The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

Also in the interview transcript was Tashian`s expressed wish that "...when we get '20th Century Man' up and running..." that Burt sing the vocal. I can`t imagine that at all; but it was also what tipped me to the fact that the two additional tracks were recorded at a later session than th...

According to the interview transcript, Tashian dabbled in the music (as did "Elvis") during their collaboration. This, no doubt, explains some of the non-Bacharachian bars here and there.

I`m genuinely happy that this evens the balance of their collaborations. "Blanket Capes" and "Great Divide" were dismissible by my choosy ears. Along with "Bridges", the present song is excellent. I`m now eager to hear more.

Just to dispel some of the mystery, the female singers throughout are Sarah Buxton and Jessie Baylin. If anyone knows who either of them is, please let us know.

No, I couldn`t afford this exorbitantly priced thing either - but I ordered it anyway. Given the scathing review of the American product (NOT the music) on Amazon, I`m glad I did. This is a genuine CD on a Sony imprint (Yellow Dog) and contains printed lyrics, full production and musician credits an...

Why do almost all political lyrics come off as soft-headed and sentimental? Is it because actual political conduct (on all sides) is, perforce, hard-headed to the point of near-sociopathy and the very act of writing anything (excepting perhaps arrest warrants and ransom notes) a romantic act? The so...

Your youth is showing.
I agree that it sounds egregiously overdone now, but it was very much consonant with the arranging style(s) of its time.

I agree, especially considering that JW called it a day (apparently, a career) in his mid-forties. It has been privately murmured that JW`s coke habit and PCP overdose destroyed his ability to compose. If so, wouldn`t it be interesting to hear from Webb, himself, on the subject rather than the worth...

I know I`m a minority of one in disliking "With a Voice" and "Live to See..." but I think "...St Augustine" and particularly "Blue Umbrella" are as good as his best with "Elvis Costello."

No, I was referring to this:

With these songs (particularly for me, the title track) and Bridges, Burt is back - intentionally or not beginning to atone in a major way for the B-S years.

This is a controversial opinion, but I think that Carole was the worst influence on Burt. Yes, pop music had changed by the eighties, but he should have let her write lyrics while he went ahead and composed the way he always had done. Does anyone think - seriously - that stuff like "Love Power&...

I didn`t want to be the first to say that, but I agree.

Can someone tell me what Tashian`s claim to fame is? He`s a good singer but until this project I had never even seen his name in print.

...here`s the (semi)- live performance of "I Don`t Need You Any More" from a US late night show in `80. The vocals and keyboards are live but it`s the recorded orchestral backup.

Why, for godssake, didn`t Burt work more with Jackie?