The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

So colleagues, what do you think it is most complex BB song ever? You will all say Promises Promises with its changing time signatures, but I'd like to propose Captives of the Heart - layer after layer of sound and rhythms.

nowmedical wrote:So colleagues, what do you think it is most complex BB song ever? You will all say Promises Promises with its changing time signatures, but I'd like to propose Captives of the Heart - layer after layer of sound and rhythms.

Very difficult to pin just one down, but these have some very complex chord changes.....whoever labelled Bacharach's music as 'easy listening' ???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo8yfbFlKFk


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zZDgBZFePI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5FiIpBt0oU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3TQNLcBiDU

'blue'

I'm going with "Is There Another Way To Love You" and "Looking With My Eyes." Both are beyond any mere mortal's imagination.

nowmedical wrote:So colleagues, what do you think it is most complex BB song ever? You will all say Promises Promises with its changing time signatures, but I'd like to propose Captives of the Heart - layer after layer of sound and rhythms.

"Captives" is a nice song, and certainly complex, but it doesn't rank with Burt's most adventurous compositions. It's lacking that signature "tautness" of his best work.

I just posted that "Is There Another Way to Love You" and "Looking With My Eyes" are my votes, but I just remembered the songs he did with Dionne in 1974: "And Then You Know What He Did' and "He Walked Right Through the Door." Try singing along with either of them the first few times!

I agree with face regarding those `74 recordings. Burt was becoming more adventurous than ever until he pulled a hissy fit and walked away. It almost seems an act of masochism that, after one pretty good album with her, he allowed Carole Bayer-Sager to water down his compositions until they were predictable schlock.

Just a couple more.....
Joss Stone also did a fantastic 'live' version at Burt's BBC tribute concert last year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L__wS8FNkxw

And two Bacharach/ David 'evergreen's....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4hDJ9jIspk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiZJ1XW1HX4

'blue'

Bonjour Blue!

How about this one by Dionne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kzw70otb1w

Take care mon ami.

Vincent

You're right, I would have picked "Promises, Promises."

Does "South American Getaway" qualify as a song? I don't think so, even though it is sung, albeit in "scat."

"Anyone Who Had A Heart," I think, is pretty complex. Didn't Burt say that even the Count Basie Orchestra had a problem with it?
"Alfie" is pretty complex.
What about "Promise Her Anything"? Try singing that one. Same thing with "A House Is Not A Home." Try finding the first syllable of "suddenly" when the lyric goes, "Now and then, I call your name, and suddenly your face appears..."
"Finders Of Lost Loves" changes keys right in the middle of the song.
"Who Is Gonna Love me?" is not easy at all.

Amazing to see Dionne sing that version of Who Gets The Guy. So effortless. Phenomenal.

I feel under-qualified to evaluate song complexity but these seem like they belong on this list:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj4ijgUhpLA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ByJ1C0iR4

face wrote:

nowmedical wrote:So colleagues, what do you think it is most complex BB song ever? You will all say Promises Promises with its changing time signatures, but I'd like to propose Captives of the Heart - layer after layer of sound and rhythms.

"Captives" is a nice song, and certainly complex, but it doesn't rank with Burt's most adventurous compositions. It's lacking that signature "tautness" of his best work.

I just posted that "Is There Another Way to Love You" and "Looking With My Eyes" are my votes, but I just remembered the songs he did with Dionne in 1974: "And Then You Know What He Did' and "He Walked Right Through the Door." Try singing along with either of them the first few times!

Both songs have hints of Lost Horizon. However listening to these songs lets me know how integral Hal was to the success of the trio. Without his clever wit the lyrics are just too meandering and not catchy enough. I am afraid without him on the earlier records alot of Bacharach songs might have gone over peoples heads.

Alfie gets my vote...

... steveo

"Alfie" is one of Burt's Best; however, I don't feel it's as complex as so many others - some of which are cited above!

ron

"Another Spring Will Rise"
(Futures 1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRaAuHUyCmY

"And the People Were With Her (Suite for Orchestra)"
(Burt Bacharach 1971)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCvyq2dxLu8

What would you think about his instrumental work?
Summer of `77 or Magdalena, Woman, Always taking Aim, Time and Tenderness and don`t forget Futures..what i want to say is that all his songs are very complex. Even the most easy song from him. However my personal way of thinking about complexity are his instrumental work!

Kind regards,
Marcel