Previous items from Burt news
February 27
Burt fans had two reasons to be disappointed by the Grammy Awards broadcast
last night. First, Burt and Elvis did not perform as I had heard they would
and, second, Burt and Elvis lost to Natalie Cole in the Best Pop Collaboration
with Vocals Category. Burt was robbed!
February 21
According to the Rhino
Web site, the release date for their three-disc Bacharach anthology
is now October 1997.
February 20
You might have noticed the teaser "The World of Burt is coming soon!"
while browsing the A&M Records
site. Now, Bill Minnick
writes to say that Ice Magazine reports an April 15 delivery of "What the
World Needs Now Is Burt," a Burt Bacharach compilation on A&M. No word
yet on a track listing or credits, but since most of Dionne's records were
on Sceptor, is it correct to assume that this release will focus on Burt's
solo albums? We shall see...
February 18
Time to set those VCRs again. Robbie Leff just wrote to inform me that
Burt and Elvis Costello are scheduled to appear together on "The Late Show
with David Letterman" on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Robbie has it on good authority
that Burt and Elvis will do a live version of "God Give Me Strength," which
they'll repeat the following night for this year's Grammy Awards telecast.
As you may know, Burt and Elvis are nominated for a Grammy in the "Best
Pop Collaboration with Vocals" category for "God
Give Me Strength."
February 15, 1997
This arrived recently from Pablo...
"Sorry I waited so long to tell you this, but the upcoming Mike Myers
movie "Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery" features a cameo by
Burt himself singing "What The World Needs Now" atop a converted double
decker bus whizzing through Las Vegas at night, he's serenading Myers and
his costar Elizabeth Hurley. Myers is a huge Bacharach fan and he invited
Burt who recorded a special solo "Vocal and Piano only" version exclusively
for the film. The film is about a swingin sixties photographer/spy who
is frozen in the sixties and thawed out in the nineties. It sounds like
it's going to be great for retro fans and Peter Sellers devotees. Myers
plays two roles, Austin Powers and his own nemesis, Dr Evil."
February 14, 1997
Stephen Sidoruk of the A&M Fan Network wrote to inform me that
Burt and Hal will receive Trustees Awards at this years Grammy Awards.
Also receiving Trustees Awards are Herb "A" Alpert and Jerry "M" Moss.
Congrats to all four, together responsible for some of the best music of
the '60s and '70s.
February 13, 1997
I just got a message from writer Paul
Zollo, the editor of the journal of the National Academy of Songwriters,
that he has finally confirmed an interview with Burt for tomorrow--Feb.
14, 1997, at 12:30 pm PST. He asked me to invite all the FOBs ("Fans of
Burt") out there to submit questions for him to ask Burt, so if there's
one question you've been dying to ask The Man, write to Paul in a hurry
and maybe he'll ask it.
February 12, 1997
Greetings and salutations to everyone out there in the world of Burt!
Once again, I apologize for not updating A House Is Not A Homepage as frequently
as I should be, but I hope to devote a significant portion of time to it
this month. Today, I added some of the Bacharach
Top Ten lists I've received in recent months--not all of them thought,
so if you sent one in and it isn't listed, don't fret just yet.
Also, Joyce Millman of Salon,
an online magazine of essays about popular culture, wrote to alert me to
a Valentine's
Day tribute to Burt she authored for that site.
And, finally, is the world ready for the Bacharachs? Comprising five
young lads and lasses from Denmark, the Bacharachs are an easy listening
band that plays nothing but songs by Mr. Bacharach. Their Web site is http://www.cybercity.dk/users/ccc8237/home.html.
.
December 26, 1996
Alec Cumming wrote to say the schedule for the Burt and Dionne AMC
concert (Eastern Time): 11 PM 12/31 & 2 AM 1/1/97, so now might be
good time to start learning how to use that VCR-Plus feature you paid so
much for a couple of years ago ...
