Recorded at a tribute concert at the height of the late '90s Bacharach revival. And, as expected at such events, this thing is hit-or-miss. Recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City with Bacharach himself conducting the orchestra and playing the piano, there's lots of good guest artists while others leave you scratching your head. The orchestra is fantastic throughout, but can't say the same for the vocals and the arrangements that often needlessly change the time signature. Thankfully, there's no between song patter. Also available on VHS.
"Good intentions don't necessarily make for good music, however, and One Amazing Night, the aural document of the concert, is proof that. Like any tribute album, it's quite uneven, ranging from the sublime to the irritating in the switch of a track. There's little question that all the artists involved have genuine affection for Bacharach, but many of the featured musicians simply don't have the technique to pull off these songs, which are often much more difficult than they appear. ...it doesn't quite hold up to repeated listens." --Allmusic
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Tracks: My picks would be God Give Me Strength with Elvis Costello, Wives And Lovers with David Sanborn and George Duke, and the medley with Dionne Warwick (who else?). Definitely skip Mike Myers' attempt at What's New Pussycat? and the dreadfully slow rendition of Anyone Who Had A Heart with Wynonna.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
Previously revisited for the blog:
The Very Best Of Burt Bacharach (2001)
Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker (1999)
Best of (1999)
Painted From Memory (1998)
What The World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform the Songs of Burt Bacharach (1998)
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