Clowns Exit Laughing - The Jimmy Webb Songbook

Ace’s highly regarded and extremely popular Songwriter Series continues apace, with several exciting projects in place for release in the second half of 2022 and beyond. This month they welcome Jimmy Webb onto their expanding list with Clowns Exit Laughing, a deep dip into this prolific tunesmith’s extensive catalogue of the past six decades.

After a period of establishing his credentials as a writer with Motown’s West Coast office, Jimmy really came into his own in the mid-60s with classic songs like ‘By The Time I Get To Phoenix’, ‘Wichita Lineman’ and ‘Up, Up And Away’. Everyone wanted to record a Jimmy Webb copyright, and a great many people did as this CD demonstrates.

Although Jimmy has never stopped writing, Clowns Exit Laughing naturally concentrates on a time when a new Jimmy Webb classic seemed to appear every other week. As is always Ace’s policy with the Songwriter Series, each featured artist performs only one song but we are sure that inclusions by the likes of Tony Joe White, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield and other major names will disappoint nobody.

Also included for collectors are several rare, seldom-heard original versions of songs primarily associated with other artists, such as Don Ho’s original of ‘Galveston’ and James Darren’s first recording of ‘Didn’t We’.

As ever, comprehensive annotation and copious illustration are part and parcel of the CD package. We are delighted to bring this magical collection to you, and equally delighted to add this stellar songwriter to our ever-growing series.

BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - Glen Campbell
UP, UP AND AWAY - Dionne Warwick
CARPET MAN - The Nocturnes
WHEN EDDIE COMES HOME - The Everly Brothers
I NEED YOU - Shane Martin
HONEY COME BACK - Chuck Jackson
WHERE’S THE PLAYGROUND, SUSIE? – Everything But The Girl
MIDNIGHT MAIL - Joey Scarbury
THE MOON’S A HARSH MISTRESS – The Walker Brothers
WICHITA LINEMAN - Tony Joe White
DIDN’T WE - James Darren
MacARTHUR PARK – Waylon Jennings and The Kimberlys
I KEEP IT HID - The Supremes
DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO - Nina Simone
GALVESTON - Don Ho
THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN - B.J. Thomas
REQUIEM: 820 LATHAM - Mel Tormé
MAGIC GARDEN - Dusty Springfield
ROSECRANS BLVD. - The 5th Dimension
WHICH WAY TO NOWHERE - The Brooklyn Bridge
CLOWNS EXIT LAUGHING - The Fortunes
P.F. SLOAN - Rumer
HIGHWAYMAN - Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson
IF THIS WAS THE LAST SONG – Dee Dee Warwick With The Dixie Flyers