The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

here's a little trivia test about Burt.

1.How tall is Burt?(reportedly)
2.What was the name of the first record label he recorded with
his orchestra on in the 60's?
3. How many children does Burt have(living or dead), and name them
4. How many wives has Burt had, and name them.
5. Name a song that Burt did not write, but arranged for Marlene Dietrich(there were many, one will do)
6.Name the 2 major cities Burt has lived and funtioned in as an adult.
7.What year did Burt move to the west coast?
8.Name at least one of Burt's racehorses
9.What famous artist recorded his first composition?
10.Who introduced Burt to Hal, writingwise?
11.What is Burt's themesong?
12.What other pop writer does Burt so admire?
13. Did Burt ever own any commercial property, and if so what was it, and where was it?
14.Name one of Burt's early manager's when he had his orchestra in the 60's on..(this is going to be a hard one, cause only a few will know)A first name will do.
15.What was the name of the record label owner whom Burt recorded Dionne with?
16. Which war was going on when Burt was in the service?
17.What was the brand name of Burt's piano, which he wrote so many hits on?
18.What major recording artist of the 50's told Burt "don't quit your day job"- meaning this person felt that Burt's songs were no good.
19.Name the first tv special Burt did and where what city was it recorded in?
20.In the early days was Burt a Republican or Democrat?

Steveo

I think I know some of these, but by no means all...

1 - ?
2 - ?
3 - 4 children: Nikki (now deceased) with Angie; Chris, with Carole (I think he was adopted); Oliver and Raleigh, with Jane.
4 - 4 wives: a) Paula? b) Angie Dickinson c) Carole Bayer Sager d) Jane Hansen
5 - "What'll I Do?"
6 - New York and Beveryly Hills
7 - ?
8 - Heartlight
9 - ?
10 - ?
11 - ?
12 - Elvis Costello; whoever wrote "The Greatest Love of All" (Michael Masser?)
13 - Burt Bacharach's Westbury Inn, a restaurant in Westbury, Long Island, NY
14 - ?
15 - Florence Greenburg
16 - The Korean War
17 - a Steinway ?
18 - Connie Francis
19 - The Granada Television special, in London
20 - ?
Steve Schenck

Steve S. -
you are right on! : ),with perhaps the exception of no. 12...
I've always read that Burt admired Jimmy Webb, but certainly he admires
Elvis Costello, at least for his lyrics.So in this sense, your no. 12 answer is acceptable.

Steveo

Here are my guesses to fill some missing slots.

1. 5'8''

6. NYC and LA (Pacific Palisades)
(also Del Mar near San Diego)

10. Hal's brother (can't remember his first name)

11. What the World Needs Now is Love

20. Democrat, at least in the '60s. How early are you thinking?

Joan

Joan,
You are correct, with the possible exception of no.1, but again this is an ambiguous question,
as his bio during the height of his carrer stated he was 6 feet tall(New
Yorker magazine back in the 60's) but I know he is not that tall, as I
used to hang around the scene. So, in this respect, I would say you are more correct, than the so-called "Hollywood" bio". I am 5'8 1/2, and Burt
was at least that tall at one time, but people shrink as they get older, so I'm going to accept this answer : ) and yes, Democrat in the 1960's!
Very well done, Joan!
Steveo

I believe the answer to #10 (Hal's brother, as Joan NYC eluded to) is Mack David. I do remember another gentleman that worked with Burt in the early days of his writing career by the name of Bob Hilliard.

yes, Bruce,

MAck David was his name, and he was also a writer of renown.

Steveo

steveo_1965 wrote:yes, Bruce,

MAck David was his name, and he was also a writer of renown.

Steveo

Oh, god yes! What would have been the odds that Mack would have had a brother who would have become a greater renowned lyricist than he? Next to the Gershwins (and both weren't lyricists), were there ever two brothers who scaled the songwriting heights the way Mack and Hal did?

I believe that Burt wrote at least one song with Mack David!

one of the hard to find answers to 20 questions is burt's early manager...
his name was Charlie Herman.....another early manager was named
Kurt.

Steveo

the anwser to no2 is KApp Records
the answer to no 9 is Nat King Cole
the answer to no. 15 is Florence Greenberg
the answer to no. 19 ia the Sound of Bacharach

Steveo

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Thanks

Burt had horses in two consecutive Kentucky Derbies, guys! One of them almost defeated Cigar in a race with the largest purse there was, almost ending that horse's well-known winning streak. (That's tough talking by a guy who didn't know maybe half of the answers...)

But since you are into discussing Heartlight (a song that I would certainly not rank among my favorites, but which I think should not bring shame to any great composer who happened to be associated with it, and that I could easily have identified as potentially Bacharach's), I woud like to straighten the record on the name of the filly. I will quote from a post by a certain "X", which I am all but sure was me posting for the first time, before we had to register.

-----------------
From http://www.capitolint.com/burtbacharachbio.htm:
"Bacharach-Sager-Diamond also collaborated on "Heartlight," the Neil Diamond hit. Inspired by the film, "E.T.," the song had a special meaning to Bacharach. He and Ms. Sager named one of their horses "Heartlight No. One" in hopes that the filly would do as well as the hit record and album. The Bacharachs and Diamond sang "Heartlight" to her before her races. Indeed, the horse was a champion - winning the prestigious Eclipse Award."

From http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/aw ... pientId=61
"In the few moments not totally devoted to composing, Bacharach has also become a horse owner with several successful thoroughbreds currently running, including Soul of the Matter and Afternoon Deelites. Another from the Bacharach stable, Heartlight No. One, a filly, was winner of the prestigious Eclipse Award, an extremely significant accolade in track and paddock circles. The horse was named after the song, "'Heartlight," composed by Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and recording artist Neil Diamond."

How tall is Burt? about the same height as Martin Sheen and John Cho... and i can prove it.
David

What's the answer to 7?

I guess some here listened to Burt's arrangement to Marie, Marie, a song written by Gilbert Becaud and recorded by Marlene Dietrich. If you (any one of you) listened to it, what was your impression? Marlene writes about it in her autobiography. I find it stunning.

I don't know if this is Burt's arrangement. The trumpets sound like it could have come from Burt.