What The World Needs Now: The Burt Bacharach Songbook In Concert

[bminnick]

https://www.broadwayworld.com/long-isla ... T-20250114

[Sara D]

Todd Rundgren's involvement in this show is a bit of a surprise, to say the least.

[Blair N. Cummings]

As a long-time fan, I wasn`t at all surprised to see TR involved in this. Like most of us first-wave "Boomers", Todd heard and loved pop music before the Beatles existed. It was the music of our parents` generation and largely introduced to us through Broadway musical cast recordings. He mentioned long ago that he was a fan of these.
It was, oddly, a pleasure vehemently denied later by too many of us, when the rock psy-op (sorry, "revolution") kicked in and we all denounced everything musical that was older than "Love Me, Do" or "Satisfaction." I, for one, paid a terrible social price for refusing to deny my earlier tastes and I continued to buy - and hype - gravely un-cool music along with "acceptable" Airplane and VU albums. (I also knew people with sterling reputations for hipness who had stashed - literally in their closets! - Andy Williams albums and `Sound of Music` cast albums). Cliches like "peer pressure" and the like don`t entirely explain this to me. Why couldn`t we have just said "That was then; this is now"?
Anyway, my only reservation about TR`s participation in this show is the fact that his voice is now so nearly ravaged that he often can no longer hit the notes to his own songs even after lowering their keys. I cringe to think which of Burt`s compositions he`s planning to tackle.

[Sara D]

No, it's not exactly a big shock that Todd Rundgren should be an admirer of Burt's, it's just the performing aspect that I'm surprised about.

[pljms]

Here's a slightly lengthier version of the video promo by Todd Rundgren that was previously posted.

[blueonblue]

Recent interview about the show with Rob Shirakbari.....

'blue'

[Sara D]

I'm surprised Rob Shirakbari's missus Rumer isn't involved, especially given that she once released an album of Bacharach & David songs with him at the helm as the arranger and producer.

[Robshrock]

Hi,

I'm on the forum and am happy to chat about the show or answer some questions. I hope you all are well...

Rob (Shrock) Shirakbari

[blueonblue]

Hi,

I'm on the forum and am happy to chat about the show or answer some questions. I hope you all are well...

Rob (Shrock) Shirakbari

Hi Rob, welcome to the forum, just a couple of questions, will your show be touring the UK and will Todd and Kasim be taking part if it is ?
And what is the playlist likely to be, will any rare Bacharach songs apart from the "standards" be included ?

Many thanks,
'blue'

[Robshrock]

Hi,

I'm on the forum and am happy to chat about the show or answer some questions. I hope you all are well...

Rob (Shrock) Shirakbari

Hi Rob, welcome to the forum, just a couple of questions, will your show be touring the UK and will Todd and Kasim be taking part if it is ?
And what is the playlist likely to be, will any rare Bacharach songs apart from the "standards" be included ?

Many thanks,
'blue'

Hi,

Yes, we plan to tour the world with the show. The plan is to build each tour specific to a region (USA, UK, Europe, Australia/NZ, etc.), so guest artists and band will have changes for each tour's lineup that reflect that. It keeps the show dynamic and interesting in the long run, and allows me to revisit the catalog with different singers, musicians, and approaches to the songs, different keys, etc. So each tour will be unique. This collection of singers and players will likely be specific to this tour.

And in addition to our featured singers for the tour, we will have special guests come on in different cities from time to time. For instance, we have several special guests for the Ventura and LA shows in CA that we are announcing very soon; with more special guests in the works for several other cities. This will be a hallmark of every tour.

I am leading the show; but it is not about me or any other person on the stage. The main goal and focus is to honor the Bacharach catalog, with the songs being the star of the show. All of us participating are in service of that ideal in both action and in spirit, sharing in love for Burt and honoring his music. And by working with both older, established artists and younger artists the tours will keep Burt's music alive and fresh.

And, yes, we will go deep in the catalog! That's exciting for me, as I was always limited in what I could bring forward in Burt's and Dionne's shows. ;^)

If you are a fan of Burt's music, you will LOVE this show. We are doing a LOT of songs.

[blueonblue]

Hi Rob,
Thank you for your reply and info, very much appreciated.
Good luck with your show and long live Burt's music !

'blue'

[bobciscus]

Hi Rob, this is really a very good news! Let's hope to see you and your band here in Italy, where there are a lot of Burt fans. We were in many Burt concert here in Italy and we miss his music live! Please visit our italian fans club on Facebook: The Music Of Burt Bacharach - Italian Official Fans Club. Ciao from Italy

[pljms]

Todd Rundgren interviewed by Variety about the Bacharach tribute tour:

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/tod ... 236344117/

[pljms]

Here's a review of the show in LA and it's surprising just how many songs Todd Rundgren gets to perform, including two or three I just wouldn't have expected.
https://variety.com/2025/music/concert- ... 236347936/

[blueonblue]

Here's a review of the show in LA and it's surprising just how many songs Todd Rundgren gets to perform, including two or three I just wouldn't have expected.
https://variety.com/2025/music/concert- ... 236347936/

Paul, thanks for posting that great Variety review. Just one small query, 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' was composed by Film composer Pino Donaggio so I wonder if it was included as a tribute to Dusty Springfield ?

'blue'