Jimmy Webb (b.1946).
Website.
Bios.
Interview.

Born in Elk City in the Oklahoma Panhandle, son of a Baptist minister, playing on the organ at his father's church, Jimmy Webb would create new arrangements for the hymns, eventually writing his own religious songs.
An avid music fan, he created his own answer songs to the popular hits of the day, often surprising himself with the quality of his own compositions.
While still in his teens Webb landed a job at Motown's L.A. based Jobete music publishers; earning his first royalty cheque with 'Honey Come Back' (later covered by Glen Campbell) and 'My Christmas Tree' for The Supremes.

Meeting Johnny Rivers in 1966, Rivers signed Webb to a music publishing deal and cut a version of a song Webb had written two years previously; 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix'.
Next, Rivers set Webb to work creating material for a new vocal harmony group River's had signed to his nascent 'Soul City Records'; The Fifth Dimension.
In 1967 'Up, Up and Away' the first Webb track released by The Fifth Dimension, was followed by Glen Campbell's cover of 'By the time the I Get to Phoenix' which between them garnered eight awards at that year's Grammies.

Much like Webb's hero Burt Bacharach; Webb's compositions are vocally demanding; with abrupt time changes and morphing key changes mid-phrase carrying the melody just a 'little' higher. While working with the 70s, post-Diana Ross 'Supremes' line-up, lead singer Jean Terrell presented Webb with a doctor's note excusing her from anything above a high 'C'.

Forming his own production company 'Canopy', his first project was a duo of albums with his friend, the hell-raising Irish actor and future Dumbledore, Richard Harris, hot from his screen success in 'Camelot'.
Inspired by yet another doomed, unrequited love affair (this time with a Las Vegas showgirl); 'MacArthur Park' was originally composed, but rejected by Sunshine poppers 'The Association'. After struggling to find a home for what was, even by 60s standards, something of a curio; MacArthur Park was released by Lou Adler's Dunhill Records. Recorded with Wrecking Crew personnel Hal Blaine, Joe Osborn and Larry Knetchel; the 7.21 minute epic reached number 2 in the US Hot 100, with album 'A Tramp Shining' climbing to number 4.
An even more musically ambitious follow up, 'The Yard Went On forever', was released, but failed to achieve the commercial success of it's predecessor.
From 'A Tramp Shining':
MacArthur Park.mp3
A Tramp Shining.mp3

From 'The Yard Went On Forever':
The Yard Went On Forever MP3.
If you think 'MacArthur Park' sounds insane, just wait until you hear 'The Hive'.
The Hive.mp3
Taken from 'Richard Harris: The Webb Sessions 1968-1969'

Still only twenty two, Webb was seen as hopelessly out of step with the "tune in, drop out" generation; his perceived sentimentality seeming to fit in more with the attitudes and lifestyles of his parent's generation.
Shacking up in Laurel Canyon and hanging out with Joni Mitchell, Webb made a bid for sensitive singer/songwriter credibility.
Never achieving the same success as a performer, his songs continued to be covered, Donna Summer having huge success with her disco-fied version of 'MacArthur Park' in 1978 and country supergroup , 'The Highwaymen' (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson) had a country number one with a cover of his track 'The Highwayman' in 1985.
P.F. Sloan MP3.
Moon is a Harsh Mistress MP3.
The Highwayman MP3.