The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

In recent times Bacharach has performed Are You There in concert although, sadly, not in London the last couple of years. Sung perfectly by Josie James, it's in the same key and uses the same arrangement as the Dionne original:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ff8BHkvm2E

Listening to Sounds of the 60s this morning and hearing world-renowned lyricist and music enthusiast Sir Tim Rice wrongly credit Hal David for the words to 'Any Day Now' was a little surprising to say the least. Easy mistake to make, of course, and I've heard it before on the radio with other Bacharach and Hilliard songs.

For me the most ear-catching track played on this morning's show was 'I Think Of You' by the Chantelles and during the intro my other half murmured, "Touch of the old Bacharachs there". Apparently, several years earlier when they were known as the Lana Sisters the group included Dusty Springfield in their line-up. Anyway, it's a beautifully arranged and produced record. I believe the video is an excerpt from a film:

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

Martin Johnson wrote:Listening to Sounds of the 60s this morning and hearing world-renowned lyricist and music enthusiast Sir Tim Rice wrongly credit Hal David for the words to 'Any Day Now' was a little surprising to say the least. Easy mistake to make, of course, and I've heard it before on the radio with other Bacharach and Hilliard songs.

For me the most ear-catching track played on this morning's show was 'I Think Of You' by the Chantelles and during the intro my other half murmured, "Touch of the old Bacharachs there". Apparently, several years earlier when they were known as the Lana Sisters the group included Dusty Springfield in their line-up. Anyway, it's a beautifully arranged and produced record. I believe the video is an excerpt from a film:

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

I too heard that slip-up by Tim Rice re 'Any Day Now' last Saturday, Martin, and then I reminded myself that the script for SOS would almost certainly have been written by the show's producer.

Yes, It just shows how crowded the UK music scene was in the mid-60s that a record as good as the Chantelles' 'I Think of You' could go virtually unnoticed. I actually think the busy up-tempo arrangement and the bright, high decibel production probably owes more to Tony Hatch than to Bacharach. As for the song itself, it's terrific up to and including the 1st bridge then seems to lose its way a bit with possibly one modulation too many. Still, I'm sure this would have been one of those bright and breezy, danceable 60s pop records that the Northern Soul crowd would have re-discovered with relish in the 70s.

Although Liz Damon's cover of this song was posted here a few years ago, I believe this is the debut for Dionne's original. I'll admit that what made me search this out on YT was hearing The Goons' 'I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas' on the radio the other day, which for people outside the UK and under 50 is a different type of 'song' altogether!:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M-ewe8CtU3M

My hubby and I were at a Soul and R 'n' B dance party last Saturday night and snuck in alongside the likes of 'Wooly Bully', 'Louie, Louie' and 'Shake a Tail Feather' was this version of 'Reach Out For Me' which was completely new to both of us. I asked the DJ about it later and he gave me all the details saying that this was the version of the song reputed to be the most popular on the Northern Soul scene back in the day. Incidentally, the only other Bacharach song played that night was Dionne Warwick's magnificent 'Another Night'.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nhTKhfa251I

Sara,
That version is absolutely superb !
I've never heard it before...thank you for posting.

'blue'

Here's Roy Hamilton again....wonderful singer !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZUMBEyltA4

'blue'

This has nothing to do with Burt, but this video is so terrific that I know many of you will love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnVyCuc9_P8

Brief interview with Burt and Carole.
OMG was it really 31 yrs ago !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sCOBvi0M20

'blue'

blueonblue wrote:Brief interview with Burt and Carole.
OMG was it really 31 yrs ago !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sCOBvi0M20

'blue'

I guess so -- 3 decades in an instant!

Knowing now what Carole really thought of Burt puts this video into a different perspective.

It looks to me that Carole is really ticked off at Burt doing all the speaking and getting all the questions. She's probably thinking, "What am I, a potted plant here?"

"South American Getaway" is a great jazz waltz. I'm glad Burt refused to agree with the questioner's contention.

An Enormous BB Fan wrote:

blueonblue wrote:Brief interview with Burt and Carole.
OMG was it really 31 yrs ago !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sCOBvi0M20

'blue'

I guess so -- 3 decades in an instant!

Knowing now what Carole really thought of Burt puts this video into a different perspective.

It looks to me that Carole is really ticked off at Burt doing all the speaking and getting all the questions. She's probably thinking, "What am I, a potted plant here?"

"South American Getaway" is a great jazz waltz. I'm glad Burt refused to agree with the questioner's contention.

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

'blue'

A couple of the people I went with to see 'Promises, Promises' recently singled out 'Knowing When to Leave' as the show's most beguiling song after 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again' and wondered why it wasn't better known. I told them that although it had been recorded many times and by some well known singers, there wasn't really a definitive version that could have made it a hit The amount of times Dusty Springfield performed the song on TV in the early 70s suggests it must have been a favourite of hers so it makes it all the more surprising that she never got round to cutting a studio version. Here I think is the best of these performances, coupled as it is with 'Up on the Roof'. Yes, she still has some problems with the words but at least she doesn't sound breathless on this rendition and nor does she try to come in too early for the chorus.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UxTXLfK_c6U

Fantastic. How did Hal David come up with the line, “Sail when the wind starts to blow” ?

Considering how attractive it is it's surprising how infrequently 'Here I Am' has been covered over the years and it's reputedly Brian Wilson's favourite Bacharach composition. Here are two recordings I've discovered recently, one sung and recent, one instrumental and ancient:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QAMOVgHpQD8
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PaSMKqM5hEg

If this doesn't rock your boat, nothing will.... enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DxK1Ymo01U