Rare interview with composer, songwriter PAUL WILLIAMS
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- Grammy-winning composer and Hall of Fame songwriter PAUL WILLIAMS is best known for his incredible songs through the 70s. Three Dog Night's Old Fashioned Love Song is one of his most well-known songs but he also wrote the score and lyrics from The Muppet Movie, as well as the lyrics to the number one chart topping song, Evergreen, The love theme from the Barbra Streisand's film A Star Is Born. He has won a Grammy for his work on the latter.
Paul Williams is 82 years old and shows no signs of slowing down. When asked about his favourite song from the 70s, he tells me he is particularly fond of Old Fashioned Love Song.
In my interview with him this week, www.abreathoffreshair.com.au Paul talks about his early success as a songwriter and how it led to problems with drugs and alcohol. He explains how getting sober changed his life and helped him to write the songs that would become smash hits.
He talks about how recovery has given him a new perspective on life and how he is now able to show up authentically for his work. The Grammy award-winning songwriter has been sober for over 20 years and wants to promote his journey to sobriety and how it has changed his life to all who struggle with the same problem. He says he had to hit rock bottom before getting sober, and how his recovery has been a continuous journey.
Take a listen to my interview with Paul and heed his his rock-star wisdom. He explains his obsession with drugs and alcohol, his journey to sobriety and how it changed his life and career. Here he talks about how writing has helped him in his recovery and continues to help him today.
For more information about Paul and to listen to the full episode of A Breath of Fresh Air head to abreathoffresh...
One of the few song writers/singers I admire most.
I don't care what people say. Paul Williams is the man. He wrote songs for
Three Dog Night
The Carpenters
And of course The Monkees.
Even his own albums and soundtracks he's composed have always been masterpieces.
If Burt Bacharach was double A side record the other A side would be Paul Williams.
He is the man
And, the Muppets.
Why does noone bring up phantom of the paradise
For all the excess and dissipation in Paul Williams life, he remains an intelligent, creative person. I can understand his process.
Thank you Paul! I liked you as a child in the 70s and love you now.
me too! so glad you liked our chat
Another walking miracle. Thanks for being here, Paul
Paul Williams is an American treasure!
Isn’t he!
@@sandykayepresents-abreatho9146 incredibly talented
A treasure for the world!
I LOVE this man. My Grandkids were sooo confused. I had my back to the tv while baby sitting. Suddenly I hear Paul singing "The RainBow Connection (Yo Gabba Gabba). When I turned around and saw that old "Lawrence Welk Set" (1970s) and his voice I started crying!? There was something so soothing and almost being able to reach right back into your childhood about it all.
could not agree more. I'm so glad you enjoyed my chat with him. I certainly did too
@@sandykayepresents-abreatho9146 You should check out "Phantom of the Paradise". I love all his work. His comic timing was amazing & memorable. Nobody can forget "Lil Enus" in Smokey & The Bandit. He did a lot of co-starring on Tv in the 70's. As I recall when he appeared on "The Hardy Boys" he got to plug Phantom of the paradise on the Halloween special. Great days, great times.
So wonderful, what an amazing life and contribution Mr. Williams has made to humanity.
Paul Williams is Legend! His songs are beautiful! And he is a screen talent too! Little Enos. Way back then, nobody really knew what you did. Man, you are too good! Staying behind and let the music speak. Just awesome. Great stuff.
That voice is sooo recognizable and distinctive, you know it without seeing him. (Famous Voiceprints®)
Paul's lyrics to "I'm Going To Go Back There Someday" are simply beautiful and powerful while remaining sweet and humble. "There's not a word yet, for old friends who've just met." Only Paul and his style could have come up with that line. That song still makes me cry...
I love this man.
He was highly celebrated around the time I was born (1978). He's had a very interesting life. Adventure, Acting, Faith, Song writing, Performer. The guy is everywhere.
The weirdest thing was turning on the television one day and seeing him on Star Trek as an alien. Just out of nowhere. He disappears for a long time, and poof he's back.
I think the world could use a lot more Paul Williams right now. The man excites the brain. So many talents in one person.
couldn't agree more! so glad you enjoyed the interview!
Has he been inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame?? It's a mortal sin if he isn't . He is legend ..
Right? Yet Hip-hoppers are in there. That's why the RnR HoF is a joke.
Abso F-inglutely
Couldn’t say exactly when it happened… but Paul Williams sneakily became a cornerstone of my 90s childhood. Only in my late 30s do I realize I was lucky to grow up in a time when artistry was still important.
One of the most influential artists responsible for 70s music culture.
Paul williams is a legend! I know he’s getting older but am sure he could definitely still pack a house of fans . Although Rainbow Connection was great some of his earlier stuff was simply brilliant. You and Me Against the World, Out in the Country, We’ve only just begun, etc…. Legend!
There was a packed house when I saw him last -- at a screening of "Paul Williams: Still Alive" at SXSW when it came out. He had to catch a flight and couldn't stick around for a Q&A afterwards, but he made a point of being there for just a moment so he could at least say hello to his fans...
