The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

Speaking of Nichols I just figured he wrote one of my fav songs of all times and didnt know it. Paul Anka's The times of your life. Figures cuz I could hear this as a Carpenters song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttEPEKHK9dk. One of my favorite lines in any song and life lessons are in this song ...

Heard this song Look in my eyes Maria by Jay and the Americans co-produced with Leiber/Stoller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmt2p-VqWpg&list=PLBC13C3C1BB869C7E&index=79. It seems Leiber/Stoller were the head honchos of Brill as everyone seemed to have apprenticeships and or collabs with t...

I’m with you on Charles Stepney. That is a tremendous album - particularly Rainy Day in Centerville. Love how that crescendo (whatever it is) builds for ever. I know he went on to produce for Earth Wind and Fire....but did he do anything else (other than Rotary Connection) that I need to hear. Anot...

I want to add that to omit (Eddie) Holland-(Lamont) Dozier-(Brian) Holland from any list of genius songwriters is a horrible oversight. They were not only songwriters but they were, in fact, an industry. If comparisons should be made between Burt and other songwriters, I would put H-D-H at the top ...

What a beautiful song. Your chord structures and changes show you are a real true Burt Bacharach fan especially around 1"51. I also heard traces of Ne-Yo in your singing, composition, and lyrics. Are you inspired by him too? I dont know how well you are as an overall composer but dont be afraid...

Just to repeat for the record: Laura Nyro was never employed at the Brill Building and never wrote a song for anyone but herself. Other singers used her albums as collections of demos and simply covered them. I am not sure why she is listed on Wikipedia and the Brill Building website. I didnt live ...

Dear geoff85, The 5th Dimension were so instrumental in bringing the magic of Laura Nyro to a wider audience. Here, with each member taking a solo, in a great jazz-inflected arrangement (gorgeous sax solo from jazz great Bill Perkins), "Black Patch": http://youtu.be/4iCAXqa4l_8 I have hea...

I echo what alot of people here say about Thom Bell as well. Alot of Black Soul music of the early 70's could be gritty and groovey i.e. Gamble/Huff but alot of it was so sweet and lush and when they got it right it was next to heaven. Thom Bell always seemed to get it right. Bell also had a brillia...

Thom Bell- sound of sweet Philly Soul- notablle acts include Delfonics, Stylistics, and Spinners(including Then Came You featuring Dionne Warwick) Teddy Randanzzo/ Bobby Weinstein- Late Doowop Soul Pop- Notable Acts include: Anthony and the Imperals( Out of my Head, Hurt so Bad), Royalettes( Gonna t...

Hi, Geoff ! I am a big fan of Laura ! My favorite piece of her is Sweet Blindness (as sung by the 5 th dimension) I played a short cover version of it many years ago: http://app.box.com/s/z824j1d8syh83zrsqnw8 Cheers Dani I loved all Laura's work with the Fifth Dimension and think those were some of...

My favorite Laura Nyro, "Billy's Blues": http://youtu.be/pD6ScUitfeI and Ms. Streisand's glorious version of "I Never Meant to Hurt You": http://youtu.be/KdwBkgLNcoo Grooverider these are two of my favorite Nyro songs and my favorite type of Nyro song. I love her slow somber bal...

I discovered these songs as wel after listening to the links you provided. Both give off a bit of a Bacharach vibe as well.. i HEAR slight echoes of South American Getaway and songs from Butch Cassidy mixed with a bit of Tom Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdGQGPstpkc https://www.youtube.com/w...

I know you want me to do my own research which I always do anyway but any songs you send my way I will gladly give a listen to.

I felt Kinda Wasted Without You had a bit of the piano rythm tho the tempo is slightly faster than Burt would normally do. The chord progressions were not nearly as complicated and odd as a Bacharachian tune as well but the attempt was there. Dont take your time once again has strong traces of Burt ...

I am curious to know what is your favorite song of hers? I always like to hear others opinions before I chime in. Along with Bacharach she is probably my favorite Brill Building composer even tho she was more of an artist however alot of others artists made her songs much more famous than she ever d...