The concert was attended by 18,000 people, with 16,000 in the permanent arena seating paying $4 to $10 per seat, and another 2,000 in temporary seats set up on the arena floor, paying $100 each. It was widely reported that $300,000[1] or even $320,000[2] had been raised for the cause, but after expenses were tallied, only about $18,000 (equivalent to $126,000in 2022) was given to McGovern's campaign.[3]
Although King and Taylor were at the top of their fame, it was Streisand who was acclaimed the star of the evening. She had the audience in her control the whole time, and received standing ovations at the end.[4][5] McGovern was not significantly helped by the concert; he went on to lose in a landslide to Richard Nixon in November 1972. Streisand's album performed well in the marketplace, rising to number 19 on the Billboard 200, and staying on the charts for 27 weeks.[4]
Warren Beatty came up with the idea of the concert in early April 1972 while he was at his residence in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. He got Barbra Streisand to agree by phone, and then Carole King. King called James Taylor to give the concert three big names. Record executive Lou Adler came forward to sponsor the event.[6] King had recently won four Grammy Awards, including her song "You've Got a Friend" performed by Taylor, who picked up his first Grammy for it. He had also seen recent success with his album Mud Slide Slim certified Gold a year earlier. Streisand was expected to draw a crowd because of her reputation as an entertainer.[4] To add to the star-studded evening, Warren called a number of celebrities who would serve as ushers. On April 7, tickets went on sale, and they were sold out in 18 hours.[6]
The event was conceived as three singers performing for McGovern, to be called "3/4 McGovern", pronounced Three for McGovern. Taylor said that the title was made to look like a time signature, with stacked numerals – 3 4 – which indicates triple meter.[7] The initial publicity announced the concert as "Three for McGovern". For her segment, Streisand decided to reproduce her recent Las Vegas show, which required an orchestra. She found that Quincy Jones was willing to bring his orchestra. Jones was acknowledged as sharing star billing, and the event became Four for McGovern. Matt Goldbach in charge of McGovern's California campaign activities expressed his wish that the event should be a political rally with speeches, while some Hollywood celebrities thought it should be more like the Academy Awards ceremony, but the performers had already decided on a purely musical concert. One concession was made to Goldbach: the ushers would hand out donation envelopes.[6]
Four portable dressing room trailers were rented by producer/promoter Jim Rissmiller for the four star performers, to provide more privacy than the basketball locker room facilities in The Forum. Security for the event involved the usual Wells Fargo guards, augmented this time with 24 athletes from the UCLA Bruins football program. A plexiglass stage set was assembled for Streisand, the one that had been used for her December 1971 – January 1972 show at the Las Vegas Hilton.[6] The stage was dressed with one banner bearing the name "McGovern" on it, displayed on the front fascia, below the performers.[2] Much of the audio equipment was provided by Showco including stage monitors; Showco had supported James Taylor's touring needs throughout the previous year. McCune Sound brought a proprietary new loudspeaker system, the JM-3, designed by Bob Cavin and John Meyer, with speaker positions and coverage determined by Abe Jacob.[8] For Streisand's set, a mobile recording truck was parked near the stage and wired to the microphone splitter.[6] At 11am on the day of the show, Taylor briefly rehearsed, followed by King who was recuperating from strep throat and was taking it easy. Jones rehearsed his big band in a large snack bar area upstairs. The orchestra moved to the stage at 2pm.[6] The lyrics to Streisand's songs were written on the stage floor as a memory aid.[9] At 3pm, Streisand began rehearsing with the orchestra, and she worked the songs with determination. She was still rehearsing at 6pm when a few celebrity ushers arrived.[6] Photographer Steve Schapiro said that Streisand's voice at rehearsal was "magnificent" even though she had not been singing for six weeks.[9][10]
Starting the show at 9:20 pm,[6] James Taylor and Carole King came out, with King sitting down at the piano to play and sing her songs. Taylor sat quietly, playing acoustic guitar and singing harmony with King. Returning the favor, King backed Taylor on harmony when he stood in the spotlight, singing his own songs. They shared a band made up of Russ Kunkel on drums, Lee Sklar on electric bass, and Danny Kortchmar on electric guitar– Taylor's veteran touring band. As a duet, King and Taylor sang their Grammy-winning song "You've Got a Friend" to close their set, without ever mentioning politics.[2]
