Cynthia Weil

https://variety.com/2023/music/news/cynthia-weil-songwriter-youve-lost-that-lovin-feeling-make-your-own-kind-of-music-dead-dies-1235631352/

 

Although Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil were not nearly as well known as peers such as Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Burt Bacharach/Hal David – the obituary in Variety quotes Weil as once telling the Los Angeles Times that “Most people don’t know who we are, [but they] know our songs” – they produced a body of work that was every bit as notable as that of their contemporaries.

 

Most impressive to me is how Mann and Weil were able to adapt to the changing times. Starting out with teen love songs for Spector-era acts such as the Crystals and Ronettes, they added more than a touch of social awareness with songs such as “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place,” “Magic Town,” “Home Of The Brave,” and “Rock And Roll Lullaby.” They also successfully turned out more rock-oriented material for Paul Revere & The Raiders (“Kicks” and “Hungry”) and Max Frost & The Troopers.

 

The story of the lyrical changes to “Only In America,” which was originally written for the Drifters, is especially interesting. It’s briefly alluded to in the Variety story, but there’s much more detail at https://mcantil.com/song-of-the-day-jay-and-the-americans-only-in-america/.

 

As was the case with Gordon Lightfoot’s recent death, both WXPN’s morning show and WOWD’s Tuesday Morning Mix program paid tribute to Weil, with the latter devoting almost its entire two hours to her songs. Once again, each of them started off with the same track, in this case Dusty Springfield’s version of “Just A Little Lovin’.”

 

Favorite songs with lyrics with Cynthia Weil:

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – The Righteous Brothers

Rock And Roll Lullaby – B.J. Thomas

Magic Town – The Vogues

On Broadway – The Drifters

I’m Gonna Be Strong – Gene Pitney

 

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place – The Animals

Only In America – Jay & The Americans

None Of Us Are Free – Solomon Burke

Walking In The Rain – The Ronettes

Kicks – Paul Revere & The Raiders

 

Uptown – The Crystals

He’s So Shy – The Pointer Sisters

Looking Through The Eyes Of Love – Gene Pitney

Shape Of Things To Come – Max Frost & The Troopers

Home Of The Brave – Jody Miller

 

Saturday Night At The Movies – The Drifters

Make Your Own Kind Of Music – Mama Cass Elliot

Brown Eyed Woman – Bill Medley

He’s Sure The Boy I Love – “The Crystals” (actually Darlene Love & The Blossoms)

(You’re My) Soul And Inspiration – The Righteous Brothers