The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

While Gene Pitney`s appeal was and remains incomprehensible to me, I love this song. Incomprehensible, too, is why Jackie never had another B/D hit after WTWNN.
IMO, just about every other song of theirs that she recorded was stronger. She was such a great interpreter of their work that, in retrospect, it`s amazing that the team never made a complete album with her. I suppose there might have been some exclusivity provision in their contract with Dionne. Still, it seems a wasted opportunity.

Jackie and a certain Gentleman with two songs from the terrific "Together ? " soundtrack.



"blue"

This is an example of what I meant. Here was a popular, late-night, network music show whose producers obviously thought they were rolling out a hit. Burt and Jackie must have believed that this song was going to (at least) chart.
It never received a moment`s airplay. It was stillborn. Why?

I've never seen or heard Dionne do this song complete in concert before. It was an international hit for her in '64, although it should have been much bigger in my opinion.

It's the "Wolfman" folk's !


"blue"

And now, for something different, here's organist Cameron Carpenter, "Alfie":



His new cd has his interpretations of Leonard Bernstein, Rachmaninoff, Leonard Cohen, Bach and Bacharach.

I've heard many interpretations of "Alfie" and this is one of the very best !
He even adds a hint of "Morricone" at the end......quite brilliant !

Thank you for posting.

"blue"

About a year after he produced Cilla Black's record of the song George Martin recorded a wonderfully lush orchestral version of 'Alfie'. Sadly it's not on Youtube. Anyone else here familiar with it?

Dear Blue,
You're welcome. A little more info on Mr. Carpenter. His latest cd, "If You Could Read My Mind" utilizes a "touring organ", electronic, with his favorite sampled sounds, captured from various organs throughout the world. Cd available on Sony Classical. He is also on the new "Red, Hot + Bach" Sony crossover cd of remixes, the deluxe version with Mr. Carpenter on a movement from Bach Violin.

Martin Johnson wrote:About a year after he produced Cilla Black's record of the song George Martin recorded a wonderfully lush orchestral version of 'Alfie'. Sadly it's not on Youtube. Anyone else here familiar with it?

Yes MJ, George Martin's arrangement really brings out the song's gorgeous melody like no other instrumental version I've heard, including Burt's own from the 'Reach Out' album.

grooverider, thanks for the info, I'll be checking this artist's work out further.

"blue"

A 'mature' early Bacharach & David gem from 1959. For years the only version I knew of this tune was on Stan Getz's Bacharach album from '67. Gene McDaniels' high note at the end on top of the strings never fails to send a shiver down the spine:

pljms, thanks for posting such a beautiful track.

Here the sublime Mr Tony Bennett sings Bacharach and David....


"blue"

This song was featured in this morning's edition of "Sounds of the Sixties" with Brian Matthew.
Who else thinks this sounds very much like Dionne.....complete with the Bacharach singers ?
I wonder....


"blue"

[quote="blueonblue"]This song was featured in this morning's edition of "Sounds of the Sixties" with Brian Matthew.
Who else thinks this sounds very much like Dionne.....complete with the Bacharach singers ?

Not dissimilar, Blue.

Do you remember Pickettywitch's lead singer Polly Brown? Yes, most British men of a certain age would do for reasons which have nothing to do with her voice, which again bore a similarity in tone to DW, something all the DJs of the time picked up on.