MacArthur Park (song) - Other Versions

Other Versions

The song has been covered more than 50 times, including versions by:

• Jerry Vale
• The 5th Dimension
• Diana Ross & the Supremes
• Glen Campbell
• Vic Damone
• Sammy Davis, Jr (twice)
• Percy Faith
• Michael Feinstein
• Maynard Ferguson - M.F.Horn (1971)
• Ferrante & Teicher
• The Four Tops
• Aretha Franklin - Live on The Bob Hope Show (1975)
• Plastic Penny
• Gitte Hænning
• Waylon Jennings (Grammy Award, the 1970 version)
• Long John Baldry
• Stan Kenton - Live at Redlands University (1970)
• Liza Minnelli
• Grimethorpe Colliery Band
• Hugo Montenegro (Hugo's version used only the instrumental section and was also used as a TV News theme for WJW/WJKW in the mid 1970's)
• Only Men Aloud!
• Elaine Paige
• Psychotica
• The Queers
• Doc Severinsen
• Frank Sinatra - Trilogy: Past Present Future (2010)
• The Negro Problem
• The Three Degrees
• Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
• Andy Williams
• Zumpano
• Regine Velasquez
• Sally Yeh
• 101 Strings - "Million Seller Hits Composed by Jim Webb and Burt Bacharach"

Variations on the song have included:

• Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Ed Ames each recorded versions using only the middle section. Liz Callaway recorded the middle section as part of a medley with "Didn't We," another song also by Jimmy Webb.
• Carmen McRae with Norman Simmons trio recorded an impressive version of the middle section for her album Song Time (1969).
• Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed recorded an instrumental version for their guitar duet album Me & Jerry, winner of the 1971 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.
• The Four Tops recorded a version that omits the long instrumental breaks, which reached #38 on the Billboard singles chart.
• Beggars Opera recorded a progressive version with harpsichord and mellotron in their third album, Pathfinder, in 1972.
• The song has been played by dozens of drum and bugle corps, including championship performances by two junior corps, the Kilties in 1968 and 1969 and the Madison Scouts in 1975, and two all-age corps, the Hawthorne Caballeros in 1974 and the Brigadiers in 2001.
• In 1977 Finnish singer-songwriter Hector recorded the song in band called H.E.C. with Finnish lyrics. Hector titled the song in Finnish "Vanhan kirkon puisto" ("Old Church's Park"), referring to the old church of Helsinki, Hector's hometown.
• In 1980 Pink Lady performed the tune on their variety show Pink Lady and Jeff.
• Yuri performed a Spanish version, entitled "Siempre Hay Un Mañana" ("There Is Always a Tomorrow"), in 1979.
• Thierry Le Luron performed a French version entitled "Les Tuileries" (referring to the Parisian Tuileries Garden)
• Moody Blues singer Justin Hayward (with Mike Batt and the London Philharmonic Orchestra) covered it on his Classic Blue album.
• Carrie Underwood performed it in season four of American Idol.
• UK Hip Hop artist Roots Manuva uses the main chord structure in his 2001 single "Dreamy Days."
• Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello) sings an Italian version called "Parco MacArthur (La Torta in Pioggia)."
• Spanish singer Noelia Cano included a version on the reality show Operación Triunfo in 2008.
• "Weird Al" Yankovic parodied the tune in his 1993 song "Jurassic Park."
• Sung in the stage musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
• Wu-tang Clan released a version called Second Coming as the penultimate track on their 1997 album Wu-Tang Forever.
• It has appeared on The Simpsons at least twice: Homer sings it in the 15th season episode "Co-Dependent's Day," and Sanjay's daughter Pahusacheta Nahasapeemapetilon plays it on the tabla in the episode "Lisa the Beauty Queen."