Questions for Burt's Memoirs...

[Steve Schenck]

On the chance that Burt, or someone near him and with pull, might read our site here from time to time, I'm suggesting we fans post the questions we'd most like him to answer or expand on in his Memoirs. They're probably already written, if they're to come out in November, but in case not, here's a few I'd like to ask him: 1) When arranging a song, do you have any personal rules you follow regarding when to bring in back up voices? I love the varieties you exhibit in that regard; 2) When first you receive a lyric, what most drives your rhythmic inspiration for the song you end up writing? Is it something in the lyrics themselves, or something you're listening to at the time, or something else? and 3) What was for you, the hardest song you ever wrote? and why? Other questions guys...

[Blair N. Cummings]

As Mark pointed out several years ago, Burt seems surprisingly inarticulate on the subject of what he does and how he does it. His genius seems to go instinctively from brain to score without a stop at intellect. That`s why I`m a bit subdued in my anticipation of this book. Although he isn`t in the financial need in which Dionne found herself when she released her "memoirs", and I doubt that this will be a tell-all or score-settling screed, I wonder just what Burt will see fit to "reveal".
I like your suggestion, `though, and wonder if on, say, a semi-annual basis, Burt might accept some questions from the forum and answer them either himself or through a trusted intermediary.

[steveo_1965]

Steve S.
I'll throw one in here for Burt....
Burt,
I know you like chords that are multiflavored, and not "vanilla" in your words...
At what point did you start using the more exotic chords, as from the earlier style of writing, such as Magic Moment and Story of My Life...Was there a concious effort to bring in chords like Major 7ths etc?