New York Daily News review

[Rio]

Burt against Bush

Bacharach turns protester - with help
from Dr. Dre and Elvis Costello

By JIM FARBER


Burt Bacharach

According to Burt Bacharach, what the world needs now isn't love, sweet love, but a good, stern talking to.
"Things are getting very bad," Bacharach declares. "Young men and women are dying in an unwinnable war in Iraq, there's Hurricane Katrina, and this President shows so little empathy. I'm scared for the future."

Scared enough for Bacharach to write lyrics for the first time in his nearly 50-year career. Though Bacharach has penned some of the most sumptuous tunes and plushest arrangements of our time, never before has he composed words to match. (He did have some help, however, from wordsmith Tonio K.) Previously, Bacharach leaned entirely on outside lyricists, most notably Hal David, the partner on his most impeccable hits.

For Bacharach's new CD, "At This Time" - the first album released under his own name in nearly 30 years - he wrote out of frustration and anger. "Never in my life have I been a political person," the 77-year-old composer explains. "I never marched about the Vietnam War or protested. But it's really hit me what's going on now."

That's not the only aspect of the new album that's likely to raise eyebrows. "At This Time," in stores Tuesday, finds the white-haired king of lounge-pop working with none other than the hit man of hip hop, Dr. Dre. Isn't that a bit like Mike Nichols collaborating with Ashton Kutcher?

Bacharach doesn't see it that way. "You could say the same thing about me working with Elvis [Costello]," he says, making reference to "Painted From Memory," his 1998 Grammy-winning collaboration with the rocker.

But it's not quite the same thing. Before working with Bacharach, Costello mastered just about every form of music, and could match the elder musician in sonic erudition. Dre's talents adopt a more - shall we say - earthy approach. While Bacharach admits he doesn't spend much time low-ridin' with the latest rap tracks, he calls Dre "the most extraordinary producer of our time. I wanted to meet him. And he wanted to meet me."

DIVINE SPIRIT

The two got together several years ago, when Dre gave Bacharach some drum loops to fool around with. There was talk of the pair recording together, but conflicting schedules scotched that idea. So Bacharach wound up playing with Dre's loops on his own. He wasn't sure what he'd do with them, until an odd offer to record an album came two years ago from Rob Stringer, head of Sony/BMG's U.K. division.

According to Bacharach, Stringer told him, "'Don't give me an album of 10 pop songs that you think will get played on the radio.' I was given total freedom, which is amazing at a time when the market is so tight and the business is so restricted."

Bacharach ran with it. "At This Time" is an odd beast, comprising seven long suites, which often have the abstraction of instrumental mood pieces. They're broken up by vocal sections that waft in and out, often at the least likely moments.

Some key vocals are provided by anonymous backup singers cast in the lead roles. "They're like a Greek chorus," Bacharach explains.

A few star guest singers turn up, including Costello on "Who Are These People?," which questions governmental authorities. Rufus Wainwright's vocal arrives late in the track "Go Ask Shakespeare," sounding like a divine spirit arriving to inject a note of sanity.

Bacharach himself sings a few lines on the album, in his trademark gravelly whisper. But the album's instrumental focus, often marked by ambient rhythms, lends it a resemblance to a style Bacharach helped inspire: British trip-hop, as defined by groups like Portishead, Morcheeba and Everything But the Girl.

Trip-hop is just one contemporary style that this vintage songwriter has crucially influenced. Bacharach's work is often sampled by hip-hop stars, most recently Kanye West on the hit "Slow Jamz." In the realm of rock, Bacharach's "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" was recently covered by the White Stripes, while in R&B, Ron Isley had a hit two years ago with a terrific album of Bacharach covers.

Classically swanky Bacharach hits, like "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?," "The Look of Love" and "Alfie" have endured not only because of their emblematic sophistication, but because of the many great readings they've been awarded over the years. Bacharach singles out Aretha Franklin's "Say a Little Prayer" as his own favorite cover version.

The composer says part of the reason his unusually sleek songs were able to break through in the '60s was the freedom of that era. "They were written at a time when radio was more open, there was less of a youth-driven market," he says.

