The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

I read - in a magazine article or book, I'm not sure which - that Burt said he sketched out the basic arrangement plan for Promises, Promises, and then handed it off to JT, who would listen to what Burt was saying and perhaps showing him, at the piano. Then, he would work out arrangements, but run t...

Well, I agree completely that that's the way things should be done. It's the only way to safeguard the integrity of the music and lyrics as being in service of the story. But, fortunately or unfortunately, a few shows that were built the other way around (a story jacked up around already existing so...

Here's an article from the San Diego Jewish Journal about BB/SS and their project. It makes it clear that they had begun writing songs, a whole year's worth, and then Sater conceived the idea of the musical story to "package" them. Some of the info is repetitive of other articles, some of ...

Steve, I think that's a terrific explanation! Very clear and to the point. I've had occasion to do some small amounts of arranging, and I thought your point about not simply dividing notes appropriately among the available instruments, but determing exactly where each note by each instrument will go...

I second Blair's hope for a speedy recording of this collection of songs. To be honest, reading the various reviews that have been published, I can understand why there isn't enthusiastic acceptance of the show as a play, as a vehicle for a story. For a show that's only 90 minutes long, without inte...

Thanks for posting that! I just heard on NY radio yesterday that Mike Myers was working on a musical treatment of the movie series. I can't say that the concept thrills me for a stage treatment, but anything that might involve Burt's musical contributions I'm interested in.

This is another song that is featured in "Some Lovers." Although written some time before the "Some Lovers" workshop, I wonder whether or not it really was written before the "Gift of the Magi" project began germinating. Burt and Steve Sater wrote this song together; ma...

Well, I realize I had been mistaken about the opening of Burt's new show. I thought it opened last Saturday night, but reading something from an LA TV website, I realized that the opening is on Wednesday, December 7th; the previous days of performances are just previews. So hopefully, we'll get to l...

I'd not seen this clip before. You can see the energy on Burt's face and the kids respond quite well. Listening to it again, I know why it has long been one of my favorite songs by BB/HD. It's got such energy.

I just found this in the San Diego Union Tribune. It's not a review of the already-opened work, but a kind of preview interview with Burt and Steve Sater, the composer/lyricist team. Let's all be looking to find reviews and post them, please! If it does really well it could come to Broadway. Someone...

Didn't Burt arrange Dionne's recording of the Theme from Valley of the Dolls, as well?

Vincent, was that an interview regarding Gift of the Magi? It sounded like a showcase of Burt's previous music. I saw a show in NYC in the late 90s which Kathy Najimy produced, called "Back to Bacharach and David," and it was made up of his hits from 1960-70. I thought maybe that's what th...

Last night, I watched on PBS (NY area) a new documentary called "Women Who Rock." In the intro, one of the participating critic/commentators noted that women, as pop artisits and rock musicans, have greatly influenced rock and roll music, being today perhaps more significant even than men....

Thanks for posting that, Blue. That's another song I'd never even heard of, let alone heard. Really appreciate it.

Thanks for posting that, Roberto. It's very interesting that the orchestrator, the famous Jonathan Tunick, orchestrator of choice of Stephen Sondheim, got his Broadway start working on "Promises, Promises" back in 1968, and is now coming full-circle working on this second Bacharach product...