The recording captures some of the mass hysteria that surrounded Cassidy's live performances at that time.
The backdrop of frenzied screaming that accompanies every note, every move, and, most of all, every hit is relentless even mixed way down behind the music, you cannot miss it and listening to the album one cannot help but wonder precisely what Cassidy was doing on-stage to provoke the sudden outbursts of keening. A twitch to the left shriek! A twitch to the right shriek! A quick burst of truly filthy gyration...well, we won't be seeing that roof again. The dozen songs that comprise the album add up to, more or less, a solid survey of the many faces Cassidy had worn since launching his solo career a handful of light pop favorites ("Breaking up Is Hard to Do," "How Can I Be Sure"), interspersed with Broadway musical standards ("Bali Hai"), then punched through with some rockers that are all the more convincing for appearing so unexpected. "Mae" serves up a quite scintillating guitar solo, Leon Russell's "Delta Lady" is at least as beguiling as Joe Cocker's hit version, while Lennon/McCartney's "Please Please Me" ranks up there with any Fabs cover you could name. Indeed, with the screaming now at its peak, it comes as close to recapturing the heady days of the Beatles' own brush with mayhem than anything this side of their own live recordings. There's another shock in Cassidy's excellent interpretation of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" evidence way ahead of its time of the direction Cassidy's mid- to late-'70s output would be moving. But the highlight is the rock & roll medley that closes the show with a verve and panache that defies the star's reputation as mere teeny-bait. The Osmonds, at this time his greatest rival in the media superstar stakes, were airing a similar construct in their live shows of the day, but there really is no comparison no polite one, anyway. Rock history has sidelined Cassidy with a finality that seems almost personal, shovelling him up a teen idol side street from which the only escape was retirement and resignation. “Cassidy Live”, however, was recorded while he still thought he had a chance of advancing and few period live albums come even close to capturing its excitement.
01. "It's Preying On My Mind" (David Cassidy, Kim Carnes, Dave Ellingson) - 4:05
02. "Some Kind Of A Summer" (Dave Ellingson) - 3:34
03. "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield) - 3:12
04. "Bali Ha'i / Mae" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rogers / Gary Montgomery) - 3:52
05. "I Am A Clown" (Tony Romeo) - 3:20
06. "Delta Lady" (Leon Russell) - 4:04
07. "Please Please Me" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 2:02
08. "Daydreamer" (Terry Dempsy) - 2:08
09. "How Can I Be Sure" (Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati) - 2:54
10. "For What It's Worth" (Stephen Stills) - 5:36
11. "C.C. Rider Blues / Jenny Jenny" (Ma Rainey, Enotris Johnson / Richard Penniman) - 4:56
12. "Rock Medley: - 6:35
a. "Blue Suede Shoes" (Carl Perkins)
b. "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock)" (Max C. Freedman James E. Myers
(as Jimmy DeKnight)
c. "Jailhouse Rock" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)
d. "Rock And Roll Music" (Chuck Berry)
e. "Rock Me Baby" (Peggy Clinger, Johnny Cymbal)
Credits
David Cassidy - Vocals, Guitar
Michael Been – Bass and Background Vocals
Richard Delvy – Percussion
Henry Diltz – Harmonica and Background Vocals
Gloria Grinel – Background Vocals, Claps, Tambourine
Steve Ross – Lead Guitar
Trish Turner – Background Vocals, Claps, Tambourine
Produced by - David Cassidy and Barry Ainsworth
Engineered by - Barry Ainsworth
Notes
Recorded: Live In Britain
Genre: Pop, Rock
Length: 46:33
© 1974 Bell Records
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