Hear I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach, the new collaboration between Burt Bacharach and vocalist Ronald Isley, is scheduled to be released by DreamWorks Records on Nov. 11. Recorded live with no overdubs at the old Capitol Studio A and B in Los Angeles, the site of legendary sessions by Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra, the album features the incomparable Isley singing 13 Bacharach compositions, including brand new arrangements of classics like “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” and “Close To You” as well as two new songs, “Love Is the Answer” and “Count On Me.” DreamWorks Records has set a up a new Web site, www.isleysingsbacharach.com, to promote the record that includes previews of several tracks, photos and additional information about the project. Stay tuned for more details.

Serious Bacharach fans owe it to themselves to check out Serene Dominic’s new book Burt Bacharach: Song By Song. Released in August by Schirmer Books, this illustrated, annotated discography is as comprehensive a survey of Bacharach’s career as you’re likely to find, including interviews with Burt and many performers to record his songs, an exhaustive song-by-song guide, the full text of Dominic’s interview with Burt, the Library of Congress’ list of Burt’s compositions, a list of Burt’s TV specials and even a list of rap songs to sample Burt. At 352 fact-filled pages, it’s an tremendous work of research and a terrific resource for novices and experts alike.

The author, aka Dom Salerno, is an occasional contributor to this site’s Bacharach forum. In the book’s acknowledgements, Dominic kindly mentions this site as well as thanks forum regulars Roberto Pinardi, Stefan Wesley and discographer extraordinaire Davide Bonori, whose excellent work I’m sure provided the foundation for much of Dominic’s research.

There are two excellent new Bacharach CDs worth keeping an eye out for. First, Australian label Raven Records has released Rare Bacharach I, an ambitious 53-track two-disc set that collects some of Burt’s more obscure recordings, including a number of songs taken from films.

It’s a welcome addition to the the Bacharach reissue market. Also released this month is What the World Needs Now: Bacharach Classics, a new A&M collection culled primarily from Bacharach’s solo albums of the ’60s and ’70s. There is also a new book about Burt, Bacharach: Maestro! The Life of a Pop Genius by Michael Brocken. Brocken’s biography comes in the wake of two other recent books on Burt, Robin Platts’ Bacharach and David: What the World Needs Now and Serene Dominic’s The Little Red Book of Burt Bacharach.

In some of the most exciting recording news since Painted From Memory, Burt has been in the studio with vocalist Ronald Isley, who is recording a new CD of Bacharach-David material. The plan is to record the tracks live in the studio with no overdubs and Burt promises new soulful arrangements of some of his classic compositions

McCormick Presents Burt Bacharach Tribute on Ice, an NBC television special combining the musical talents of Bacharach, Aretha Franklin, James Ingram and Michael McDonald with the ice skating artistry of Brian Boitano, Ilia Kulik and Nicole Bobek, among others, will be taped Saturday, September 20, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. The program will air on NBC-TV on Saturday, December 20, from 4-6 PM.

I posted an email interview I conducted with Robin Platts, author of Burt Bacharach & Hal David: What the World Needs Now.

First of all, sorry (again!) for my long absence.

We’re more than overdue for an update. To begin with, I want to sincerely thank Linda Dozoretz and Allison Ravenscroft who arranged for me to see Burt perform with the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall in Houston on May 24. It was the first time I’ve seen Burt perform a show accompanied by a full orchestra and it proved to be a great night. The set list would be familiar to most people who have seen Burt perform recently, but he replaced “I Still Have That Other Girl” with “God Give Me Strength,” which, Burt said, lost the Grammy but is a better song. After the show, thanks to Sue Maine, Burt’s tour manager, I had a chance to go backstage and say hi to Burt. He was kind enough to autograph my “Look of Love” box set. I also had a long conversation with Rob Shrock, Burt’s keyboardist and musical director, David Crigger, Burt’s drummer, and Dennis Wilson, Burt’s reed player (and a fellow New Orleans native). Burt has been writing new material, Rob told me, although as of yet there are no plans to go into the studio. Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy Birthday, Burt! Today, Burt Bacharach turns 74.

As most of you know, The Look of Love opened on Broadway on May 4. I’ve assembled a collection of links, articles and reviews of the production, many of which were first posted in the Discussion Forum, so the thanks goes to the original contributors. Also, Vincent Cole sent in a few pictures taken following Burt’s performance in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 3.

According to a news release from Linda Dozoretz Communications, Burt was released from Cedars-Sinai hospital yesterday after undergoing surgery last week following complications from a dental abcess.

He will be recuperating at his home in Los Angeles.

Allison with Linda Dozoretz Communications wrote last week to announce an addition to Burt’s performance schedule: Burt will be performing three nights with the Baltimore Symphony, Nov. 28-30. She added that Burt is excited about the opening of The Look of Love and will be heading to New York next month to do press for it.

Also, discussion forum stalwart Steve Owen sent in this photo of him and fellow Bacharach fan (and discussion forum regular) Janet taken when they met last fall. Thanks, Steve.

I added the transcription of a Burt Bacharach cover story from Newsweek, The Music Man 1970. I haven’t scanned the cover art yet, but it’s an excellent read. Thanks are due my bro ther, who generously gave me a copy of

the magazine.