20 Cass Elliot Solo Songs You Should Know
In many ways Cass Elliot is the poster of a tortured artist. Gone at 32, she lived in a constant battle for respect from people denigrating her appearance, freedom from a nickname given to her by a sex criminal, and relief from drug and alcohol dependence. In five short years she produced so many excellent records and singles, only to be remembered for singing “Ba-da-da-das” behind, well, a sex criminal. Her death was the result of years of disordered eating and drug-related cardiac stress in an attempt to gain legitimacy as a singer beyond her size, only to be turned into a stupid joke about a stupid sandwich.
While, try as I might, there is nothing I can do to bring Cass back to life, I can bring much deserved attention to her.
I love Cass Elliot so much that it’s hard to put into words. The other night I was pouring brownie batter into a pan and thought “That’s what Cass’s voice looks like” so I’m going to try my hardest to be a little less opaque than that. As such, I have broken her impact into five categories with a few songs in each category to help demonstrate it.
Versatile:
What genre would you say Cass Elliot is? Certainly, folk or pop would do. But what about her incredible torch songs? Or her mastery of bluegrass? She effortlessly glides from the top of her register to those sweet velvety alto notes, sinking into ballads and popping all her patter. No wonder so many songwriters loved handing their songs over for her to sing.
- Didn’t Want To Have To Do It
John Sebastian was one of those guys who loved Cass, and this rarity she recorded with him and The Lovin’ Spoonful shows off the coquettish, wryly playful side of her instrument. Playing off the jangly guitar and lazy percussion she offers a dynamic performance that is crystal clear and intriguing all at once.
2. Saturday Suit
An almost proto-disco song, Saturday Suit is written by the same man responsible for Up Up and Away and MacArthur Park. Cass brings gravitas to this little ditty that evokes every Sonny & Cher knockoff. Compare it to Art Garfunkel’s version (or don’t) to see just what remarkable work Cass does as an interpreter of song.
3. Extraordinary
Cass opened her live album with Extraordinary from Pippin as if to say “In half a century there is going to be a girl named Caroline Anderson and I gotta give her a little something.” Cass began her career in the theater, touring with The Music Man, and the way she delivers Schwartz shows that she never lost it.
4. Burn Your Hatred
For a Russian Jew from New England, Cass does a convincing Dixieland performance. Whether it’s crooning with Johnny Cash, John Denver, or problematic-nonfave Ray Stevens, she is very comfortable playing-pretend Southerner. This song was written by a Brit (Graham Nash) and it still feels like I’m back at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Technical:
So this is a bit of a catch-all category because Cass is one of the most technically precise singers. She’s so supported, such clear diction, agile and lithe and bel canto all at once. It’s not the voice of someone who happens to sing well, it’s a Stradivarius in a world of Yamahas.
5. Long Time Loving You
From the very first note, we have her coming in quickly at the very top of her register yet the pitch couldn’t be more precise. The sparseness of the accompaniment shows how confidently she can maneuver through even her less comfortable ranges with diction and support.
6. California Earthquake
I am so infatuated with the dynamic phrasing Cass uses here. To sing so confidently reserved against this raucous accompaniment is exactly what keeps me bringing back to her.
7. He’s a Runner
The combination of Laura Nyro songwriting and Cass’ voice is deadly to me. Her performance of it is almost operatic, the perfectly doled out vibrato. Compare it to —
8. Wild Women
A bit of a cheat as it’s actually from her first band (The Big Three), but listen to that beautifully applied rasp. It’s the rasp of a healthy voice, the rasp of a singer who knows her instrument well enough to offer up the color when it helps and reserve it when it’s not contributing.
Humorous:
Cass was, by all accounts, one of the funniest women of her time. Read about it in any biographies of the time or just watch her trade barbs with Johnny Carson, yuck it up with The Smothers Brothers, or spoof yogurt commercials on the Julie Andrews Comedy Hour. She was funny, and wasn’t afraid to get funny when she sang.
9. Jane, the Insane Dog Lady
I can’t find much information about this song which is included in several compilations. It’s almost unbelievably wacky, but so was Cass.
10. Different
Cass being willing to don witch drag for a Sid and Marty Krofft is so perfect I’m not sure what I can add.
Emotional:
Maybe the defining quality of Cass as a musician is her ability to emote. She can quickly turn any song anthemic, make you think she’s singing only to you, bring you to tears. It’s that bathtub on a bad day, long hug after a big fight, Graduation Day music.
11. Who’s to Blame
A perfect funeral march for a mutual break-up, Cass gently lets down the walls as she invites us all into her heartache. The sparse accompaniment makes plenty of space for the big-brash Cass we love but she refuses, giving us exactly what she wants to give us.
12. Who In The World
Trading off between her soft sultry comfort zone and her achy breaky soprano, this song resonates with anyone who has ever felt undeserving of love.
13. I Had a King
This Joni Mitchell cover was Cass’ first live solo television appearance, and from the second she raises her head you can see in her eyes all that she’s ready to offer. It gives me chills all over.
14. My Love
Written by Paul for Linda McCartney, from the very first phrase Cass shows that she can bring all the gravitas necessary to sing this lovers’ anthem. The build-up at the end of each evokes the kind of ebullient love I rarely hear in pop music.
15. The Road Is No Place for a Lady
Written by Cass’ sister, and recorded a few years before her untimely passing, it’s easy to hear 30 years of struggle in this ode to a precocious young woman. This is Cass in one song.
Iconic:
Cass belongs in every hall of fame. She was an icon, and if she’d stuck around longer I imagine she’d be in the same conversations as Cher, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, and other timeless chanteuses. She could hold her own with just about anyone (yes I know I said this was going to be all solos, but I lied) and could sell an anthem.
16. Dream a Little Dream of Me
For many, Cass’ performance of Dream a Little Dream is the definitive arrangement. One of the few songs she got to perform with the band that shall not be named (it’s the one with the sex criminal), it is inarguably iconic.
17. Make Your Own Kind of Music
Make Your Own Kind of Music was such a hit as a single that MCA re-released her previous album with it added and renaming the whole album after it. If I ever run for President this will be my walk-out song (yes, I’m confident that’s how that works).
18. I’m Coming To The Best Part Of My Life
If you want to be sad for a month, watch Cass sing this song on The Tonight Show months prior to her death, talking with confidence about how it describes how she’s going into her next project and how happy she is. I like to think that was true, because how can this performance be anything but authentic?
19. It’s Getting Better
I think this song is just missing one carefully-injected soundtrack placement to join the cannon of the two previous songs. Originally performed by The Crystals, it was a hit for Cass and apparently was in a Nestea commercial which reminds me of the fact that Kate Bush did some Fruitopia jingles.
20. Heaven Help Us All
Who else could hold their own against Ray Charles, Andy Williams AND Elton John? When we talk about Cass, these are the contemporaries we should be talking about. Her talent, humor, versatility, vulnerability all contribute to her legendary status, but if you watch her perform you wouldn’t even need to be told that. She just is.
