4. Susan Anton, Forever Young
The willowy Susan Anton shot to fame in the late 1970s in a commercial for Muriel cigars and parlayed that exposure into a multimedia career that included TV, film, and recording work (not to mention a much publicized relationship with the much older and much shorter Dudley Moore). Anton is probably technically the best of the group of late-1970s TV starlets who sought recording careers, an elite sororiety which also included Lynda Carter, Cheryl Ladd, and Barbie Benton, but that doesn’t mean her instincts are unassailable, as this frantic cover of Dylan’s Forever Young quickly reveals. In my hyperactive fantasy life, I like to think that much of Anton’s musical moxie comes from years spent singing each night in her living room with paramour Dudley Moore, an exceptional pianist, as he adoringly accompanied his lovely lark whilst telling her she was going to be the next Linda Ronstadt in slurred but convincing Arthur-esque monologues.
It is a true pleasure to spend a few minutes with Anton’s fevered Forever Young. While many singers are drawn to the songs potential as a hymn-like Great Acting Moment, in Susan’s well-manicured hands Dylan’s prayer becomes less a tribute to the world’s children than to her own Vegas-tinged vibrato, which I actually consider to be a vast improvement. Her abject lack of soul leaves room to think about other things, less urgent things, like her amazing flowing blonde hair, which I hope you will find as relaxing as I do. Believe me, I’m no Dylan fan—fine, he’s a poet—but I’d rather listen to Susan’s belting blast over Dylan’s death rattle any day of the week. So sue me. Have I mentioned this is is a live performance?
Make sure you’ve heard all the songs on the Mix Tape!
#1: Rita Coolidge’s Version of Squeeze’s Tempted
#2: Shirley Bassey’s Version of The Police’s Every Breath You Take
#3: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé’s Version of Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun
woody
May 2, 2013 at 4:24 amName-checked Ms. Ladd, whose debut album was in my opinion required listening — not least for its unexpectedly dark single “Think It Over” (a Brenda Russell cut from the Brian & Brenda era) — contained the very first version of “I Know I’ll Never Love This Way Again” which went on to greater fame in other, bigger-teethed, fame. Cheryl’s album is rumored to be available on CD finally this year.
Susan Anton, whose albums are nice-ish all around, never shone brighter than with Fred Knobloch on “Killin’ Time.”
When we die, these obscurities will die with us 🙂
David Munk
May 8, 2013 at 2:06 pmOkay Woody…how shall I begin to respond to this? Should I focus on the fact that you seem to know when Cheryl Ladd’s debut album is coming out on CD or that you remember “Killin’ Time”? An embarassement of riches that some would find embarrassing, but only increase my respect for you. As for the notion that these morsels of arcania will die with us, let me point out that I am at least doing my part to ensure that they live on via Stargayzing!
I would love for you to contribute something to Stargayzing in a guest column. I hope you’ll say “yes”. Think it over!
As always, thanks for reading!