December 19, 1996
Did anyone happen to see my homeboy Harry
Connick Jr.'s rendition of "This
Guy's In Love With You" on "The Late Show with David Letterman" last
night? Connick's version is included on the soundtrack to the film "One
Fine Day," starring George Clooney and Michelle Pheifer.
December 10, 1996
Sorry I've been so negligent with maintaining the page recently, but
you don't get a paycheck for a hobby, now, do you? Lest you think there's
been no news in the world of Burt, Alec Cumming writes the following:
· On January 1st, New Years Day 1997, AMC
(the American Movie Classics cable network) will be showing a 60-minute
live performance of Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick!...It's the inaugural
telecast of AMC IN CONCERT AT THE RAINBOW ROOM, and it's also designed
to help "launch" AMC's new spinoff cable network - "Romance Classics".
Burt and Dionne taped the special at the Rockefeller Center nightclub
on November 17th, 1996, with a full pop orchestra, a black-tie audience,
and a glittering Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. The show is a slightly
shortened version of their current live act, with a bit more emphasis on
the movie songs Burt wrote. If you've never seen their live act, this show
will blow you away. Meanwhile, there are more live gigs ahead for Burt
and Dionne starting shortly after the new year.....
· As reported earlier, City Center's ENCORES! series in New York
City will be presenting the first revival (in a very long time) of Burt
and Hal's one and only musical - PROMISES, PROMISES. The concept behind
the Encores! series is to present overlooked musicals in a kind of a workshop
format; if one of the shows does well (as did last year's CHICAGO), the
show may be revived for a full Broadway treatment.
There are only 6 performances: Thursday 2/13/96 & Friday 2/14 (8
pm), Saturday 2/15 (2 pm & 8 pm) and Sunday 2/16 (6:30 PM). Tickets
are available through CitiTix at 212-581-1212 (although that number is
for the full 3-show ENCORES! subscription; you can only buy tickets by
phone for an individual show after January 12.)
Both Bacharach and Broadway-music enthusiasts are keeping their fingers
crossed that this revival will (at the least) inspire the long- awaited
re-release of the original cast recording of PROMISES, PROMISES...
· Movie viewers watching THE FIRST WIVES CLUB are getting to
hear Dionne Warwick's version of Bacharach/David's infamous and politically
incorrect classic - "Wives and Lovers"!
--Alec Cumming
And thanks to the fabulous generosity of both Robbie Leff and Roberto
Pinardi, I now have in my possession a copy of the soundtrack to Burt's
1960s TV musical ON THE FLIPSIDE, starring none other than the great Ricky
Nelson. If anyone is interested in obtaining a copy, write me and I'll
see what I can do ;).
October 28, 1996
Robbie Leff just sent me a few
pictures from his personal collection, including a scan of the sleeve
from the rare "On the
Flipside," Burt and Hal's TV musical starring Rick Nelson.
October 28, 1996
There are articles about Burt in the December 1996 Musician
(with Phish on the cover) and the October 1996 Vanity Fair, "Pop,
In the Name of Love," in which Burt talks about the possibility of
recording an album with Elvis Costello. Definitely worth keeping tabs on.
October 7, 1996
There's a Q&A with Burt
in the October issue of Us magazine (Julia Roberts cover).
September 27, 1996
Joseph Marchese wrote
to inform me that...
"PROMISES, PROMISES is getting its first-ever New York revival this
February. It's been selected to kick off the season at Encores!, the concert
series at City Center that revives classic yet overlooked musicals in concert
form. The show promises an all-star cast and will employ the original orchestrations.
PROMISES only runs 5 performances (although a transfer for an open-ended
run is always a possibility!) and I think every Bacharach-ite will be rushing
to get tickets for one of NY's hottest theatre events in ages. Now if only
Capitol would re-release the PROMISES albums on CD....!"
September 16, 1996
Hi! I enjoying your page.
Polydor (Japan) have released a compilation called "A&M Journey
of Burt Bacharach" on August. It contains 20 tracks. In Japan, "Casino
Royale" (Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass) is used for TV show now.
If you want to know about details, I'll send a track list.
