A holiday gift from Burt and Rumer

As many of you know, Burt Bacharach has recently been busy writing songs with lyricist Steven Sater for a new musical based on the O. Henry story “The Gift of the Magi.” Burt has written 18 new songs for the project with Sater, the Tony Award-winning playwright and lyricist responsible for Spring Awakening, and the pair has also collaborated on a handful of singles for vocalists including Mario Biondi (“Something That Was Beautiful”) and Karima (“Just Walk Away”).

RumerWhile a full production of The Gift of the Magi isn’t expected until fall/winter 2011, f ans got

an early holiday gift on Dec. 13 in the form of a new Christmas EP by the British vocalist Rumer. Rumer Sings Bacharach at Christmas features the debut of “Some Lovers,” one of the new Bacharach-Sater songs written for Gift of the Magi. Based on this composition, I think it’s safe to say that fans of Burt’s classic pop sound have a lot to look forward to.

Rumer Sings Bacharach at Christmas, which also includes her recording of the Bacharach-David classic “Alfie,” isn’t yet available via iTunes in the U.S., but you can purchase it—as both a digital download and a limited edition 7″ vinyl version—by visiting Rumer’s official website.