I recently watched Rich Man Poor Man Book 2 and Arlo was in it, playing himself. He introducted a singer played by actress Cassie Yates who sang a song that is very familar to me but I have searched the Internet and cannot find the name of it or who originally perfomed it. I need help!! Some of the words are: Mama leave the front door open tonight, don't know if I'll be home or if I'll be alright, but I do figure on being pretty late, so mama leave the front door open tonight. I know it was a female who recorded it - I even think I have the record but who was it and what is the song called?

I don't know the lyrics, but a google search led to a myspace page with this on it:

Mama Leave the Front Door Open Tonight - Mary MacGregor

Further research showed that Mary Macgregor did Torn Between Two Lovers. Maybe that's an album you bought on a whim at some point?

I don't remember the artist or the song. Does it ring a bell for you?

Mark

Actually, the name is a little familiar but it's definitely not a record I own. Perhaps somebody else recorded it as well. I'll have to try and track down the song called "Mama" and see if, in fact, that's what I'm looking for. I can't believe you found anything with those lyrics as I tried everything and nothing came up! I'll keep diggin. Thank you so much

Wow, I had no idea Arlo was in that movie. I've heqard of Cassie. If she is the same chick I am thinking of, she used to back up Lynard Skynard.mI'm not sure if she died in the plan crash tho. I've never heard of that song. I looked her up online & found this info on her:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassie_Yates

Maybe the gal I'm thinking of is a different one that ya'll are...

Cassie Yates is the name of the actress - not the person that recoreded the song. Yes, Arlo Guthrie was in RMPM Book 2 but only briefly - playing himself.

Thanks for the info. I never knew he was in that...

agkzagkz,

"Mama" (Leave the Front Door Open Tonight) appears on the first or second LP by Jennifer Warnes (of the LA cast of "Hair," and best known for her movie theme song duets, "Love Lifts Us Up" with Joe Cocker and "I've Had the Time of My Life" with Bill Medley).

I became a huge Jennifer Warnes fan when I saw her perform on an edition of the Smothers Brothers program (in 1968, as I recall) that was remarkable for its guests (Dion DiMucci, Donovan Leitch, and Jennifer Warnes) and the fact that it was taped during a musicians strike, so all of the accompaniment was choral. She performed a song titled "Santa Monica Pier" that was incredible. I fell in love with her.

This particular LP, simply titled "Jennifer Warnes," was released on the Arista label (album ID AL 4062), and I think it is the best LP in Ms. Warnes's impressive body of work. "Love Hurts" and "Right Time of the Night" also appear on this LP. I find it curious (and disappointing) that this LP's collection of tracks has never been released on CD. I find it equally curious that Ms. Warnes apparently never recorded "Santa Monica Pier," even though her rendition is iconic and borders on the divine.

THAT'S who I remember singing it!
Thanks I'm sure I have her album around somewhere.

I had no idea that "Right Time Of The Night" was out in the 60's. I had alwys thought it was out in the 70's. Neat to learn some new info on here...

After submitting my previous post, I did some research. "Jennifer Warnes" was actually Ms. Warnes's fourth LP. I should have mentioned the release date. Although I became enamored of Ms. Warnes when I saw her on the Smothers Brothers Hour (I think that's what it was called), it wasn't until the mid 70s that I found an LP by her (remember, that was long before the Internet with its extensive search capabilities).

The LP "Jennifer Warnes" was released in 1976, so your recollection re "Right Time of the Night" is correct. At the time, I thought "Jennifer Warnes" was her first LP because I'd been looking for years & had never seen an LP by her. I still wish she'd record "Santa Monica Pier." I'm a singer/songwriter, & I used to perform "Santa Monica Pier" in my shows--everyone loved it. Why she thought it worth performing on national television but not worth recording still baffles me.

But this is an Arlo Guthrie forum. I met Arlo backstage after a concert he performed in Lewiston, NY (near Buffalo). I got a private audience (well, I brought my brother & his wife along). It was a really cool experience.

Wow, thanks for the info. Glad you got to meet Arlo. He is such a nice man. I noticed you don't hear of Jennifer Warnes much anymore. She did one of Arlos songs Patriot's Dream...