If you belong to a certain generation, you might recognize Paul Williams as an actor known for his memorable roles. He played the orangutan Virgil in “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” and the Faustian record producer Swan in Brian De Palma’s cult classic “Phantom of the Paradise.” Additionally, Williams made various appearances on television, including on “The Muppet Show,” where he either played himself or various quirky characters.
However, beyond his acting career, Paul Williams is best known for his contributions as a prolific songwriter. He penned some of the most popular songs of the 1970s, creating hits for a variety of well-known artists. Ace Records has compiled an intriguing collection of his work, featuring both well-known songs and some lesser-known gems, showcasing the breadth and depth of his songwriting talent.
Paul Williams has never truly left the spotlight. Although he may not always be front and center, he has consistently collaborated on numerous high-profile projects behind the scenes. His contributions span top television shows and blockbuster movies, often going unnoticed by the general public. Despite the lack of widespread fanfare, his influence and creative input have played a significant role in many successful productions, showcasing his enduring talent and versatility in the entertainment industry.
Paul Williams started as an actor in the 60s, struggled to get work, and ended up almost by accident as a songwriter. Lucky us! He became one of the warmest, most successful songwriters America has ever seen, with songs full of generosity, humility and humanity. Right at the start, he wrote ‘Fill Your Heart’ with Biff Rose, covered by David Bowie on “Hunky Dory”, and ‘Someday Man’ for the Monkees. But it was in the 70s that he hit his stride, writing a ton of songs for the Carpenters, including ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ and ‘I Won’t Last a Day Without You’.
“We’ve Only Just Begun” is the first-ever compilation of Paul Williams’s work as a songwriter, and it casts its net wide to find wonderful recordings of his songs by Scott Walker (‘We Could Be Flying’), Glen Campbell (‘Another Fine Mess’) and Elvis Presley (‘Where Do I Go From Here’). The familiar Carpenters hits are presented in wonderful, less-heard renditions by Diana Ross (‘I Won’t Last A Day Without You’), Freda Payne (‘Rainy Days And Mondays’) and Petula Clark (‘Let Me Be The One’). Despite being a songwriter he still worked in movies and ended up writing the theme for One On One by Seals & Crofts and ‘What Would They Say’ (recorded by Helen Reddy) from John Travolta’s breakthrough movie The Boy In The Bubble. He found perfection with ‘The Rainbow Connection’ sung by Kermit the Frog in the first Muppet Movie.
Compiled by Bob Stanley, “We’ve Only Just Begun” is a timely salute to a man hailed as a genius by, among others, Daft Punk. Now in his 80s, Williams is working on a musical of Pan’s Labyrinth with Guillermo Del Toro, hoping for a 2026 opening in London’s West End. He has been chairman of ASCAP for fifteen years now – an institution set up by Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and other forebears more than a century ago – and is long-recognised as one of America’s greatest living songwriters. He isn’t expecting a call from the Rock’n’roll Hall of Fame any time soon, and it doesn’t bother him a jot. “Being clever isn’t important,” he told Disc in 1972. “I’d rather be honest or moving.”
Tracks
- Someday Man – Monkees
- Bitter Honey – Holy Mackerel
- I Won’t Last A Day Without You – Diana Ross
- We’ve Only Just Begun – Freddie Allen
- Let’s Ride – Nichols
- We Could Be Flying – Scott Walker
- Talk It Over In The Morning – Anne Murray
- Somebody Waiting – Miguel Rios
- What Would They Say – Helen Reddy
- Rainy Days And Mondays – Freda Payne
- Travelling Boy – Art Garfunkel
- I Fell – Four King Cousins
- Fill Your Heart – Biff Rose
- Let Me Be The One – Petula Clark
- Where Do I Go From Here – Elvis Presley
- Roan Pony – Paul Williams
- An Old Fashioned Love Song – Three Dog Night
- My Fair Share – Seals & Crofts
- Trust – Peppermint Trolley Company
- The Drifter – Sandpipers
- Another Fine Mess – Glen Campbell
- Rainbow Connection – Kermit