Stefan Wesley reports that Billboard.com reports that Rykodisc will release “What’s New, Pussycat? on October 13.

Alec Cumming reports a Bacharach/Costello taping of SESSIONS AT WEST 54th Street on Sunday, Oct. 18th in New York, and a possible London, UK gig on Oct. 29^th.

Plus: there is an Elvis Costello-penned article in the October Details Magazine on the collaboration…..

To promote their upcoming release Painted From Memory, Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello will be playing a series of live dates in October:

October 13th – Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY

October 14th – Constitution Hall, Washington, DC

October 16th – Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL

October 20th – Universal Ampitheater, Los Angeles, CA

Tickets go on sale via the Internet for the Chicago show on Saturday, September 12th, 12:00PM – http://www.ticketmaster.com/. ( Does that mean midnight

? )

Also don’t forget Burt & Elvis’s live television appearances:
The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) September 29^th
Late Night With Conan O’Brien (NBC) October 6^th

I finally got around to adding Robin Platts’ sensational article about Burt and Hal’s recording history, “Anyone Who Had a Heart: The Songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David,” from the December 1997 Discoveries magazine. It’s a must read for the serious Bacharach collector.

Happy Birthday, Burt!

Burt Bacharach turns 69 today.

There is an article on Burt, “Burt’s Back,” in the June 1998 issue of CMJ New Music Monthly (the one with Garbage on the cover).

Many people have written to find out how to contact Burt. To send fan mail to Burt, write to the following address:

Burt Bacharach
c/o Linda Dozoretz Communications
8033 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 6226
Los Angeles, CA 90046

To contact Burt’s management, write to the following:

Richard Rosenberg
William Morris Agency
151 El Camino Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

And keep an eye out for the soon-to-be-if-not-already-released-in-the-States “Shooting Fish,” which includes on its soundtrack Jackie DeShannon’s “What the World Needs Now” and Dionne Warwick’s “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and features in the film “Big Burt,” a juke box that plays nothing by songs by you-know-who.

As you probably noticed, I added a guestbook to the site. Please feel free to post comments on Burt or any Burt-related information. This is also a great way to post requests for Burt information. You can still send me questions or comments personally, but opening the question to a world of Burt fanatics yields you a better chance of getting your answer.

A month ago I issued a request for information about the recently released Australian tribute record, “To Hal and Bacharach.” Several people responded with information and I thank all of them.

Here’s the track listing:

Always Something There To Remind Me – REBECCA’S EMPIRE
Walk on By – THE MAVIS’S This Girl’s In Love With You – LEONARDO’S BRIDE
Trains & Boats & Planes – THE DUMB EARTH
The Look of Love – LISA MILLER & TEX PERKINS
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head – CORDRAZINE
What’s New Pussycat – FRANK BENNETT (A guy who does Frank Sinatra covers. He supported Bacharach’s recent Australian Hilton gigs)
I’ll Never Fall In Love Again – THE WHITLAMS
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence – REGURGITATOR
Do You Know The Way To San Jose – THE AVALANCHES
Anyone Who Had a Heart – KIM SALMON & THE SURREALISTS
24 Hours from Tulsa – CHRIS WILSON
Wives & Lovers – KILEY GAFFNEY
I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself – THE EARTHMEN
Make It Easy On Yourself – THE BLACKEYED SUSANS Close To You – BILLY BAXTER
You’ll Never Get To Heaven If You Break My Heart – KIVA
What The World Needs Now – DAVE GRANEY & CLARE MOORE vs THE DIRTY THREE

So after the watching the show last night, what did you think? One thing I’m wondering about is the Ben Folds Five version of “Raindrops” with the verses all mixed up.

Was that intentional or accidental? I couldn’t tell. It’s hard to believe it’s an accident, but why would he go to the trouble of rearranging the verses of such a simple song? Hmmm. Left out of the TV show was Burt’s medley of early hits, including “Magic Moments,” “The Story of My Life,” “(Beware of the) Blob” and “Tower of Strength, and Dionne’s “A House Is Not A Home.” All in all, a great show and a throwback to Burt’s ABC specials of the ’70s (“I’ve been a fan of this next act for some time now…”)

Also, Alec Cumming wrote to refer me to this interview with EC.

Correspondent John Chilson says the Burt tribute musical, What the World Needs Now Is Love, which is currently playing at the Globe Theatre in San Diego in preparation for a Broadway run, has opened to mixed reviews. One newspaper headline, John reports, read something to he effect of “What this play needs is a plot.”

You’re in for an amazing night folks. On Wednesday, April 15, at 9 p.m. (EDT) Turner Network Television (TNT) broadcasts “Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night.” The special tribute to Burt was taped on April 8 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York and features the quintessential galaxy of stars, including Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Ben Folds Five, Dionne Warwick, Chrissie Hynde, Luther Vandross, Wynonna and more.

Throughout the show, Burt backs on piano and conducts the orchestra.

The live program was as follows:

Don’t miss it!

This just in… Burt will be appearing in Las Vegas at Harrah’s, May 8-10.

Jazz vocalists Ian Shaw & Claire Martin will be performing stylish reworkings of Bacharach favourites & lesser-known songs along with selections from their current albums and duets of jazz classics at London’s Studio I from through April 5, 1998. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are £9/ £6 (concs)

Scott Bassin wrote to say that he’s gotten word of a new tribute record from Australia, “To Hal and Bacharach-who’s who of new Australian artists performing their songs.” No track listing yet. Anyone know any details?

And finally, I’m going to be in New York for the April 8th “Bacharach: One Amazing Night” tribute concert. Whoo hoo! I haven’t been to New York in 10 years, so I’d love to hear from any New York Burt fans with suggestions of cool things to see or do in Gotham.

E-mail me!