1975 David Cassidy – The Higher They Climb

Danny Kortchmar, David Cassidy, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Leland Sklar, Patti Austin, Ron Tutt, Willie Weeks

The Higher They Climb is an album by David Cassidy. It was his fifth solo release and the first of three albums on RCA Records. It was released in 1975 and was produced by Cassidy and Bruce Johnston.

The title of the album alludes to David Cassidy’s one-time dominance of the pop charts as a teen-idol and the eventual drop of his superstar status. The album only reached the charts in the UK, where it peaked at number 22.

The album features the track “Darlin'”, a song from Bruce Johnston’s band, The Beach Boys. Cassidy’s version reached #16 on the UK charts. It was a #1 hit in South Africa and was the 6th best selling single of the year in that country. Johnston also recruited Beach Boys singer, Carl Wilson; however, Wilson’s vocals appeared on the Johnston-penned song, “I Write the Songs”. “I Write the Songs” was a #11 hit in the UK for Cassidy and was later recorded by Barry Manilow, who made it a hit in the U.S

Tracks

1 When I’m A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star (David Cassidy) 04:45
2 Be-Bop-A-Lula (Gene Vincent; Tex Davis) 02:36
3 I Write The Songs (Bruce Johnston) 03:40
4 This Could Be The Night (David Cassidy; Harry Nilsson) 03:02
5 Darlin’ (Brian Wilson; Mike Love) 03:26
6 Get It Up For Love (Ned Doheny) 03:19
7 Fix Of Your Love (Dave Ellingson; David Cassidy) 03:13
8 Massacre At Park Bench (David Cassidy; Patti Austin) 02:18
9 Common Thief (Bill House) 03:54
10 Love In Bloom (David Cassidy; Richie Furay) 04:02
11 When I’m A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star (Reprise) (David Cassidy) 01:10

Biography

David Cassidy

Musicians

1 When I’m A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star

Bass	Curtis Stone
Drums	Stan House
Guitar	David Cassidy
Guitar	Bill House
Organ	John Hobbs
Piano	John Hobbs
Piano	David Cassidy
Tambourine	Jim Seiter
Background Vocals	Bill House
Background Vocals	Bruce Johnston
Background Vocals	Jim Seiter
Background Vocals	John Hobbs
Background Vocals	Stan House
Vocals	David Cassidy

2 Be-Bop-A-Lula

Bass	Leland Sklar
Drums	Ron Tutt
Guitar	Bill House
Guitar	David Cassidy
Piano	John Hobbs
Sax	Steve Douglas
Vocals	David Cassidy

3 I Write The Songs

Bass	Emory Gordy
Drums	Jim Gordon
Guitar	Bill House
Electric Piano	Bruce Johnston
Piano	John Hobbs
Background Vocals	Carl Wilson
Background Vocals	Cyrus Faryar
Background Vocals	Dewey Bunnell
Background Vocals	Gerry Beckley
Background Vocals	Gloria Grinel
Background Vocals	Richie Furay
Background Vocals	Trish Turner
Vocals	David Cassidy

4 This Could Be The Night

Bass	Willie Weeks
Drums	Jim Keltner
Guitar	Danny Kortchmar
Guitar	Bill House
Steel Guitar	Bill House
Piano	John Hobbs
Piano	David Cassidy
Tambourine	Jim Seiter
Background Vocals	Flo & Eddie
Vocals	David Cassidy

5 Darlin’

Bass	Willie Weeks
Drums	Jim Keltner
Guitar	Danny Kortchmar
Guitar	Bill House
Piano	John Hobbs
Percussion	David Cassidy
Percussion	Jim Seiter
Background Vocals	Flo & Eddie
Background Vocals	Cyrus Faryar
Vocals	David Cassidy

6 Get It Up For Love

Bass	Leland Sklar
Drums	Ron Tutt
Guitar	Bill House
Acoustic Guitar	Ned Doheny
Electric Piano	John Hobbs
Background Vocals	Carl Wilson
Background Vocals	Gerry Beckley
Background Vocals	Richie Furay
Vocals	David Cassidy

7 Fix Of Your Love

Bass	Willie Weeks
Drums	David Kemper
Guitar (solo)	Jesse Ed Davis
Guitar	Danny Kortchmar
Guitar	David Cassidy
Piano	Tom Hensley
Congas	King Errisson
Tambourine	John Seiter
Vocals	David Cassidy

8 Massacre At Park Bench

Vocals	Patti Austin
Vocals	David Cassidy

9 Common Thief

Bass	Willie Weeks
Drums	Jim Gordon
Guitar	Danny Kortchmar
Guitar	Bill House
Piano	John Hobbs
Sax	Steve Douglas
Congas	King Errisson
Vocals	David Cassidy

10 Love In Bloom

Bass	Emory Gordy
Guitar	Bill House
Pedal Steel Guitar	Bill House
Harmonica	Henry Diltz
Percussion	John Seiter
Percussion	John Raines
Background Vocals	Dewey Bunnell
Background Vocals	Richie Furay
Vocals	David Cassidy

11 When I’m A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star (Reprise)

Guitar	David Cassidy
Piano	Bruce Johnston
Background Vocals	Bill House
Background Vocals	Jon Joyce
Background Vocals	Kenny Hinkle
Background Vocals	Hudson Brothers
Vocals	David Cassidy

Other Musicians

Orchestra – Simi Valley Philarmonic (Track 3)

Liner Notes

Producer – Bruce Johnston, David Cassidy
Arranged By – David Cassidy (Tracks 4, 6, 7, 8, 10)
Arranged By – Patti Austin (Track 8)
Arranged By (Backing Vocals) – Bruce Johnston (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 11)
Arranged By (Horns) – John Hobbs (Track 9)
Arranged By (Orchestra) – Bruce Johnston (Track 3)
Engineer – Rich Schmitt
Engineer (Remix) – Hank McGill

Art Direction, Design – Gary Burden
Illustration – Charlie Wild
Photography – Henry Diltz

Designed At R Twerk & Co
Recorded At RCA Studios, Hollywood
Phonographic Copyright RCA Records
Copyright RCA Records