Search found 462 matches

by Martin Johnson
Wed Nov 03, 2021 3:32 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Some Lovers: New album of the songs from the show
Replies: 11
Views: 8290

Re: Some Lovers: New album of the songs from the show

Although I'm not keen on some of the singers, hearing these new recordings confirms the positive impression the majority of the songs made when I saw the London production of the show a few years ago. Another positive as far as I'm concerned is that collaborator Steven Sater appears to be strictly a...
by Martin Johnson
Sun Oct 24, 2021 4:17 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Leslie Bricusse R.I.P.
Replies: 10
Views: 5977

Re: Leslie Bricusse R.I.P.

It seems ridiculous to be surprised by the news of a ninety year old's death but I was genuinely taken aback when I heard about his sudden passing, mainly because I saw him interviewed only a few months ago and he seemed full of beans and good for another several years at least. One of my favourite ...
by Martin Johnson
Mon Sep 06, 2021 3:40 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Burt to write foreword to new book
Replies: 22
Views: 46799

Re: Burt to write foreword to new book

Barry, on many of the albums Webb arranged and produced for the likes of Richard Harris, The 5th Dimension and Thelma Houston he is also credited as the conductor, plus I've seen him conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with my own eyes at the Royal Festival Hall in 1977 when they accompanied Gl...
by Martin Johnson
Sun Sep 05, 2021 4:08 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Burt to write foreword to new book
Replies: 22
Views: 46799

Re: Burt to write foreword to new book

Just to remind everyone, the only other artist I can think of who is a singer, a pianist, a producer, an orchestrator, an arranger, a composer and a conductor (apart from Burt of course!) is Anita Kerr. No wonder he speaks so well of her! Well, there's also Jimmy Webb although like Burt he's no gre...
by Martin Johnson
Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:21 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Another Rare Laura Nyro Clip
Replies: 10
Views: 15697

Re: Another Rare Laura Nyro Clip

I think this has to come into the 'rare' category, Laura Nyro duetting with Kenny Rankin on a song written by her brother:
by Martin Johnson
Fri Jul 02, 2021 9:58 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Put Your Youtube.com Links Here! (if you want)
Replies: 1308
Views: 1248673

Re: Put Your Youtube.com Links Here! (if you want)

I believe Jackie Trent always regarded herself as a singer who just happened to also write songs and perhaps it's a shame that the performing side of her career took a backseat after she started having success as a songwriter. There isn't much film footage of her performing and the best video I coul...
by Martin Johnson
Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:05 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Bacharach TV Special From 1972
Replies: 6
Views: 16676

Re: Bacharach TV Special From 1972

Outside of the parts of the special featuring Vikki Carr which have been on YouTube for a number of years, this is the first time I've seen the show since I watched it the first time it was broadcast forty-nine years ago and it more than lived up to my memory of it. The sheer amount of talent on sho...
by Martin Johnson
Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:37 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Be Aware
Replies: 13
Views: 30895

Re: Be Aware

Of course it's good news but I wonder why it has taken Streisand and Columbia fifty years to finally decide to release this track?
by Martin Johnson
Wed May 19, 2021 10:42 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: How many songs are composed by Burt to present day?
Replies: 5
Views: 13308

Re: How many songs are composed by Burt to present day?

This is where erstwhile member of this forum Stefan Wesley's Hitmaker Archive is so sadly missed. He catalogued every known recording of every known Bacharach composed work, making the distinction between songs and instrumentals.
by Martin Johnson
Mon Mar 08, 2021 8:46 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Story Behind the Song: Raindrops Keep Fallin'
Replies: 15
Views: 34088

Re: Story Behind the Song: Raindrops Keep Fallin'

Sara D wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 5:34 am ........if Bacharach hadn't prevented him from adding those grace notes in two or three places.
I'm with Bacharach on this. Far from adding anything to the song I think that BJ Thomas's grace notes actually detract from it.
by Martin Johnson
Wed Feb 17, 2021 1:09 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: R.I.P. Chick Corea
Replies: 6
Views: 13187

Re: R.I.P. Chick Corea

One of the things I most admired about Chick Corea was that he was no jazz snob, often expressing his love for melodic pop music in press interviews and in fact the first time I saw his name credited on a record sleeve was in the late 60s as the pianist on seven of the eleven tracks of Stan Getz's B...
by Martin Johnson
Tue Feb 02, 2021 9:24 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Two more Bacharach & Tashian songs
Replies: 8
Views: 13266

Re: Two more Bacharach & Tashian songs

Perhaps in the future when music historians write about how Bacharach's music was revitalised late in his career through his various collaborations with the likes of Billy Mann, Melody Federer and Daniel Tashian, these two songs won't be among the several they might reference.
by Martin Johnson
Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:54 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Bacharach Baroque by The Renaissance (complete album)
Replies: 5
Views: 10693

Re: Bacharach Baroque by The Renaissance (complete album)

Because of the brilliantly executed vocals I think the record by The Renaissance works a whole lot better than the much more well known 'Bacharach Baroque' album by the 18th Century Corporation, which once you got over the novelty of hearing Bacharach's music played by a small chamber group perhaps ...
by Martin Johnson
Sat Dec 12, 2020 6:15 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Blue Umbrella with 2 bonus tracks
Replies: 13
Views: 19648

Re: Blue Umbrella with 2 bonus tracks

Despite its status as a bonus track 21st Century Man is probably my favourite song on the EP alongside Bells Of St Augustine. However, until the ending gave it away, I don't think I would have guessed it was a Bacharach composition had I not known because of its relative simplicity.
by Martin Johnson
Sat Oct 24, 2020 2:30 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: The Great Divide
Replies: 6
Views: 12106

Re: The Great Divide

That's helpful and it's a shame it's not accompanied by the complete lyrics as I still can't make out much in the line of the second verse that comes between "Gotta cool the anger down" and "See the truth through others eyes". Judging by the video footage the recording must have ...