Bye. k-ichi@pis.bekkoame.or.jp
September 13, 1996
Today Gramercy Pictures releases the long awaited film "Grace
of My Heart," director/writer Allison Anders' fictionalized account
of the life of an American songwriter from the late 50s through the early
70s. The film features perhaps Burt Bacharach's finest composition in 15
years, a collaboration with Elvis Costello on "God Give Me Strength." Here
is a Time article that talks about the song, the film and the recent
spate of 60s derived pop entertainment.
Here's a Time
review of "Grace of My Heart."
September 5, 1996
Jeff Gower wrote to say
that those in search of Bacharach albums on compact disc should check out
the on-line vendor CDEurope, where
you can find Woman, Futures, Make It Easy On Yourself, Living Together,
and Burt Bacharach on CD. They're pricey (U.S. $25-$40), but if
you can't find the original LPs or if your copies are worn or scratched,
CDEuope's stock might be a worthwhile investment; I'd heard a while back
that there are no plans to reissue any Bacharach albums in the foreseeable
future (Reach Out, FYI, was reissued by A&M/Rebound Records
in '95).
August 15, 1996
Patrick Milligan
of Rhino Records,
the man responsible for compiling the label's three-disc Bacharach anthology,
says the target date for release is April 1997. Read a complete update
on the project here.
August 7, 1996
The word from Burt's management company, the Burt Bacharach Music Group,
is that no American tour is currently scheduled or being planned. While
Burt will continue to play occasional dates in the states, a U.S. tour
does not appear to be on the horizon.
July 22, 1996
Hollywood
Records is reportedly putting together a compilation to be called Loungapalooza.
The lineup is tentatively set to include three artists covering Bacharach
tunes: Cassandra Wilson doing a medley of "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
and "Anyone Who Had A Heart," Poe covering "The Look of Love," and -- get
ready -- Green Day covering "Do You Know the Way to San Jose." No word
yet on a tentative release date.
July 18, 1996
In addition to personally delivering a
letter to Burt following his concert in Milan, Italy, Roberto
Pinardi had Burt autograph this
photo of his entire Bacharach collection. Roberto just may be the biggest
Bacharach fan in Italy, perhaps even all of Europe ...
July 11, 1996
Burt's June 28 concert at the Royal Festival Hall featured a "surprise"
appearance by Oasis's Noel Gallagher, a Bacharach nut who raved about Burt
and "This Guy's In Love" in particular on the BBC documentary "Burt Bacharach...This
Is Now," which aired in the UK in January. Here's
a (Gallagher-centric) review of said concert from Melody Maker.
July 10, 1996
Paul in Milan just contributed a group of photos and video caps, mostly
from Burt's TV specials through the years! I'll add the photos with their
details to the pictures page soon, but in the meantime you can check them
out here.
June 20, 1996
There are articles about Burt in the July 1996 issues of Vanity
Fair, "What's
New, Bacharach?", and Q , See
You Later, Elevator. Here are four photos from the Q article:
Burt today, Burt
and Angie, Burt and Jackie O., and
Burt and Hal.
June 6, 1996
My good friend Roberto
Pinardi just sent me a list of Bacharach/Warwick dates in Italy:
July 6, Campione d'Italia
July 8, Milan
July 10, Caserta
July 11, Rome
July 13, Taormina
Does anyone know of any American dates?
May 7, 1996
Martin Kent just sent
me the following:
"4th May 1996, NME reports that 'king of the lounge lizards' Burt Bacharach
is playing at London Festival Hall on 28th June at 8.00pm. Tickets are
20, 25, and 30 pounds sterling and half have been sold so far (booked mine
today). Box office number is 00+44+(0)171-960-4242."
May 4, 1996
Patrick
Milligan of Rhino Records is looking for an audio recording of Burt's
Martini & Rossi commercial from the 1970s. Can anyone help him out?
April 22, 1996
The Rhino re-issue is definitely still in the works, my sources tell
me. The Rhino people have met with Burt's "people" and have moved forward
with an agreement; they are now busy trying to license all of the different
pieces of music necessary.
