Burt Bacharach - At This Time (2005)

The beautiful Bacharach arrangements, odd meters, and melodies are still there - not bad for a guy in his late '70s. A mostly instrumental album, sometimes tracks get the full lush Bacharach treatment while others feature drum and bass loops by Dr. Dre (you read that right). The composer wrote his own lyrics here and they're oddly placed and, for the most part, teenage angry. He shoulda stuck with the collaborations with Chris Botti (FWIW I'm down for a full collaboration album between Bacharach and Botti if Burt is up to it at age 90.)

The album won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album over smooth jazz artists such as Earl Klugh and Jeff Lorber. I'm guessing it was a makeshift legacy award for his past contributions because while this album has its moments, it is very uneven.

Ultimately, I respect Bacharach the composer more than Bacharach the performer. As a whole, I can't decide if I like this easy listening album or not. And I'm not sure I want to invest the time to find out. Sorry, Burt.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: My top picks for today are In Our Time, Who Are These People, Can't Give It Up, Dreams, and Fade Away.

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)
One Amazing Night (1998)
Painted From Memory (1998)
What The World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform the Songs of Burt Bacharach (1998)

Burt Bacharach - One Amazing Night (1998)

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)

Burt Bacharach - Best of (1999)

A so-so compilation of Bacharach leading session musicians through his A&M hits. It's classic lounge music to be sure, but if you're looking for the versions you know with Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield, go for this disc: The Very Best Of Burt Bacharach (2001). But mix well with some Sergio Mendes or TJB and these cuts will work just fine.

I'm guessing these tracks were taken from Bacharach's albums such as 1967's Reach Out and/or his 1971 self-titled LP (which shares a cover photo with this CD release). No credits, recording dates, publishing info were included with this CD otherwise I'd give you more information.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: 12 tracks: 37 minutes. They're all smooth (mostly) instrumentals, easy listening bordering on Muzak. My picks are This Guy's In Love, Do You Know The Way To San Jose?, and I Say A Little Prayer. The only track to skip is the odd arrangement of Alfie, a tune that isn't that great to begin with to be honest.

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)
Painted From Memory (1998)
What The World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform the Songs of Burt Bacharach (1998)

Various Artists - Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker (1999)

From the liner notes:

There is a certain sort of elegance that has become a cliché, involving as it does, a bleached white beach next to which sits a luxury condominium. Its floors are polished pine and though there is a lot of furniture the sheer expanse of the room makes the decor seem minimal. Reclining on a white sofa is an astoundingly beautiful woman dressed in a flowing sarong style dress made from some diaphanous material. She's holding a large whisky tumbler, the drink inside is, of course, on the rocks. A hi-fi nestles on a shelf at the far side of the room, it's big and self important with buttons, knobs and dials much larger than is absolutely necessary. The music is lushly orchestrated and soothing, it has to be the work of Burt Bacharach.

This album is an extremely tasty collection of jazz covers of classic Bacharach tunes. It doesn't get much better than this; easily my favorite Bacharach album - I actually prefer these covers to the versions we are all familiar with. Timeless music good for almost any occasion; entertaining and sophisticated. Great liner notes (includes 6 cocktail recipes if ya need 'em).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  Did not chart

Tracks:

1. This Guy's In Love With You - Stanley Turrentine
   From the 1968 album, The Look Of Love
2. Wives & Lovers - Nancy Wilson
   From the 1967 album, Today, Tomorrow & Forever
3. I Say A Little Prayer - Reuben Wilson
   From the 1969 album, Love Bug
4. The Look Of Love - The Three Sounds
   From the 1968 album, Coldwater Flat
5. What The World Needs Now Is Love - Stanley Turrentine
   From the 1967 album, Easy Walker
6. They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes) - Lou Rawls
   From the 1967 album, Soul Serenade
7. I'll Never Fall In Love Again - Grant Green
   From the 1970 album, Green Is Beautiful
8. Do You Know The Way To San Jose - Richard 'Groove' Holmes
   From the 1970 album, Working On A Groovy Thing
9. Walk On By - Stanley Turrentine
   From the 1966 album, Rough & Tumble
10. Promises, Promises - The Jazz Crusaders
    From the 1969 album, Powerhouse
11. Knowing When To Leave - Ernie Watts Quintet
    From the 1969 album, Planet Soul
12. Always Something There To Remind Me - Stanley Turrentine
    From the 1968 album, Always Something There To Remind Me
13. Wives & Lovers - Grant Green
    From the 1965 album, Matador
14. Alfie - Nancy Wilson
    From the 1967 album, Just For Now

Should be listened to from top to bottom, but if you wanted to shuffle the tracks, that's okay, too. The Stanley Turrentine tracks are my favorites, but even with jazz greats like these, the true star of the disc is the songwriting.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  After the release of Painted From Memory (right around the time of the resurgence in lounge culture), I went on a serious Bacharach binge which included the purchase of this album. Early on, I made the mistake of loaning it to a friend. He had just gone through a bad break-up so each night he would put this CD on, drink a bottle of Wild Turkey, and cry himself to sleep (or simply pass out). He eventually got over it and I got my CD back. No more loaning.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Blue Brazil: Blue Note in a Latin Groove (1999)
Capitol Rare: Funky Notes From The West Coast (1999)
Capitol Rare: Funky Notes From The West Coast, Vol. 2 (1999)
Blue Bossa, Vol. 2: Cool Cuts from the Tropics (1999)

