Webb Country/World Of Burt Bacharach, The - Ronnie Aldrich

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

...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... Read review

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Advantages: Superb singing and arrangements
Disadvantages: None

...doing at the time. Hayes brings all his talents as a studio arranger to maximum effect here. There are only 4 tracks on this record and it lasts over 45 minutes, two of the songs are way over 10 minutes long and yet I don't get any feeling of an artist being pretentious or self-important at all - if anything the production is very restrained. At a time when many bands were covering each others songs, Hayes came out with this opus taking material like Burt Bacharach's loungey pop of Walk On By and putting in a harder edged sound on it, whilst throwing in his own arrangements to good effect. Ad-libbing like "you really put the hurt on me, momma" goes along with the standard lines of the Dionne Warwick hit. The greatness of this album is due not only to the fact of Hayes' own sheer presence - mainly due to the deeply sensual... Read review

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Advantages: Good Music By A Good Man
Disadvantages: Only A Couple Of Weaker Tracks

...I received this much wanted CD from Simon Webbe called "Sanctuary" from my daughter for mother's day which I played over and over again. I'm sorry to say that, sad as it may seem I liked the group "Blue" when they were together, and when I heard that Simon Webbe was making a solo career I eagerly awaited the release of his new single, which he released as "Lay Your Hands" and then I heard that he was bringing out an album in November. I waited with anticipation to wait to hear more of his music before buying. But, my daughter beat me to it and bought it for me. Some of you may be expecting something like the music when Blue were together, sorry to say, but, boy band music. Well this is different than that and portrays a more adult male singer instead, and is seen as more of a soul singer. A bit about Simon, well I think he... Read review

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