The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

Absolutely Magnificent !!!
I just wish Burt would write more beautiful music like this.



Grazie Roberto.

"blue"

My thoughts are with the people of Paris.

Seconds has long been my favourite post-60s Bacharach song. Here's a rare cover of the song by London-based jazz singer Trudy Kerr. With lyrics by the great Neil Simon, no less.

Thanks for posting Trudy Kerr's 'Seconds', Martin. I remember seeing her perform the song in the Festival Hall Foyer back in the 90s but had no idea she had recorded it.

Previously unreleased, Patti Page "To Wait For Love":

I've always liked 'To Wait For Love', Groovefinder, and I wasn't aware of Patti Page's recording of it. The song probably had its greatest exposure as the B-side of Tom Jones's 'It's Not Unusual'.

Herbie's not the greatest singer in the world....but somehow this just seems to work ?


"blue"

I like Herb Alpert's whirlwind version of 'Promises, Promises', not the easiest tune to play even slowly with all those time changes.

pljms wrote:I like Herb Alpert's whirlwind version of 'Promises, Promises', not the easiest tune to play even slowly with all those time changes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux67Fm6IPkA

He didn't play it as written, the tempo was horrendous, the meter was off in many instances, and it's the worst version I've ever heard. Burt had to have cringed when (and if) he heard it. In Herb's defense, I don't think it's a song best served by a solo trumpeter. Did Herb have a bus to catch or a meeting to attend?

I don't know, I rather suspect Bacharach would have admired his then record company boss's daring for even attempting PP at that speed. If he didn't he might have found Herb's version of I Might Frighten Her Away more to his liking:

http://youtu.be/d3pkH9GHMJw

Another BB/HD by Patti Page: "I'll Never Fall In Love Again":

https://youtu.be/N8Kt_OCFNxI

Arranged by Don Costa.

Thanks for posting, Grooverider. Patti Page was a class act and so was arranger Don Costa.

In the UK Dionne Warwick's 'Paper Mâché' attracted little or no airplay that I remember in 1970 and the first time I was even aware of the song's existence was when about 5 years later I stumbled upon an LP of Bacharach's music by the orchestra leader Frank Chacksfield in an Eastbourne charity shop. Once I heard the beautiful lushly arranged tune I went on a mission to find a vocal recording of the song, something that took me a couple of more years to achieve when I found an old 45 of DW's recording complete with 'The Wine is Young' on the b-side. Here's that Frank Chacksfield version.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4INzx9PmLLw

Two Bacharach songs back to back on BBC Radio's Sounds of the 60s this morning, the utterly typical 'Reach Out For Me' by DW followed by probably the most untypical song he ever wrote, his one venture into Rockabilly, 'Crazy Times' by Gene Vincent. Paul Hampton wrote the words.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2xi8bYHOP8E

Really enjoyed this version of Come In Ongi Ora (Every Other Hour)

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

The great thing about the BBC's Sounds of the 60s is that it doesn't just feature the hits of that much celebrated decade. 'Three Friends (Two Lovers)' by the Turbans was played this morning and the show's presenter Brian Matthew quoted Bacharach as recently saying he couldn't recall composing the song.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nw2cjg2NNTw