favorite moments in burts arrangements or songs

steveo_1965 · Post by **steveo_1965** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:44 pm

One of my favorite moments in Burt's arranging is the oboe solo
at the end of Dionne Warwick's record of Knowing When To Leave...
Burt's 1969 instrumental version is equally thrilling in the same spot.

Another favorite moment is in "Come Touch The Sun" at the end when the orchestra strikes the D 11th chord resolving to the D chord with the trumput solo over it.
(and always BE MY LOVE...those three notes..
fantastic!
Thank you Burt! You made Harry James and JAck Mathias proud!

Steveo

gabba · Post by **gabba** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:11 am

even "april fools" in the sweater album..at the end you hear a female chorus and Burt just playing few notes at the piano..so melancholy but always essential ..he never invades the piece..

KeithBurke · Post by **KeithBurke** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:37 am

My vote goes to the 3 note viola segment used in South America Getaway at the 2:31-2:34 point and then again at the 4:20-4:23 point. Quintessential Bacharach.

gabba · Post by **gabba** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:11 am

don't forget the ending of "whoever you are" on Burt's version..that Dionne look alike voice..really we guys have a long list to describe this genius craft..
Love to everyone..

steveo_1965 · Post by **steveo_1965** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 10:32 am

Keith and Gabba,
I would also like to mention the jangling piano fills , like the dissonant
clusters on the "Walk On By" piano solo...and in another song, the little piano fill after Dionne sings the phrase "I Say a Little Prayer For You"...
implying a flatted 9th for a second on the B 7th chord..brilliant!

Fool Killer · Post by **Fool Killer** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:56 am

I would add the fadeout of Dionne's "I'll Never Fall in Love Again".... I think that's Burt playing those sublime piano notes, as sighing & gorgeous commentary on the whole song...

Paolo · Post by **Paolo** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 2:25 pm

And the end of "wehre are you"?
It's sounds like a classical contemporary music!

Steve Schenck · Post by **Steve Schenck** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:25 pm

Right off the top, I have to say the opening measures of "Looking with My Eyes." What an unusual and unprecedented way to begin a song! I had been a Burt fan for decades before I first heard that piece in the mid-90s. Immediately I knew it was Burt's but was still wowed by it. Also, the closing measures of "Magdalena," from the "Woman" album. What he does with those skittering oboes and violins, teasing and answering one another, is still unbelieveable!

steveo_1965 · Post by **steveo_1965** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:32 pm

Fool Killer,
You are Right! That is indeed Burt playing piano at the end of Dionne's "I'll Never Fall in Love Again". I love that ending too! Great strings and little piano fills...with those intervals..that can only be Burt!

blueonblue · Post by **blueonblue** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:46 am

Hi everyone,
this is my first post,so please bear with me,
One of my favourite moments has to be at the end of
the instrumental version of "Knowing when to leave"
only Burt could have thought of that.....wonderful !!!!!!!!!!!!

blueonblue · Post by **blueonblue** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:46 am

Hi again Steveo,
Has anyone ever noticed about 1:42 secs into the instrumental
version of "CloseTo You" what sounds like Burt screaming
..........."MORE" !!!!
or has "old dog ears" here, got it wrong as usual ???

scotsgreg · Post by **scotsgreg** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:03 pm

Dionne Warwick's Anyone Who Had A Heart: The stark piano introduction, the punctuating second verse tremelo guitar stingers after each vocal phrase, the dark saxophone instrumental break, the bizarre, unexpected time signature changes, climactic, gospel-styled crescendoes and open, almost angry, musical despair were revolutionary touches in commercial music at the time and the success of the song (#8 Pop, #2 Adult Contemporary) opened up doors for more imaginative arrangement in pop. It was such a dramatic contrast to anything else happening in radio at the time and was particularly potent in the lingering aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination in December of 1963.

gabba · Post by **gabba** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:24 pm

i'd like to listen with you guys the track "she's gone away"..has one of the very most expressive begin i've ever heard in Burt's arrangements..the trumpet and the celesta are so impressive..when i think of a special atmosphere i have this in mind..DOES anyone can air for us here in the forum this emotional piece of music?maybe you KEITH BURKE???
(i'd like to do it myself but i'm not very familiar with this stuff,sorry!)
love to you all..GABBA

p.s.:the amazing drummer in the track is Gary Chester!italian like me

steveo_1965 · Post by **steveo_1965** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:24 pm

Blue on Blue,
It's quite possible that you heard Burt shouting "more" on that recording. This is something he did a lot in the 60's and 70's...
If you are listening to a cd version, It's possible the remix might have
included that....
(I don't know -I only have the vinyl version.)
Regarding Anyone Who Had A heart And Don't Make Me Over..I find that Burt may have taken his inspiration from a couple of Paul McCartney
tunes written and recorded by Cilla Black..one of Paul's tunes has a strange minor effect, with similar mood and orchestration, and is in 6/8
(It's for you? I think might be the title) it's on U Tube. Burt has stated that his inspiration at that time was The Beatles, Gershwin and Ravel.

The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum