Search found 462 matches

by Martin Johnson
Sun May 12, 2019 12:10 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: New Bacharach/Costello Composition
Replies: 10
Views: 31077

Re: New Bacharach/Costello Composition

Lyrically it sounds like a woman's song to a man which suggests it was written for the Painted From Memory musical. The credits reveal that musically it's a co-composition and my guess is that Elvis Costello was responsible for the bridge and Bacharach the rest of the song.
by Martin Johnson
Fri May 03, 2019 12:49 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Hiromi in the UK
Replies: 26
Views: 72848

Re: Hiromi in the UK

I saw Yuja Wang at the BBC Proms last year and she seemed to revel in having the audience literally a few feet away. She can play the lighter repertoire very convincingly but seems to come in to her own with the more percussive and technically demanding pieces, Prokofiev being an obvious favourite c...
by Martin Johnson
Sat Apr 27, 2019 7:33 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Hiromi in the UK
Replies: 26
Views: 72848

Re: Hiromi in the UK

I've seen and heard enough of her on YouTube and on TV to know that she's worth a visit to the 'frozen north'.
by Martin Johnson
Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:25 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Les Reed 1935 - 2019
Replies: 8
Views: 24240

Re: Les Reed 1935 - 2019

I remember back in the early 70s my dad had an album by Les Reed featuring him as arranger, conductor and pianist in instrumental versions of his hit songs. Alongside the hits were a few upbeat and insanely catchy tunes that got used as themes on radio and TV. Listening to this again now after more ...
by Martin Johnson
Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:18 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: UK No.1 album contains new Jimmy Webb song
Replies: 11
Views: 29028

Re: UK No.1 album contains new Jimmy Webb song

Re the piano covers album, I've seen the track list and it seems that all his songwriting heroes are represented except Bacharach. So we have The Long And Winding Road, God Only Knows, Old Friends, A Case Of You, All In Love Is Fair, Moonlight Mile (Jagger & Richards), Accidentally Like A Martyr...
by Martin Johnson
Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:50 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: New Bacharach/Costello Composition
Replies: 10
Views: 31077

Re: New Bacharach/Costello Composition

With his adopted name I suppose it's obvious that Elvis Costello must be a fan of "The King of Rock and Roll". However, with Bacharach's involvement I can't imagine for one moment that their song will bear much resemblance to this rockabilly classic on the same subject of "playing hou...
by Martin Johnson
Sun Apr 07, 2019 1:15 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Swing out Sister new cd
Replies: 56
Views: 120909

Re: Swing out Sister new cd

I had the Filth And Dreams album but somehow lost it in a house move a few years ago and to get it again it looks like I'll have to pay the earth. Just about the only song from the album to establish any kind of foothold in their live shows is 'Who's Been Sleeping' which has a very Bacharachesque c...
by Martin Johnson
Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:36 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Scott Walker 1943 - 2019
Replies: 8
Views: 25760

Re: Scott Walker 1943 - 2019

Not many pop idols end up being considered an avant-garde composer and to go from 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore' to this must have been some journey through the long dark night of the soul:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3XhBhAdbu3I
by Martin Johnson
Sun Mar 17, 2019 9:43 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Swing out Sister new cd
Replies: 56
Views: 120909

Re: Swing out Sister new cd

I was back on my old stomping ground in Tokyo last week and as always when I stay there I heard Swing Out Sister played on the local radio stations. It was particularly gratifying to hear the Jobim influenced 'Closer Than The Sun' from 'Filth And Dreams' because this remains the only album of theirs...
by Martin Johnson
Tue Mar 05, 2019 3:59 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: André Previn 1929 - 2019
Replies: 10
Views: 32615

Re: André Previn 1929 - 2019

The 12 minutes of the Morecambe and Wise Christmas special from 1971 that helped turn Andre Previn into a household name in the UK. How good is he in this sketch? Now our American colleagues on the forum can see what passed for humour, or should that be humor, in the UK circa 1971: https://m.youtube...
by Martin Johnson
Tue Mar 05, 2019 12:42 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: André Previn 1929 - 2019
Replies: 10
Views: 32615

Re: André Previn 1929 - 2019

Having mentioned Morecambe and Wise, could someone please find Burt's appearance on their show... "Mr Backache". Bacharach never actually made an appearance on the Morecambe and Wise show and the reference to "Burt Backache" in one of their shows was in a sketch with Shirley Bas...
by Martin Johnson
Fri Mar 01, 2019 7:31 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: André Previn 1929 - 2019
Replies: 10
Views: 32615

Re: Andre Previn 1929 - 2019

When you consider how successful and multifaceted Andre Previn's career was it's a shame that here in the UK he's probably best remembered for his appearance in a sketch on a Morecambe and Wise TV Christmas special from 1971, during which he was referred to as "Andrew Preview", a moniker t...
by Martin Johnson
Mon Feb 25, 2019 1:48 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: The Only Laura Nyro Performance You`ll Ever Need
Replies: 9
Views: 23050

Re: The Only Laura Nyro Performance You`ll Ever Need

Another demo from 1966. Listening to 'Enough Of You' it just makes me wish that she'd recorded a fully realised studio version for her first album:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=szGLGRpm_gw
by Martin Johnson
Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:30 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: The Only Laura Nyro Performance You`ll Ever Need
Replies: 9
Views: 23050

Re: The Only Laura Nyro Performance You`ll Ever Need

The repeated piano chord progression on that demo almost predicts the so called 'Allegro' section from Jimmy Webb's MacArthur Park, still a couple of years away.
by Martin Johnson
Tue Jan 29, 2019 5:24 pm
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: RIP -Michel Legrand
Replies: 18
Views: 48209

Re: RIP -Michel Legrand

We may be saying goodbye to Michel Legrand but not to his extraordinary music:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rkigCxDZH_s