Look Of Love, The (The Burt Bacharach Collection) - Various Artists > Reviews > American Idol is Bach(arach)!!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	All the hits on one Album, Easy Listening, Value for Money
Disadvantages:	Addictive

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I thought I was the only person in the world who loved Burt Bacharach, but after watching the finale of American Idol last Friday night I realised the world might actually start paying tribute to the legend that is….

Unusually I would like to list the all the songs that Burt Bacharach has penned over the last 50 yes 50 years. The reason for doing this is so you will find out about all the songs he has written. The number of songs you know may surprise you. I will not review every song in detail but here is the list.

DISC ONE

1. (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU - CARPENTERS (1970)
This song is one of those you either love it or hate it. For me it reminds me of my childhood although I must emphasise I am only 25. It was in the 1970's that Richard and Karen carpenter were still searching for a hit single. Richard was not very enthusiastic about the single but after being convinced and after three attempts to record it. They produced Close To You," which would become Karen and Richard's breakthrough recording. It took just six weeks to reach #1 and it remained there for four consecutive weeks.

2. DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE? - DIONNE WARWICK (1968)
I thoroughly believe that some people are meant to find one another and nothing can nearer that truth that the meeting of Bacharach and Warwick. Dionne Warwick sings quite a few songs on this album so I think it is worthy of illustrating here how they came to collaborate on so many wonderful songs.
Burt Bacharach heard Dionne a session singer during a session with the Drifters. Bacharach on hearing her talent asked if she would sing on the demos of songs, he had been writing. The hit song Do you know the way to San Jose gave Dionne her first ever Grammy Award in 1968. She also became the first of only two African-American solo female artists to win the award in her generation. The song is light and bouncy and always makes me smile.

3. MAGIC MOMENTS - PERRY COMO (1958)
What a wonderful song. The lyrics to this song are so funny if you listen to them properly for example
"The time that the floor fell out of my car when I put the clutch down". This song is probably now mostly associated with the quality street advert, well that is how I best remember it and it was probably the first time I heard this song.

4. THE STORY OF MY LIFE - MARTY ROBBINS (1957)

5. RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD - B.J. THOMAS (1969)
This song was from the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It is Bacharach's biggest hit and was sung by the young Texan B J Williams. I did not know much about this artist but he has had a successful career since this early collaboration with Bacharach. For more info on this artist see
http://members.aol.com/Sing4usBJT/BJThomas.html. This song is another reminder of my childhood when during the early eighties I had to dance at the Frontier Batley previously known as Batley Variety Club with a umbrella that refused to open on stage. The embarrassment has never left me.

6. I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER - ARETHA FRANKLIN (1967)
Bacharach believed the tempo of this song was too fast and did not want the song to be released. Song sung by Aretha Franklin has also been adapted for Dionne Warwick. The song has been I a number of songs and probably most recently in the comedy My Best Friend's Wedding in 1997.
The song was included on Aretha's album "Aretha's Gold".

7. BABY IT'S YOU - THE SHIRELLES (1961)

8. PLEASE STAY - THE DRIFTERS (1961)

9. WHATS NEW PUSSYCAT - TOM JONES (1965)
*This song hardly needs reviewing. I doubt there is anyone who hasn't heard this song. I personally dislike Tom Jones very much but I kinda have to admit that what's new pussycat is a great catchy song. Like many of Bacharachs songs, what's new pussycat was the signature tune to the Woody Allen film of the same name. Film critics deemed the film as decadent and immoral. The film was also Woody Allen's film debut and Tom Jones' second hit after it's not unusual.

10 TOWER OF STRENGTH - GENE MCDANIELS (1961)

11 (THE MAN WHO SHOT) LIBERTY VALANCE - GENE PITNEY (1962)
This is a very bouncy song. Written by Gene Pitney with the music by Bacharach and Davis Hal. The song was written for the film of the same name released by Paramount pictures in 1962. The song tells the story of the character Ransom Stoddard a man who doesn't believe in gun violence. However when Liberty Valence turns up in the town, attorney Stoddard is forced to use violence to control Valence. Stoddard shoots his gun and Valence dies. However it was Tom Doniphan who actually shot Liberty Valence from across the street. However, Stoddard takes the credit. Pitney's song was never used on the films soundtrack because of a mistake between Paramount Pictures and Pitney's publishing company.

12 I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF - TOMMY HUNT (1962)
For any of you who has The White Stripes Album, Elephant. You may be familiar with this song. Originally recorded by Tommy Hunt in 1962 and also a hit for Dusty Springfield in 1964. This song is quite depressing in its Tone but an ultimate classic.

