Bacharach TV Special From 1972

[pljms]

Although many excerpts from Bacharach's 70s TV specials have been posted on YouTube over the years it's rare indeed for one of these shows to be posted in its entirety. This one is from 1972 and features guests Sammy Davis Jr, Anthony Newley and Vikki Carr. Bacharach performs the extended version of Wives And Lovers and the title song of the then soon to be released movie musical Lost Horizon. We also see him taking the musicians through Nikki in his own inimitable style.

[blueonblue]

So many great moments, but the part where Burt is recording 'Nikki" is utterly priceless!
And the opening number 'Wives and Lovers' is an absolute knock-out!

Even after all these years, this show still has the power to astound!
Paul, thank you for posting.

'blue'

[Sara D]

Very enjoyable and one of my favourites of all the specials. Anthony Newley, Sammy Davis Jr and Vikki Carr were the perfect guests for this type of show and they even carry off the obviously scripted banter with aplomb! I see that Jack Parnell was the MD for the show and he was well known in the UK for being a jazz drummer with his own big band, some of whom almost certainly would have featured in that storming performance of 'Wives & Lovers' at the beginning of the show.

[Martin Johnson]

Outside of the parts of the special featuring Vikki Carr which have been on YouTube for a number of years, this is the first time I've seen the show since I watched it the first time it was broadcast forty-nine years ago and it more than lived up to my memory of it. The sheer amount of talent on show in that special seems extraordinary to us now but at the time we probably took it a little for granted, such was the abundance of brilliant performers and writers who emerged in the 60s and who continued to flower in the 70s.

[harrymcc]

Great find, thank you. I can never get enough renditions of “Knowing When to Leave” and “The Look of Love.”

[pljms]

Bacharach is complimentary on the show about the Bricusse and Newley score to their then soon to be staged musical 'The Good Old Bad Old Days' and I wonder if he heard echoes of one of his own tunes in this particular song? Coincidentally, Vikki Carr performed part of the Bacharach song I'm thinking of on this special.

[blueonblue]

Paul,
'Knowing When to Leave' springs to mind.

'blue'