After intermission, Quincy Jones appeared wearing a long maroon velvet dashiki to conduct his 32-piece orchestra.[2] The ensemble included the Eddie Kendricks Singers composed of Kendricks, Venetta Fields, Marti McCall, Geraldine Jones and Clydie King, brought from Streisand's Las Vegas show.[9] Jones played several of his familiar tunes including the theme to Ironside, a popular TV show.[6]
Barbra Streisand entered the stage around 11 pm in a pantsuit of black satin, with a red tanktop under the black jacket. Some of the musicians in Jones' orchestra were changed for Streisand's set. Joe Sample played piano, and David Shire conducted the orchestra. Streisand started with the medley of "Sing" and "Make Your Own Kind of Music", later released as the second single of her album. She sang more songs and then talked to the crowd, pretending to toke on a marijuana joint, warning playfully against the evils of weed; a schtick she had performed many times in Las Vegas.[4][12] She sang more songs including a Joe Guercio–designed medley of "Sweet Inspiration" blended into Carole King's "Where You Lead" and back again, all while the four Black women singers danced and sang with Streisand in the manner of a revival meeting.[5] This medley was later released as Streisand's first single from the album. Her third single was a cover of Richard Harris's "Didn't We". She sang for an hour and took six standing ovations,[5] then McGovern joined her on stage.[2]
McGovern
While Nixon was mired in the Vietnam War, McGovern was running as the anti-war candidate. He was seen as the most honest candidate but he was unexciting in person. Since 1968, when Robert F. Kennedy introduced Beatty to McGovern, Beatty had been an admirer of McGovern's quiet style. Beatty used his own charisma and extensive contacts to try and increase McGovern's chance of winning. McGovern later said that Beatty was in the top "three or four most important people in my campaign."[13] Beatty's sister, actress Shirley MacLaine, was also campaigning strongly for McGovern, and she appeared as an usher at the concert.
McGovern was scheduled to arrive late at The Forum; he and his wife, Eleanor, were flying in from Detroit after speaking at a Democratic Party fundraising dinner, the annual Jefferson–Jackson Day event.[2] At intermission, many of the newspaper and television reporters abandoned the concert stage and waited in a hockey locker room so that they could witness McGovern's entry. Streisand's performance was piped throughout The Forum locker rooms over small speakers. James Taylor told Peter Greenberg asking about McGovern's chances, "I don't think he can beat Nixon, but who knows? Maybe some more [of Nixon's] dirty laundry will come out."[6] When McGovern walked in to the locker room during Streisand's set, he stepped straight over to Carole King and said, "I'm one of your ardent fans, and you're really great to do this." Taylor expressed his worries to McGovern, "I sure hope this [concert] isn't hurting you more than helping you," to which McGovern replied, "Believe me... It's not."[6] McGovern talked to reporters about a US bomb attack on Haiphong which was the day's top news story. He said it was "a desperate gamble" by Nixon who was "ineffectual in the past, reckless now, bringing us one step further away from peace."[2]
At Streisand's final bow, James Taylor led McGovern on stage, followed by Quincy Jones, Eleanor McGovern and Carole King. George McGovern took the microphone to make a very brief statement to 18,000 fans:
You know there’s an old French proverb that says gratitude is the heart’s memory. A couple of years ago there was a song, 'Here Comes the Sun' – 'It's All Right.' Well, we’re going to see the sun again. Things can be all right again. With great effort ’72 will be a great year.[2]
Maureen Orth, reporting for The Village Voice, said that the audience applauded the surprisingly short speech, but she was unmoved, and noticed others were shaking their heads or shrugging their shoulders at the confusing song inference. Beatty spoke to reporters after the concert, saying that more such celebrity fundraising events could be staged,[2] and he quickly organized another at the Cleveland Arena in late April,[14] and a third in New York after McGovern had won the important California primary. Media response to the Los Angeles concert was mixed, with some in favor, and others decrying the strange new element: mass activism of celebrities. Harry Reasoner on the ABC Evening News said that Hollywood actors should stay out of politics, that "Presidential candidates should leave endorsements to makers of false teeth cement."[13]
In the 1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries in June, McGovern carried California, but with a 5% margin, not the expected 20% more than Hubert Humphrey.[15] His next challenge was to win delegates at the Democratic National Convention. For a benefit concert on June 14, Beatty convinced Simon and Garfunkel to reunite for McGovern, supported by Dionne Warwicke, Nichols and May, and Peter, Paul and Mary in a fundraising rally for the presidential hopeful, held at Madison Square Garden in front of 18,000. The event was called Together for McGovern, and it reportedly raised $400,000.[16] Simon's enthusiasm for McGovern was muted: "I do believe in the lesser of two evils, and in that spirit I became a McGovern supporter."[17] By November 1972, Nixon had undercut McGovern's anti-war stance by promising a negotiated end to the Vietnam War. Nixon took the presidential election in a landslide.[18]
Nine months later, in response to the December 1972 Nicaragua earthquake, the Rolling Stones mounted a benefit concert at The Forum on January 18. Cheech Marin said to the Stones publicists, "It seems like the only time you put out monumental albums or events is when you have a natural disaster." Los Angeles music writer Jacoba Atlas responded, "No, there's only been two big concerts for great disasters– unless you count McGovern."[19]
Henry Warren Beatty is an American actor and filmmaker. His career has spanned over six decades, and he has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. He also received the Irving G. Thalberg Award in 1999, the BAFTA Fellowship in 2002, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2007, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2008.
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand is an American singer, actress, songwriter, film and television producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment and is among the few performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT).
"You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer-songwriter Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor from his album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. His was released as a single in 1971, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart. The two versions were recorded simultaneously in 1971 with shared musicians.
"I Have Dreamed" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I. In the original Broadway production it was sung by Doretta Morrow and Larry Douglas. It has since become a standard, with many artists recording the song.
"People" is a song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Bob Merrill for the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand, who introduced the song. The song was released as a single in 1964 with "I Am Woman", a solo version of "You Are Woman, I Am Man", also from Funny Girl.
"Don't Rain on My Parade" is a song from the 1964 musical Funny Girl, further popularized by the show's 1968 film adaptation. Written by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne, the song was first performed by Barbra Streisand on both stage and screen. The song ranked 46 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.
"Happy Days Are Here Again" is a 1929 song with music by Milton Ager and lyrics by Jack Yellen. The song is a standard that has been interpreted by various artists. It appeared in the 1930 film Chasing Rainbows and was the campaign song for Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1932 presidential campaign. It is the unofficial anthem of Roosevelt's Democratic Party. The composition was renewed in 1956, so it will enter the American public domain on January 1, 2025. Sound recordings from 1929 will follow on January 1, 2030, under the provisions of the Music Modernization Act.
"I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" is a song from the 1956 musical My Fair Lady, with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. It was originally performed by Rex Harrison as Professor Henry Higgins who also performed it in the 1964 film version.
Streisand was Barbra Streisand's Fall 2006 North American concert tour. Comprising 26 shows, it was Streisand's first United States tour since 2000 and her first live concert events since her supposed farewell concerts, Timeless in 2000. The 2006 tour also marked the singer's first time playing in Canadian markets.
Barbra Joan Streisand is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released in August 1971 on Columbia Records. It was her second consecutive album produced by Richard Perry and features backing work by members of the female band Fanny. Like the two previous studio albums, the singer continued to opt for a more contemporary repertoire, this time choosing three songs by Carole King, two by John Lennon, two by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in medley form, and one each by Laura Nyro and the trio Michel LeGrand, Marilyn Bergman and Alan Bergman.
James William Bailey was an American singer, film, television and stage actor, and female impersonator.
Live Concert at the Forum is the second live album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released physically on October 1, 1972, by Columbia Records. Produced by long-time collaborator Richard Perry, it was recorded at The Forum in Inglewood, part of Greater Los Angeles, on April 15, 1972, during Four for McGovern, a concert held in benefit for George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign. A CD version of Live Concert at the Forum was released on September 6, 1989.
