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[Sara D]

Rare recordings of obscure Bacharach songs is what we like, isn't it? I've heard recordings by Englebert Humperdinck and Johnny Mathis of this before but not Danny Williams and I really like it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KluUE_X9v40

[Martin Johnson]

Thanks Sara for posting 'Love Was Here Before the Stars' by Danny Williams. I knew of the song but hadn't realised just how beautiful and intriguing it was until I heard this recording.

[grooverider]

Sara, when did Johnny Mathis record, "love Was Here Before the Stars"? What album is it from??

[Sara D]

'fraid I can't tell you, grooverider. it's not referenced in Serene Dominic's 'Song By Song' book but then again neither is the Danny Williams recording of the song. The only recording I personally own is an instrumental by Doc Severinsen, alas not available on YouTube. It's from his 'With Strings' album from around 69/70, another track from which ('If We Lived On Top of a Mountain') was recently featured here on another thread.

[grooverider]

Miss Natalie Cole passed away Dec. 31, 2015 due to ongoing illness. She was 65 years old. I really enjoy her Spanish album from 2013,"Natalie Cole En Espanol" Here (from 1987) in a duet with Ray Parker Jr., is "Over You":

https://youtu.be/Os1tbXRGpWE

Here's "In My Reality":

https://youtu.be/_5LOiE2hIgE

[Downtown]

RIP, Natalie! I will truly miss you like crazy...

Here's another BB/Bayer Sager gem from the 80s rcorded by miss Cole: "Split Decision"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxtIwwM3ono

And a beautiful, heartfelt duet with Dionne during a time when Natalie was still struggling with addiction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlC-P3iIcHU

[grooverider]

An "old Aretha Franklin classic" is how it's introduced! Two voices, silenced too soon, a Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston duet, "I Say A Little Prayer"

https://youtu.be/-uE1Dho_3UA

[grooverider]

Here's Karima "I've Got My Mind Up" (a song from the film, "Together"):

https://youtu.be/iL_WuQ-kf5k

[grooverider]

The cd booklet notes say, "...the haunting Burt Bacharach sounding, "The Day It Rained Forever..." From 1983 album, "North Of a Miracle" here's "the Day It Rained Forever":

https://youtu.be/pStyrRG7dzo

Nick Heyward is the former leader of the 80's band, Haircut 100.
Andrew Powell arranged and conducted the orchestra on this song, which was recorded live at Abbey Road Studios.
Andrew Powell has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, is a film composer and has worked with Kate Bush, Michael Crawford and Elaine Paige, among others.

[grooverider]

Here's the late Glenn Frey, "The Look of Love":

https://youtu.be/ZspQKA5hWvI

Orchestrated by the very talented Alan Broadbent.

[hereiam]

Here is a beautiful ballad by an English girl called Laurie Briggs who's in The Karpenters (a tribute group of The Carpenters)
It does not sound like Karen in this song.. But simply awesome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSfyU0GQBm0

[Martin Johnson]

One of the few songs that BB has composed in the last 15 years that has his stamp all over it. The lyrics are by former singing star Cathy Dennis and it's a shame she never recorded it herself:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FNMQNDyj1RA

[Blair N. Cummings]

Martin, I agree with your assessment of the composition. It sounds like one of those under - heard gems tucked away on Dionne`s Scepter albums. But this is another nettling example of the singer ruining it for me. If Biondi was too hammy (and he was/is), this guy is just fatally fey. I never thought I`d want to hear "Elvis Costello" sing again but his voice may be just what this confection needs.

[Martin Johnson]

Couldn't agree with you more, Blair, re Will Young. I think that Bacharach's preference was always for the rich baritone voice and the trend in recent years for male vocalists to sound like eunuchs must have puzzled him. Just as a for instance, listen to the three guys who take lead on Arthur's Theme from Glee:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iCsYEI7tKT8

[Roberto Pinardi]

https://youtu.be/aWLkkSBLHIw

Fantastic !