Bacharach and Dre (and then some)

[Guest]

DRE TAKES IT EASY!

One of the most prolific songwriters of the 20th century has teamed up with DR DRE to bring some ‘cutting edge’ to his music.

The hip-hop producer has created the beats to three tracks on Burt Bacharach’s next album, which is due for release in 2005.

Bacharach - who has a songwriting career of over 50 years – told the Denver Post: "It's a challenging, freeing feeling to take an existing format — like these rigid, four-bar loops — and to see what you can write on top of it."

He added: "It's hard and challenging too, because it does have some restrictions."

The release will mark the first album of new original songs from Bacharach since 1977’s ’Futures’. Best known for penning for Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick and The Carpenters, the songwriter has worked with Elvis Costello and Noel Gallagher in recent years – as well as appearing in cameo role for the 'Austin Powers' films.

Bacharach will release the album through Sony England after the label approached the star about doing a "cutting edge" record.

He said: "I had got together with Dre about a year and a half ago and talked about doing something for the album that we never did. Then he gave me the loops, and when I decided to do this album for Sony England, it seemed a natural fit."

The legend however is keen to dismiss any rumours that he making a hip-hop album, describing the new music as tapping into his jazz and classical roots.

According to MTV News, a spokesperson for a href="http://drdre.nme.com">Dr Dre had no comment on the collaboration with Bacharach.

As previously reported on NME.COM, Dr Dre has said that his next album - ’The Detox’ - will be his final LP.

From
http://www.nme.com/news/story.htm?ID=109876
====================
15 September 2004
Dre helps Bacharach with new album
Hip-hop mogul Dr Dre is helping songwriting legend Burt Bacharach with tracks for his new album.

MTV.com reports that Dr Dre has supplied beats for three songs on the album, which is due next year.

Bacharach's last album of original solo material was released in 1977; he collaborated with Elvis Costello on the 'Painted From Memory' album in 1998.

Speaking to the Denver Post, Bacharach said he was not making a hip-hop album, but one that tapped into his jazz and classical roots.

From
http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0915/drdre.html


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A not so ‘Little Voice’

Lisa Jason sings the classics from Johnny Mercer, Burt Bacharach, the Gershwins and more Sept. 11 at Christine’s in West Dennis. Dinner and show at 7 p.m.: $40; show only: $25 at 8:30 p.m. Call 508-394-7333.

from
http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/doc.ph ... events.htm

[An Enormous BB Fan]

DR DREhas been ordered to pay more than $1.5 million to the copyright holder of a song he sampled on his 2001 track 'LET'S GET HIGH'.

The master producer and rapper was told by a Los Angeles jury yesterday (May 7) to pay less than half of the $3.5 million sought by Minder Music Ltd for copyright infringement of Fatback's 1980 song 'Backstokin''.

US District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall, however, has not yet signed the judgment.

Dr Dre's lawyer told Billboard: "We're not done, we're only in the seventh inning."

London-based Minder Music sued the former NWA star in 2000, after Lucasfilm sued him for using their signature sound effect to open his second album, 'Dr Dre 2001'.

Dr Dre was hit with a $500 million lawsuit last year for alleged copyright infringement after he allegedly sampled Indian musician Lata Mangeshkar on Truth Hurts' track 'Addictive'.

Dr Dre is finishing his new - and final - album as well as producing albums by female rapper Eve and former NWA cohort Ice Cube.

http://www.nme.com/news/104994.htm

IMHO, I don't think it's cool to use someone's music without permission. What do you think?