The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

I was listening to the radio this morning and just as I turned it on, Carly Simon is singing Irving Berlin's Christmas standard "White Christmas". So I'm listening to the piano player and I'm thinking, "Gee, this guy is really good... he sounds a lot like Burt Bacharach... the way he's playing the piano is AMAZING... the chord substitutions... the voicings... his touch... just the way he's playing sounds like Burt... this guy DEFINITELY has been influenced by Burt Bacharach." These are exactly the thoughts I was thinking. I had no idea who was playing the piano. When the song was over, the announcer said, "That was Carly Simon singing 'White Christmas' accompanied on the piano by Burt Bacharach."

You can imagine how I flipped out! Burt did it to me again. His music, orchestrations, and piano playing have always been an important part of my life. Even "White Christmas", that old standard, was made to take on a Burt Bacharach "feel" when played by that genius. No one plays the piano like Burt, and I suppose I should have known that it was him playing after all.

The announcer said that Carly Simon did an album of Christmas Songs, so I have to to to Tower Records soon and get that album. I'll be listening to that particular song over and over again. Burt can turn the piano into his own particular and singular instrument that no one can play.

(I figured you fans would understand.)

Thanks, Enormous Fan! I'll be looking for that CD myself. I only wish I could hear "The Bell That Wouldn't Jingle" more. For the past few years I haven't heard it at all, and I don't have a recording of it. It's one of my favorite melodies. Steve

Over the years my husband and I have been at a few movies where we would look at one another and comment "that's classic Bacharach...wonder who it is if not him." Well, you know we sit zzzzzzz through the credits (guys and gals sweeping under your feet) only to find it is indeed Burt ...love it so much when a surprise like that happens.
Forgot to login Mark ...promise I'll do better.

I recommend the Carly Simon album. It's so nice to have new, meaningful Christmas music - it seems like a hard genre to navigate. The album is mixed, in my opinion, but the track with Bacharach was such a happy surprise. If you haven't bought the CD yet, Enormous BB fan, you'll be glad to hear that he not only plays the piano on it, he also hums the intro and throughout, and speaks a bit (probably not meant to be recorded) at the end. The liner notes about the song are fun too. Hope you enjoy it!
Elizabeth