The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

Here's another interpretation of the instrumental section of MacArthur Park, this one by drummer Hal Blaine and entitled 'Allegro From MacArthur Park':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TSs-JFjI41I

Many on this forum betray a great knowledge and admiration for the work of Jimmy Webb, particularly his remarkable 60s output. Sadly, from my experience the same cannot be said of the contributors to the discussion page on Webb's official website regarding Bacharach. In fact the relative lack of understanding and appreciation on that forum for Bacharach's genius is perhaps best summed up in a comment made a little while back by one of the regulars which stated that although he liked some of the hit songs of BB, overall he preferred the work of (lyricist) Don Black.

This song / theme composed by Italian Maestro Piero Piccioni has more than a 'hint' of Bacharach to it.
I can almost imagine Dionne singing it in her heyday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivz8OeTjEIo

'blue'

Blue, we can always rely on you for a beguiling film theme. Here's another haunting piece written for a movie by one of those continental chaps, 'Vivre pour Vivre' (Live For Life) by Francis Lai, best known for composing the music to 'Un Homme et une Femme' (A Man and a Woman).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3GCYK1iiFgQ

Sara D wrote:Blue, we can always rely on you for a beguiling film theme. Here's another haunting piece written for a movie by one of those continental chaps, 'Vivre pour Vivre' (Live For Life) by Francis Lai, best known for composing the music to 'Un Homme et une Femme' (A Man and a Woman).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3GCYK1iiFgQ

Sara, that was beautiful !
Here's another French composer I'm very fond of, the late Georges Delerue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgHmGBWv8JE

'blue'

Love the Francis Lai theme and I've always thought that there's something utterly unique about French instrumental music from the 60s. Not written for a film but an instrumental version of a song by Michel Polnareff called 'Ame Caline', 'Soul Coaxing' became an international hit for Raymond Lefevre. Apparently still used as link music by countless radio DJs the world over:

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

Re all the French music posted on this thread in the last few days, I've spent a lot of time in France over the years and I have quite a few French friends and as far as Bacharach's reputation is concerned on that side of the English Channel it's very much a case of Burt Who?, and has been as long as I can remember. Of course, there are many of a certain age who are familiar with Dionne Warwick's 60s hits, just not with the man who composed them. Apart from a few shows on the French Riviera, I doubt if Bacharach has ever played a concert in France and that just about sums it all up really.

Not strictly Burt related, but I know there are some Dionne fans here. Here she is singing We Are The World with Jon Secada at the La Musa awards this time last year. She sounds great - in a higher key than the original recording too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEaW75GfZpA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFXuMljSY7g
No real Burt connection but should be enjoyable for all. What a voice !

Bobby Vee....R.I.P.

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

'blue'

I always loved this song. Listen to how it's done here.

Thank you Burt!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRLuW4-f2eE

P.s. On "The Tavis Smiley Show," Carole was complaining that Burt wouldn't let her change one note (to whatever song they were working on) and complained that Burt insisted that only he compose the music. All I can say to that is: Thank God!

New cd, "The Art of Elegance" by Kristin Chenoweth, here's "A House is Not a Home":

https://youtu.be/VoGaVTX4N1w

Produced by Steve Tyrell
Arranged & Conducted by (the great) Alan Broadbent

Portrait in Music....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psf5gDpmRuA

'blue'

From my experience if you mention the title 'Are You There With Another Girl' to someone you'll get a blank look. But as soon as you start singing the highly adhesive refrain, "I hear the music coming out of the radio", they instantly smile in recognition. I don't believe this version has ever been posted here and I've always found it a bit strange that they exclude the line, "love requires faith I've got a lotta faith...." at the song's climax.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p_x39-OVTYA

Yes, Are You There is undoubtedly one of Bacharach's most beguiling melodies and we can only assume it was the song's unusual structure that prevented it from being a major hit for Dionne Warwick. However, in 1990 the song was part of a 4 track EP by Deacon Blue simply titled Four Bacharach & David Songs that actually reached No.2 in the UK Singles Chart. The lead track and the one that got played on the radio all the time was I'll Never Fall In Love Again, but here's their uptempo and very early 90s take on Are You There:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xOPFGk9jVNI

Re 'Are You There (With Another Girl), of course what makes the 'I hear the music coming out of your radio' melodic line so haunting and gives it so much tension, reflecting the slightly paranoid nature of the lyrics, is the fact it's sung over a G major 9th chord when your ears are expecting D major, as on the original Dionne Warwick recording. That's pure genius in my book.