Till I Loved You is the twenty-fifth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released on October 25, 1988, on Columbia Records. The album was notable for both its thematic structure and its high-budget production, with many guest writers, producers, and musicians: Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager offered three brand new songs to the album, Quincy Jones produced "The Places You Find Love", with Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick adding backing vocals.
"Where You Lead" is a song written in 1970 by Carole King with lyricist Toni Stern, introduced on King's iconic 1971 album Tapestry. A Top 40 hit for Barbra Streisand in both a studio and a live version — the latter in a medley entitled "Sweet Inspiration/ Where You Lead'" — the song has also served as the main theme song for The WB dramedy series Gilmore Girls in a lyrically revised version recorded by King and Louise Goffin.
The George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign began when United States Senator George McGovern from South Dakota launched his second candidacy for the Presidency of the United States in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to win the 1972 presidential election against incumbent president Richard Nixon, winning only in the District of Columbia and the state of Massachusetts. McGovern vied to become the first South Dakota native to become president.
"Beautiful" is a song written by Carole King that was first released on her 1971 award-winning album Tapestry. It has also been covered by other artists, such as Barbra Streisand and Richard Marx, and included on several of King's live albums. It was also used as the title song of the 2014 Broadway musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
"Didn't We" is a song recorded by Irish singer and actor Richard Harris for his debut studio album, A Tramp Shining (1968). It was written and produced by Jimmy Webb and originally served as the B-side to Harris' 1968 single "MacArthur Park". "Didn't We" was then distributed as the record's single by Dunhill Records, also in 1968. A traditional pop song, Harris sings about his life in the past. Commercially, it charted at lower positions of both the United States and Canada, and in the higher ranks of their Adult Contemporary component charts. Harris featured "Didn't We" on several of his greatest hits albums, including The Richard Harris Collection: His Greatest Performances from 1973. That same year, the song was reissued as a promotional single paired alongside his 1971 single "My Boy".
Barbra: The Music, The Mem'ries, The Magic was a concert tour by American recording artist Barbra Streisand. The tour initially visited nine locations in North America, then was extended twice for a total of 16 shows in 14 cities. The performance in Miami was filmed for a Netflix release on November 22, 2017. A live album of the same name recorded during the concert tour was released on December 8, 2017.
Together for McGovern was a political benefit concert held on June 14, 1972, produced by actor Warren Beatty to assist the 1972 presidential campaign of George McGovern, running as the anti-war candidate, against the Vietnam War. Also known as Together with McGovern and Stars for McGovern, the concert drew a crowd of 18,000 to 20,000 attendees at Madison Square Garden in New York City. For the concert, Beatty reunited the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, the comedy team of Nichols and May, and the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. Appearing solo was R&B and pop singer Dionne Warwick. A number of celebrities served as ushers, and McGovern gave a speech. The event reportedly raised $400,000.
Star-Spangled Women for McGovern–Shriver was a political variety show held on October 27, 1972, produced by Shirley MacLaine and Sid Bernstein as a late-campaign push to help the 1972 presidential campaign of George McGovern, running as the peace candidate. Also known as Star-Spangled Women for McGovern and simply Star-Spangled Women, the concert drew a near-capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York City. With a dozen singing, dancing and spoken-word performances, rock journalist Lillian Roxon described the show as "one thunderbolt after another."
1 2 3 4 Waldman, Allison J. (2001). The Barbra Streisand Scrapbook. Citadel Press. pp.51–52. ISBN9780806522180. In a return to Las Vegas in late 1970, Streisand incorporated her Stoney End and Barbra Joan Streisand material, and even spoofed her new, hip image on stage with an allusion to smoking pot. Taking a toke of a faux joint, Barbra pretended to get high as she explained why people shouldn't rely on drugs or booze for relaxation. Streisand immortalized this routine forever when she performed it on her next album, Live Concert at the Forum.
1 2 3 Goode, Mort (October 1, 1972). Live Concert at the Forum (liner notes). Columbia Records.
↑ Howe, Matt. "The Hilton". Barbra Streisand Archives. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
1 2 Stanley, Timothy (2014). Citizen Hollywood: How the Collaboration between LA and DC Revolutionized American Politics. Macmillan. p.276. ISBN9781250032508.
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