13 I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN - DIONNE WARWICK (1969)
*
14. NIKKI -THE BURT BACHARACH ORCHESTRA & CHORUS (1966)
This is just an instrumental, all very light and easy listening.

15. MEXICAN DIVORCE - THE DRIFTERS (1962)
This is an unusual song. I am still unsure why anyone would write a song about 'Mexican Divorce'. However, the song is incredibly quirky and you can't help sing the chorus. 'One day married, next day free!' For those of you who have never heard the term 'Mexican Divorce', it refers most specifically to a period during the 1960's when Americans would travel South the Mexico where they could obtain a less expensive and quicker divorce procedure that was legal. The parties would not need to show up for the divorce hearing and could just send a lawyer!! Obviously a fad for the rich and famous the more notorious celebrities to have a Mexican Divorce included: Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn and Richard Burton. This song obviously tells the story of a 1960's fad, not such a song of the times today.

16. (THERE GOES) THE FORGOTTEN MAN - JIMMY RADCLIFF (1962)

17. BLUE ON BLUE - BOBBY VINTON (1963)

18. THE EMPTY PLACE -THE SEARCHERS (1964)

19 LET THE MUSIC PLAY - THE DRIFTERS (1963)

20. ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART - DIONNE WARWICK (1963)
*
21 A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME - BROOK BENTON (1964)

22. YOU'LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN (IF YOU BREAK MY HEART) - THE STYLISTICS (1973)*

23 ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK A HEART - GENE PITNEY (1962)

24. ANY DAY NOW (MY WILD BEAUTIFUL BIRD) - CHUCK JACKSON (1962)

25. CASINO ROYALE - HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS (1967)
I couldn't possibly write a review of every song or I would be here forever and my tummy is rumbling however. I have provided an overall short review at the end of this list with additional info on where you can find out more about Burt Bacharach.

*

DISC TWO1. THE LOOK OF LOVE - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (1967)

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  2. WALK ON BY - DIONNE WARWICK (1964)
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  3. DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - BURT BACHARACH (1963)
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  4. (THERE'S) ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME - SANDIE SHAW (1964)
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  5. WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE - JACKIE DESHANNON (1963)
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  6. REACH OUT FOR ME - NANCY WILSON (1968)

7. WIVES AND LOVERS - JACK JONES (1963)8. TWENTY FOUR HOURS FROM TULSA - GENE PITNEY (1963)
*
9. MAKE IT EASY ON YOU - JACKIE TRENT (1967)

10. DON'T MAKE ME OVER - DIONNE WARWICK (1962)

11. TRAINS AND BOATS AND PLANES - ANITA HARRIS (1965)
*
12. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF - BOBBY VEE (1963)

13. MADE I PARIS - TRINI LOPEZ (1966)

14. ALFIE -CILLA BLACK (1966)

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  15. WISHIN' AND HOPPIN' - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (1964)
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  16. THIS (GIRL'S) IN LOVE WITH YOU - PETULA CLARK (1968)

17. LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER - THE 5TH DIMENSION (1972)

18. ODD AND ENDS -DIONNE WARWICK (1969)

19. I WAKE UP CRYING - CHUCK JACKSON (1961)

20. TO WAIT FOR LOVE - TONY ORLANDO -1964

21. IT'S LOVE THAT REALLY COUNTS (IN THE LONG RUN) - THE SHIRELLES (1962)

22. ARTHUR'S THEME (THE BEST THAT YOU CAN DO) - CHRISTOPHER CROSS (1981)
*
23. THE WINDOW OF THE WORLD - THE PRETENDERS (1988)

24. THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR. -DIONNE WARWICK & FRIENDS (FEATURING ELTON JOHN, GLADYS KNIGHT & STEVIE WONDER) (1985)
*
25. GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH - BURT BACHARACH & ELVIS COSTELLO (1996)

This is a great album. Before I bought this CD, I had a number of CD's with a few of the songs on; a few Dionne Warwick Albums etc. Never did I imagine that I would be able to have all my favourites in one place. It is very unusual to have collection of 50 songs on one CD and not have to skip the tracks. This is truly value for money. How many other CD's of this size can you pick up for around the £10 mark? Society obviously does not appreciate Bacarachs and Hals Collaborative Talents. This is an exceptional buy for all you already ardent fans or even betters those who have not discovered him yet. You might have to hide it from your friends for while, because lets face it, it is not cool to have a Bacharach on your shelf. However, I am hoping last Friday night's American Idol might have young minds thinking.

For more info on Burt visit: www.bacharachonline.com