(In fact, even at the height of classic rock in the early '70s, artists like Peggy Lee and the Carpenters had hits.)

It's not just Bacharach's compositions that have stood out, but the composer's trademark sound. Marked by bossa nova beats, lush strings and a mournful flugelhorn, it has become one of the seminal templates in modern pop, rivaled only by that of the Beatles. It's a style that continues to inform Bacharach's music on the new album. He calls the flugelhorn "such a lyrical instrument. It has a voice that speaks."

Yet, Bacharach says he can't pin down the precise reason for his music's resilience.

"You can't go into it saying 'I'm going to write a timeless piece,'" he says. "It's either instinct, timing or maybe just luck."

Originally published on October 30, 2005

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen ... 6846c.html

[Guest]

Again, Aretha mentioned-but no Dionne?

Burt has hardly mentioned Hal or Dionne in recent interviews anymore when he speaks of his past musical accomplishments. It is almost as though he is trying to revise his own history. I find this interesting, as I can understand why, when he speaks of his current accomplishments, but to not give Dionne and Hal their props is somewhat telling.

I have read posts and other publications which seems to suggest that Burt may have this love/hate thing going with Dionne that has developed in recent years. It is almost as though he is saying at times "Love what she did for my music/Hate that she is famous for it." And there are two sides to the equation-Dionne was quick to let an interviewer know when it was mentioned that she should re-record the "Painted From Memory" tracks as she could do them justice, her icy reply was "I have not heard them." But, again, Burt was rather ruthless when the split with Hal and Dionne occurred. He refused at first to even let Dionne out of her contract with him to allow her to go back into the studio to record "Just Being Myself" sans Blue Seas/Jac Productions (Burt and Hal's production company). Mo Ousten of Warner's told Dionne to get on a plane, fly to LA and talk some sense into Burt or Moe was going to have to sue Dionne for breach of contract. Legend has it that Bacharach told Warwick "no deal-you are not going to record without me." Eventually, Burt let Dionne out, but his message was pretty clear. All this too, on the shabby treatment Dionne received from Burt when she read in the LA Times that Burt and Hal were splitting-he did not even call her to let her know. I think it may be true that a lot has been forgiven but not a lot has been forgotten.

With Hal, I believe that the wounds caused by the failure of "Lost Horizon" are still very deep. Burt made a published statement which referred to the split of BB/HD/DW and referred to Hal David as "Mr. David" but referred to Dionne by her first name.

Burt is a complex man, and as he ages, I believe he is losing his inhibition to censor his thoughts. He is mad as hell and it is showing. Burt's voyage into his golden years should be very interesting-maybe that tell-all book is coming!

For those of you who will say that "It should be just about the music and we should not discuss anything else---BALONEY!!! Mr. Bacharach's public persona and stardom were NEVER just about the music and neither is the man!! Why to you think he brags so much these days about his relationship with his iconic ex Angie Dickinson???? Is his "At This Time" really about the music???? Hell no-Burt has something to say.

[Dave Noble]

> Again, Aretha mentioned-but no Dionne?

Burt was talking about "covers" - I don't think he would class Dionne's versions that way

> Burt has hardly mentioned Hal or Dionne in recent interviews anymore when he speaks of his past musical accomplishments

But Burt has stated clearly that he is looking towards the future with his compostions, and not to the past.

Dave

[Guest]

"Again, Aretha mentioned-but no Dionne? "

IMHO that is a silly, paranoid post. No point in elaborating. Just thought its author would like some feedback.

[Guest]

Don't find the post silly at all. Just another opinion (mine) and speculation perhaps. Burt is a human being. After all it is interesting to speculate what his motives are. Each of us are doing it every time we post. Many of us speculate his motives in writing "At This Time". Nothing wrong with that at all. Paranoid? Maybe-maybe not, but the facts behind the speculation in the post are interesting and may provide some insight into the relationship between Burt, Hal and Dionne. At least they seem to, to me. But, alas, I am frequently wrong as many of us here are when we speculate.

What would Burt think? Who knows, but we may find the answer in his music.

Thanks for the feedback, it is those differences which make this interesting. This board is showing some signs of life again-great work!! It is always ok to agree to disagree.