, and David' vocals have never sounded better. Also many jazz lovers love this album, just because it is not rock oriented, but rather a personal journey, with beautiful piano and backing vocals -- not to mention the tremendous songs it contains.



Here's to this album!! And let's hope that the same people who put this out will also put out his last two RCA albums on one CD, as a twofer. That would make the hefty price tag worth it to many many more than just his die hard fans!!



AND a two CD set of the PF songs that were never released on any lp would be a terrific third release. THEN we would have all, finally, on CD, as well as David's new albums. Now that we have waited so long for this single album to be available, and I notice that it's selling incredibly well, hopefully it won't be another three years to get the rest of the Bell and RCA catalog out, and -- hopefully on twofers!! People do not mind paying more for a Japanese issue, if it contains two albums, and some bonus tracks!!"