{"id":6625,"date":"2024-10-21T14:51:14","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shindig-magazine.com\/?p=6625"},"modified":"2024-10-21T15:01:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T14:01:48","slug":"paul-williams-extract-from-156","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/?p=6625","title":{"rendered":"Paul Williams – Extract from #156"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this extract from THOMAS PATTERSON’s epic three-part interview with the mighty PAUL WILLIAMS, the actor swerves being in\u00a0The Monkees<\/em>, acts some more, discovers the guitar and accidentally begins writings songs. Order the issue here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Music and movies continued to intermingle and alongside nearly every young male actor and musician in LA, Williams was turned down for a part in The Monkees<\/em>. (“Every now and then, I’ll run into Stephen Stills and we’re both like, “Thank God we didn’t get it,” because our lives as songwriters would have been very different.”) It was his appearance in the movie The Chase<\/em> in 1966, however, that would set his musical career slowly in motion.<\/p>\n

A slice of Deep South-set Oscar bait starring Robert Redford, Marlon Brando and Jane Fonda, The Chase<\/em> featured the now 26-year-old Williams as one of a group of teenagers trying to hunt down Redford’s escaped convict Bubber Reeves, alongside a bunch of townsfolk baying for his blood. Inspired by a castmate called Mark Seaton who owned a guitar, Paul bought one of his own and was heard making up a song about Bubber by co-star Robert Duvall. Duvall brought Paul\u2019s song to the attention of director Arthur Penn and you can hear Paul bash out about 10 seconds of the tune at the movie\u2019s violent climax. After the film\u2019s release, Paul continued to fiddle about with his new instrument, songwriting bubbling under the surface. \u201cIt helps to be broke,\u201d he says of the impetus to pursue his new craft. \u201cIt helps to have no relationship. Because you have no money, you can take nobody out. The songwriting became like journalling for me. I had this little guitar from The Chase<\/em>, and I began to doodle. It wasn\u2019t a conscious decision.\u201d<\/p>\n