Thank you paul for all of the music that you gave to us you are a amazing man and i just seen an old episode of you on johnny carson you had just came from the set of battle for the planet of the apes and you were still on make up i thought that was so cool i am so glad that you sre still here with us we love you paul god bless you sir❤
This man is a living legend.
Holy cow. He's alive!! Cool.
I absolutely love The Muppets Christmas I just love that film. The musical score it brilliant
Some of the most enduring music ever.
Peace ✌️ 2023..out in the country..priceless
such a legend
Richard Carpenter saw that Crocker Bank commerical while sitting at home watching T.V. and recognized Paul's voice (he's singing it in the commerical) and since they were both on the same label (A&M Records) asked Paul for a full song and the rest, as they say, is history. The Carpenters recorded several of Paul's songs, including "Let Me Be The One" and (one of my favorites) "I Won't Last A Day Without You". I've been following Paul's career since the 1970's and saw almost of his Tonight Show appearances and saw him in concert in Berkeley, CA in the 1970's. My favorite "skill-written" song of Paul's is "Loneliness" because EVERY line in that song fits together so beautifully, it's like reading a lovely poem. It is BRILLIANT
...and "I Won't Last a Day Without You," and "Rainy Days and Mondays. Paul's lyrics were perfect for Roger Nichols' melodies. The 1970's wouldn't have been the same without their music!
@@fool4singing Agreed, less we forget the great UCLA graduate Roger Nichols. Rodger also had success on his own with the song "The Times of Your Life" which was used in a Kodak commercial
It was funny when he stated that when Richard asked him if there was a completed version of the song he would have lied through his teeth and said there was if it had not been finished which he would have done right away. The Carpenters were already at the top with Close To You.
Genius!
He was so colossal back in the day! I had to find this, but so glad that we still have a piece of history with us still to this day. A time when America rolled like rush!
This guy has never been on my radar screen before but I'm impressed.
Paul. Please know you are loved. Thank for your heart and soul
This guy has done great things, and… ‘Old Fashioned Love Song’??? Ugh, that was such tripe. Different strokes. I do appreciate the interview, so thanks for that.
Wil lk always love you...your somgs always touch my heart...
"Don't let the past remind you of what you are not now." Crosby, Stills & Nash
love when he sang old fashioned love song on the Muppets (:
theres someone sitting behind home plate at the Padres game right now that looks just like Paul back in the 70s.
The Carpenters lived Paul as a songwriter
I think Paul and Willie have something like the same timing.
that's an interesting observation. I wonder if Paul would agree with it?
Mr. Williams is a global treasure.
Here's a link to that new single Paul talks about in the interview:
ruclips.net/video/dQr3PuxRDI0/видео.html
thank you!
I LOVE Paul Williams ,love his songs and loved Phantom when it came out when I was a young girl ,just fascinating!❤
Love his mind and looks pretty good all these years and has really lost a lot of his accent ,but he’s wonderful.
Current generations know him from his voice work as The Penguin in “Batman: the Animated Series” as well as his collaboration with French dance outfit Daft Punk…as well as his appearance in Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver
Mr Williams was one of my husband's favorite song writers and singers. We loved the song 'You and me against the world'. When my husband was over seas for a Naval seven month west pack 1972 - he wrote Mr. Williams a letter, telling him what his song mean to us. Paul him back personally, on an old style typewriter. I lost my husband in 2020 three months short of our 48th anniversary. I still play our song.
"Tell me again, Mommy." Yes! Excellent tune!
If you measured a man's height on character, Paul would be 10' high.
My late mother was a fairly well known cabaret singer. Thinking that some of her rights had been violated, and being desperate, I "cold emailed" Mr. Williams. I remembered his 'Waking up Alone' (circa 1971) After all, however unlikely a response would be, he was a formidable power in ASCAP. Do my delight, he responded quickly, and tried to help me. I am nobody, but he treated me with kindness and respect. If Mr. Williams was British, he would have been knighted by now. He is and has always been a musical GIANT. I am so happy to see that his is still "kickin'" and I wish him the best.
Paul Williams is a good a songwriter as Dylan, Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen, and, like John Stewart, never was billed as a successful singer-songwriter. Why?
Before Carpenters, We only just begun was a like a mandatory test with some other group?/singer, it was somewhat similar, and if you like that kind of thing, check it out. Williams probably has at least ten classics sung by other artists, however he also made a version which is nice also.
Just found out about Paul through watching Phantom of the Paradise!
My name isn't Bonnie or Clyde
It's George Schlaline
What a COLLECTION of SONGS!!!
I love his music!!! Bravo!!
Love you ❤
A creative wiz❤
Paul, you were the best!!!
He's still alive.
@@v-town1980 ;
My bad, I did look!!!!
Paul Williams is an old soul just like his song. One of my favorites.
love Paul
My favorite song he did as a solo artist is So Many People which was released as a single in 1969 but did not do well. It was a very overlooked song. The Carpenters would have took it out of the park if they recorded it.
Sergio Mendes & Brazil 77 did a great version of So Many People on their LP Pais Tropical
Little Enos.