The Rhino compilation is going to be 3 CDs. The theory behind the song
selection is that it will have the "original" versions on it - meaning,
the versions that Burt was in on the production of, and/or the first known
versions of the song. So, for instance, the CD will have Tommy Hunt's version
of "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself", and (probably) not Dusty
Springfield's version: Burt was there for the Tommy version, so it can
be considered more definitive.
Then again, it will also feature a variety of performers, so compiler
Patrick Milligan is trying to include as many non-Dionne versions as possible.
He hopes to include Aretha's version of "I Say a Little Prayer", Herb Alpert's
"This Guy's in Love With You" (not Dionne's "This Girl...") and Lou Johnson's
"Always Sonething There to Remind Me". (Lou Johnson is the unsung hero
of the Bacharach era - the "male Dionne Warwick", who also recorded the
original versions of "Message to Martha" and "Reach Out for Me".
Here's a piece of good news: PBS's GREAT PERFORMANCES series has licensed
that BBC Burt documentary, and is preparing it for a US airing later this
year."
April 17, 1996
This just in from Uli
from Germany:
"Check the latest issue of the NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS. It features a two-page
interview with Burt. He's wearing cool shades and sportswear and tells
stories about him racing horses.
Keep the faith"
This from Yvonne:
"I have been trying without success to track down the vocal score to
his South American Getaway. I have been to publishers in California who
claim no knowledge, so I turn to you for any assistance you can give me.
I do some singing with some friends, and would so love to do this piece.
Do you have any ideas of where I could start looking - addresses of publishers,
archives, or is there a Burt Fan Club I could write to?"
Can anyone help her out?
There's an interview
with Burt in the March edition of the British music magazine Select,
as well as a review of the new A&M compilation "The Look of Love."
This from Howie (with no e-mail address)...
"I just wanted to inform you, that Polydor /A&M Germany have released
a compilation called "Easy Loungin' - Burt Bacharach" in a series of "Easy
Loungin'" releases. It contains 20 tracks (which I don't want to list -I'm
too lazy) and brilliant artwork. A&M UK are also releasing a Burt Bacharach
collection with "Love Songs" by Mr. Bacharach. "
Burt recently wrapped up a recording session in New York
with Elvis Costello.
The two collaborated on the track "God Give Me Strength," which will be
included on the soundtrack to the new film "Grace
of My Heart," a film about the famous Brill Building songwriters.
Rob Mounsey, who played
keyboards for the session, says:
"The band was: Elvis, vocals; Burt, piano; Rob
Mounsey, synths/organ; David Spinozza, guitar; T-Bone Wolk, bass; Christopher
Parker, drums/percussion; plus strings, flugelhorns, alto flute etc. It
actually sounds a lot like classic Bacharach stuff to me. Both guys were
very nice to work with -- real pros."
"Grace of My Heart" was directed by Allison
Anders, produced by Martin Scorsese, and features performances by Sonic
Youth, Jill Sobule, Victoria Williams, Dinosaur Jr., Elvis Costello and
Flea; and songs by Burt Bacharach, Dave Stewart, Carole Bayer Sager, Elvis
Costello, Gerry Goffin, Los Lobos and J. Mascis. Read an L.A.
Times blurb
about it here on the Elvis
Costello page.
On Jan. 1, 1996, the BBC aired in the U.K. a documentary
retrospective on Burt narrated by Dusty Springfield and featuring interviews
with Oasis, Dionne Warwick and others. If anyone knows how to get a copy,
please e-mail me.
I'd love to see it.
The 1995 film "Dead
Presidents" included Isaac Hayes singing two Bacharach covers, "The
Look of Love" and "Walk on By."
In February 1995, Bacharach was reported to be interested
in working with Dutch alternative band Bettie
Serveert. Burt had read the band were fans of his ( in this
article maybe?) so he sought them out. For the full story, read this news
item from Addicted to Noise.
A House Is Not A Homepage
Last updated September 5, 1997