December 5, 1997

Sorry for the two month delay in updating Burt news. There are quite a few things to mention. In the order that I received each item…
On Oct. 6, Davide Bonori came across three excellent but expensive Japanese Bacharach collections.

Each includes many rare performances not easy to find elsewhere. The full track listing of each is here if you’re interested.

I can’t remember if I’ve posted their URL before, but the Bacharachs are a Danish band that does nothing but Bacharach songs. Unfortunately, their site is in Danish. If you can figure out the bit about Bacharach Cocktail, write me…

Gary Fitch wrote in with chords for the beginning of “God Give Me Stength.” Has anyone finished a version yet?

On Jan. 20, 1998, Big Deal Records will release “What the World Needs Now …Big Deal Recording Artists Perform the Songs of Burt Bacharach. The track listing and performers is as follows:

Wondermints – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
Splitsville – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
Vandalias – Wishin’ And Hopin’
Mitch Rasor – I Say A Little Prayer
Barely Pink – It’s Love That Really Counts
Gladhands – Promise Her Anything
Michael Shelley – Baby It’s You
Hannah Cranna – (They Long Close To You
Idle – Make It Easy On Yourself
Shonen Knife – Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Absolute Zeros – There’s Always Something There To Remind Me
Dan Kibler – Trains And Boats And Planes
Cockeyed Ghost – Walk On By
BMX Bandits – It Doesn’t Matter Anymore

The CD also features cover art by Jack Davis, of Mad Magazine fame.

Roberto Pinardi reports that Rykodisc will reissue” After the Fox” on CD. The number of Burt recordings unavailable on CD is shrinking by the day. Now if only someone would reissue “What’s New, Pussycat.” In my opinion it’s one of Burt’s best soundtracks, with “My Little Red Book,” “Here I Am,” and lots more swingin’ instrumentals.

Brian Burke writes to report that Rhino Records will definitely issue the Bacharach Box in 1998–June of ’98 is the current release date. This from the mouth of none other than Dr. Rhino.

Rod Lott writes to report that the new issue of Details (w/ Courtney Cox on the cover) says the (highly anticipated) Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach album collaboration will hit stores sometime in 1998. Could there be any better news? Also, Burt and Hal are credited as co-writers of the current single “2 Wicky” by Hooverphonic (featured on the soundtracks of “Stealing Beauty” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, as well as Hooverphonic’s own great album, “New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular”), because the song samples a bit of

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