By Bob Berry

It’s an astounding song, really.

Lyrics, “…someone left a cake out out in the rain…” that are at once allusive and elusive. A song-poetry, really, built in 4 sections, or movements, much like a classical composition. And, it was 7 minutes long in it’s original form.

And yet, Jimmy Webb’s “MacArthur Park”, for all it’s contrarian Top 40 radio characteristics, has twice been a smash.

The original, the debut recording for Irish actor Richard Harris was Top 5 in the summer of ’68. And, again ten years later, for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Donna Summer.

At the height of her success, her 4 minute single was Number One for the week of November 12, 1978, on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Dance charts. And, at the same time, she was #1 on the albums charts, with her album Live and More, featuring the eighteen minute “MacArthur Park Suite“.

Enjoy Throwback Thursday on Keener!