Search found 865 matches

by pljms
Tue Sep 19, 2023 4:48 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: The First UK A-side release of 'Close To You'
Replies: 10
Views: 5583

Re: The First UK A-side release of 'Close to You'

'Close To You' is such a great song that it was bound to be a hit for someone eventually and the only surprising thing was that it took as long as seven years after it was written for that to happen. Here's a very different take on the song from 1972 by The Dells which was arranged and produced by C...
by pljms
Sat Sep 09, 2023 5:30 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Cliff Richard's 1967 "Baby It's You" and his "Wonderful To Be Young"
Replies: 5
Views: 2145

Re: Cliff Richard's 1967 "Baby It's You" and his "Wonderful To Be Young"

Another Bacharach & David song known chiefly via a recording by Cliff RIchard is 'Through The Eye Of A Needle' and the only other version that I'm aware of is by Donna Marie. Unlike Nick Palmer when in comparison to Cliff I think that Donna Marie's version more than holds its own. https://m.yout...
by pljms
Tue Sep 05, 2023 4:17 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Cliff Richard's 1967 "Baby It's You" and his "Wonderful To Be Young"
Replies: 5
Views: 2145

Re: Cliff Richard's 1967 "Baby It's You" and his "Wonderful to Be Young"

Here's Nick Palmer's version of a Bacharach & David song known only through a recording by Cliff Richard. Both the arrangement and the production suggest to me that it was more likely to have been recorded in the first half of the 60s rather than in 1968 or '69 as stated in Serene Dominic's book...
by pljms
Mon Aug 28, 2023 9:35 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley
Replies: 12
Views: 3018

Re: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley

Even though Robert John's 1968 UK chart entry 'If You Don't Want My Love' fared even worse than 'Sad Eyes' it's a song I'm at least familiar with, perhaps because it's been covered a few times. It does have a very catchy chorus and I can imagine it being very popular with the Northern Soul crowd. ht...
by pljms
Sun Aug 27, 2023 2:07 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: A medley I did with friends
Replies: 4
Views: 1601

Re: A medley I did with friends

Thanks for sharing. There were one or two interesting selections in that medley and I really enjoyed the relaxed and informal vibe. I spent a lot of time in France in the 1980s and early 90s and got the impression, rightly or wrongly, that Bacharach's name wasn't particularly well known over there.
by pljms
Sun Aug 27, 2023 1:34 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley
Replies: 12
Views: 3018

Re: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley

Going back to Robert John, I've just listened to his 'Sad Eyes' and despite apparently being a Top 40 hit in the UK in 1979 I don't recognise it at all. In my opinion there was a far superior song with the same title written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody and recorded in 1976 by a woman with one of th...
by pljms
Fri Aug 25, 2023 1:40 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley
Replies: 12
Views: 3018

Re: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley

Re Dusty Springfield not recording 'Knowing When To Leave', to my ears she doesn't seem entirely at ease with the song on the three different TV performances that I've seen on YouTube, sounding breathless, unsure of the song's time resulting in her nearly coming in too early for the chorus on one oc...
by pljms
Wed Aug 23, 2023 2:36 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley
Replies: 12
Views: 3018

Re: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley

The Carpenters' version of 'Knowing When To Leave' is not only frantic but they also inexplicably change part of the melody in the chorus. Because of the popularity of their Bacharach & David medley this is probably the best known recording of the song and I've heard other versions which actuall...
by pljms
Tue Aug 22, 2023 3:56 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley
Replies: 12
Views: 3018

Re: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley

Eydie's "Knowing When to Leave" is new to me. She sounds like she popped a Valium just before the session, and that note she lands on and sticks with at 2:05 is definitely worthy of "let get another take, Eydie". It makes me wonder if she and her producer even bothered to listen...
by pljms
Mon Aug 21, 2023 3:45 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley
Replies: 12
Views: 3018

Re: Robert "Sad Eyes" John / 1968 "Anyone Who Had a Heart / What the World Needs" medley

As I was listening to this and not quite making it through to the bitter end I found myself starting to mentally compile a list of what I consider to be the worst cover versions of Bacharach songs. One that immediately sprang to mind was Eydie Gorme's 1970 recording of 'Knowing When To Leave'. Go an...
by pljms
Sat Aug 19, 2023 6:29 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Willie Tee - "Reach Out for Me" (1970)
Replies: 7
Views: 2255

Re: Willie Tee - "Reach Out for Me" (1970)

Slightly altering or adding a few grace notes to Bacharach's melodies is fine even if it sometimes can grate but in my opinion his chord progressions should be sacrosanct. Because the majority of his songs are full of jazzy extended chords I've noticed a tendency among some pop, rock and R&B art...
by pljms
Fri Aug 18, 2023 12:57 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Willie Tee - "Reach Out for Me" (1970)
Replies: 7
Views: 2255

Re: Willie Tee - "Reach Out for Me" (1970)

While songs with a similar message (Reach Out And I'll Be There & Bridge Over Troubled Water) have gone on to become immortal classics, Reach Out For Me has never quite attained the same status. The gospel influenced recording by The Sweet Inspirations from the late-60s featuring Cissy Houston o...
by pljms
Sun Aug 06, 2023 2:33 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: The Desperate Hours / These Desperate Hours
Replies: 5
Views: 1958

Re: The Desperate Hours / These Desperate Hours

I think it's fair to say that neither song sounds particularly like a Bacharach composition, but then again the same could probably be said of 90% of his pre-1962 output. Talking of record label cock-ups, I remember back in the late 80s Connoisseur releasing a double album tribute to Bacharach and D...
by pljms
Tue Aug 01, 2023 7:49 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Bacharach/Sondheim connection
Replies: 11
Views: 18243

Re: Bacharach/Sondheim connection

From what I've read Hal David would have jumped at the chance of working on another stage musical after Promises, Promises, but not Bacharach as the experience not only took its toll on his physical health it also disillusioned him having to relinquish so much control of his music. In the light of a...
by pljms
Tue Jun 13, 2023 11:59 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Put Your Youtube.com Links Here! (if you want)
Replies: 1308
Views: 1248963

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

Anyone hearing the track 'Up And Down' by Judy Singh in 1970 would have been forgiven for thinking it might have been composed by Bacharach. It's credited words and music to David Foster but apparently it's NOT the famed producer/composer of the same name as it's a couple of years before he started ...