Various Artists - What The World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform the Songs of Burt Bacharach (1998)

A bunch of alt/indie artists from the '90s attempt to cover classic Bacharach tunes and, for the most part, completely miss the point of the songs. Most bands completely ignore the subtlety of Bacharach's intricate chords and mixed meters and choose to just plow straight through. These songs deserve better than 3-chord, 4/4, power pop covers drenched in feedback and distortion. I bought this because I enjoy Bacharach tunes, but should have known better. I was unfamiliar with Big Deal records and, with the exception of Shonen Knife, I was previously unfamiliar with the 14 artists represented here. Lesson learned. The review from People magazine sums it up nicely: "what played nicely in 1967 can sound awfully corny in 1998." Stick with the versions you know.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: It's not all bad. The Wondermints do a good job with Don't Go Breaking My Heart. Other than that, these groups hack at these classics like bad wedding reception bands.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. Today is the disc's second play.

Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach - Painted From Memory (1998)

I'm not much of an Elvis Costello fan, but occasionally I'll pick up a Costello release because I sometimes think I should like him. Thankfully, it turns out that this isn't much of a Costello disc at all - the star of this disc is Bacharach's songwriting which is as strong as any of his writing from the '60s. And it's quite a solid return to form, at that. From the production to the string arrangements, this entire project was written within the parameters of Bacharach's most successful work. Even though a song from this disc won a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals and the entire album was met with critical acclaim, the album wasn't a commercial success. This music is not of its time, which explains why it peaked at #78 on the album charts. I guess it just couldn't compete with the soundtrack to Titanic. That's a shame, because it means that a lot of people are missing out on this treat. Great music for a rainy day or quiet night.

This disc was recorded and released around the same time the duo made a cameo appearance in the second Austin Powers movie. I think they performed I'll Never Fall In Love Again.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #78 (Oct 17, 1998)

Tracks: It's hard to pick favs on this disc because the more you listen to them, the more you like them. I've always though the best song on the disc is Toledo. As of this listen, I'm also liking In The Darkest Place, I Still Have That Other Girl, Such Unlikely Lovers, My Thief, and the title track. Track 8, The Long Division, sounds like an '80s tune. Normally, you'd think I'd like that, but it just doesn't seem to fit with the sound of the other songs.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: (almost the same as Human Being by Seal) This album was released in September 1998. In December of that year, I rode on a charter bus from Bay City to Irving and back with 200 high school students. That particular Saturday we were headed to Texas Stadium for the Class 4A, Div 1 state football championship game between Bay City and Grapevine (final score: Grapevine 22, Bay City 0). I listened to this CD on that trip. For that reason, I consider it to be a fall/winter CD that can't be listened to in the spring or summer.

One of my dream jobs is to play flugelhorn with Burt Bacharach.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Very Best Of Burt Bacharach (2001)
Bill Frisell - The Sweetest Punch (1999)

Various Artists - The Very Best Of Burt Bacharach (2001)

Some sweet ear candy. Perfect pop concoctions from Bacharach and, on most tracks, lyricist Hal David. Interestingly, Bacharach wasn't the best interpreter of his material -- vocalists like Dionne Warwick, Sandie Shaw, Gene Pitney, Dusty Springfield, and the Shirelles were. Those popular versions are the ones included here. Most songs are from the '60s with 2 from the '80s. Since this is a Rhino issue, you can be assured the liner notes are first rate. People my age grew up listening to these songs because it was pop music our parents would enjoy. A fantastic compilation, highly recommended for aging hipsters like myself.

Tracks: It's hard to pick the best and those might vary from listen to listen, but today I'm digging Dionne Warwick singing Walk On By, I Say A Little Prayer For You, and Do You Know The Way To San Jose? Also, Jackie DeShannon singing What The World Needs Now Is Love and Tom Jones wailing What's New Pussycat? (a favorite of my sons). Dusty Springfield singing The Look Of Love just melts me. Wow, what a voice. I've never been a fan of Alfie or That's What Friends Are For, so they don't get played much, if at all.

Song	Year	Hot 100	AC	R&B
Baby It's You - The Shirelles	1961	8	-	3
Only Love Can Break A Heart - Gene Pitney	1962	2	1	16
Anyone Who Had A Heart - Dionne Warwick	1963	8	2	-
(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me - Sandie Shaw	1964	52	-	-
Walk On By - Dionne Warwick*	1964	6	7	-
What The World Needs Now Is Love - Jackie DeShannon*	1965	7	-	40
Alfie - Dionne Warwick*	1967	15	-	-
What's New Pussycat? - Tom Jones	1965	3	-	-
I Say A Little Prayer - Dionne Warwick	1967	4	-	8
The Look Of Love - Dusty Springfield	1967	22	31	-
Do You Know The Way To San Jose - Dionne Warwick	1968	10	4	23
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B.J. Thomas*	1969	1	1	-
I'll Never Fall In Love Again - Dionne Warwick	1969	6	1	17
One Less Bell To Answer - The 5th Dimension	1970	2	1	4
Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross	1981	1	1	-
That's What Friends Are For - Dionne & Friends	1985	1	1	1
*Grammy Hall of Fame

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Not long after I bought this CD, my wife and I piled into a minivan with 2 other couples to go out to dinner. I popped this in the CD player and soon there were 6 adults singing along, myself included.