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.
It’s been 35 years, but Burt is finally back on Broadway. The Look Of Love, a new musical built around the classic songs of Bacharach and David, opens on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 West 47th Street, on May 4, with previews beginning April 4. A production of the Roundabout Theatre Company, The Look of Love was conceived by David Thompson, Scott Ellis, David Loud and Ann Reinking and stars a large cast including Liz Callaway, Kevin Ceballo, Jonathan Dokuchitz, Eugene Fleming, Capathia Jenkins, Janine, LaManna, Shannon Lewis, Rachelle Rak and Desmond Richardson.
Read the complete press release announcing the show.
Davide Bonori just sent me the latest updates to his incredible Bacharach discographies. I’ve formatted and uploaded the chronological discography and I hope to have the alphabetical discography up shortly.
Any additions or corrections should be sent directly to Davide. Please not his new email address.
Irish vocalist Siobhan Pettit has released Long Ago Tomorrow, a new jazz-inflected collection of 14 songs by Burt Bacharach, spanning his catalog from “Wives and Lovers” to “Painted From Memory.” You can sample tracks from Siobhan’s record and purchase the disc online by visiting her Website.
At long last, Collector’s Guide Publishing has released Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Robin Platts’ highly anticipated book on the music and careers of Bacharach and David.
Robin, an occasional contributor to this site’s discussion forum, is a longtime music journalist and the author of a wonderful article on Bacharach for the record collectors’ magazine Discoveries a few years ago. Burt Bacharach & Hal David includes interviews with Burt and Hal as well as with many of the performers and music industry veterans to work with them through the years. It’s a must-read for any serious fan of Bacharach. Bacharach & David is available online via Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other retailers. It’s a must-read for any serious fan of Bacharach.
Happy New Year! And Happy Birthday, Elvis! In honor of the King’s birthday, I bought From Elvis in Memphis, which features Presley’s faithful rendition of Bacharach’s “Any Day Now,” the 1962 Chuck Jackson hit. From Elvis in Memphis is probably the best studio album Elvis cut in the wake of his comeback, featuring classics such as “In the Ghetto,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Kentucky Rain,” “I’m Movin On” and “Only the Strong Survive.” It’s a great collection of Memphis soul.
Happy Birthday to Dionne Warwick, who turns 62 today.
And Vincent Cole sent in (a long time ago) this photo of Burt displaying a sweatshirt with musical notes on it Vincent had given him. Vincent gave him the sweatshirt following Burt’s performance in Morristown, N.J., on Oct. 19, 2002. Thanks, Vincent!
British “Pop Idol” winner Will Young’s debut CD, From Now On, was released in the U.K. on Oct. 7. It features Will’s vocal on the new Bacharach-Cathy Dennis song “What’s In Goodbye.” Closer to home, the American Idol Greatest Moments CD features Idol contestant Tamyra Gray’s rendition of “A House Is Not A Home.”
I’ve scanned a few more albums and CDs with the ultimate plan of creating a comprehensive gallery.
It’s far from complete, but you can have a look at what I’ve done so far.
Sorry for the lack of updates, but I’ve been traveling recently. Musical director, composer and arranger Peter Matz died on Aug. 9 in Los Angeles.
He was 73. Matz worked with both Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick in his long, distinguished career, as well Carol Burnett, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Marlene Dietrich, Lena Horne, k.d. lang, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughn and others. He won an Emmy Award for the 1970 TV special The Sound of Burt Bacharach. I’ve updated the media section with a few recent articles and reviews from the Liverpool Echo, Toronto Star, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
