Search found 462 matches

by Martin Johnson
Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:29 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: New concert dates
Replies: 22
Views: 18425

Re: New concert dates

Thanks nowmedical for the tip-off. The tickets are selling so quickly I think I got mine just in the nick of time. I remember when BB played the RFH in around '96 or '97 he got a standing ovation just by walking on stage. I expect something similar this time if not more because his legend just keeps...
by Martin Johnson
Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:29 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: UK FANS! Bacharach Concert at St James, London
Replies: 11
Views: 7787

Re: UK FANS! Bacharach Concert at St James, London

Yes, you do tend to see nothing but happy faces at shows dedicated to BB's songs - let's call it the 'Bacharach Affect'. Due to it's undoubted popularity I wouldn't be at all surprised if the show is put on at the venue again and soon.

Martin
by Martin Johnson
Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:00 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: UK FANS! Bacharach Concert at St James, London
Replies: 11
Views: 7787

Re: UK FANS! Bacharach Concert at St James, London

It was my first time at the venue and it reminded me of several jazz clubs that I've been to: A basement studio with a bar, a balcony and about 40 tables, perfect for small group jazz and what turned out to be a cabaret tribute to Burt Bacharach. Let's face it the performers and musicians would have...
by Martin Johnson
Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:14 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: UK FANS! Bacharach Concert at St James, London
Replies: 11
Views: 7787

Re: UK FANS! Bacharach Concert at St James, London

Thanks for informing us of this show. Theatre types doing Bacharach's hit songs can't compare to the originals, of course, but if the MD/Arranger is sympathetic towards the music then it should be an enjoyable evening. Hope to see you there too, Sara.

Martin
by Martin Johnson
Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:37 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'

Yes pljms, "near perfect" sums up the show well. As for Bacharach songs featured on the show week by week they do tend to veer towards the less obvious and often the downright obscure. Off the top of my head I can think of at least three Bacharach songs that I heard for the first time on t...
by Martin Johnson
Mon Nov 12, 2012 8:15 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: The First UK A-side release of 'Close To You'
Replies: 10
Views: 5583

The First UK A-side release of 'Close To You'

I've always assumed that it was the Carpenters who were the first to release 'Close To You' as the A-side of a single. The three earlier recorded versions that I knew of were either a B-side (Richard Chamberlain) or LP tracks (Dionne and Dusty). However, listening to BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the 60s ...
by Martin Johnson
Sat Aug 18, 2012 5:43 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Dionne talking about retirement, the new album and...tennis.
Replies: 11
Views: 8301

Re: Dionne talking about retirement, the new album and...ten

This has been posted on this forum before but to lighten the mood a little here's the afore-mentioned Pearl Bailey performing 'Wives and Lovers' on a TV special from '69. What extraordinary wit and timing she had and it's uncanny how she never loses her place in the song despite all the banter with ...
by Martin Johnson
Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:29 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Another great song that sounds like Bacharach
Replies: 268
Views: 543139

Re: Another great song that sounds like Bacharach

Yes pljms, I remember being knocked out when Alicia Keys performed 'If I Aint Got You' alone at the piano on the Jonathon Ross show before it was released as a single in the UK. I still prefer this to the hit version.

by Martin Johnson
Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:28 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Put Your Youtube.com Links Here! (if you want)
Replies: 1308
Views: 1248632

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

My favourite Bacharach song of the 70s, and by a long way.

by Martin Johnson
Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:23 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Put Your Youtube.com Links Here! (if you want)
Replies: 1308
Views: 1248632

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

I think 'It's only Love' is classic Bacharach, Sara, and should be far better known than it is. It's a relatively simple tune but one that lodges in the brain and stays there for hours after it has been heard. I remember being at a dinner party in the early 80s with a few friends and while the instr...
by Martin Johnson
Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:44 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Long Ago Last Summer
Replies: 16
Views: 12949

Re: Long Ago Last Summer

Yes, it's a fascinating listen but there are several top-notch songs from the years 59-61 which are missing from the compilation. Apart from the hits 'Tower of Strength' and 'Please Stay' (Don't Go) there's Lena Horne's 'Out of my Continental Mind', Johnny Mathis's 'Heavenly' and Sam Butera's 'Love ...
by Martin Johnson
Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:48 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Another great song that sounds like Bacharach
Replies: 268
Views: 543139

Re: Another great song that sounds like Bacharach

With certain Bacaharach songs I don't have much of a problem with perfomers taking liberties with the melody and/or chord progression when the definitive version's been been in place for decades and is virtually impossible to improve on, especially when the performer is a fellow songwiter like Laura...
by Martin Johnson
Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:48 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Another great song that sounds like Bacharach
Replies: 268
Views: 543139

Re: Another great song that sounds like Bacharach

Yes, hearing Laura Nyro last Saturday morning at 9.30 really stopped me dead in my tracks and it's not often that I'm moved at that hour, I can tell you! I've long been a fan of hers while conceding that she's not to everyone's taste as a performer. Apparently she was keen to record a whole 'Nyro Si...
by Martin Johnson
Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:47 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Another great song that sounds like Bacharach
Replies: 268
Views: 543139

Re: Another great song that sounds like Bacharach

Thanks, Sara, for posting the wonderful 5th Dimension track. I'm now finally going to get round to buying The Magic Garden, something I promised myself I would do decades ago, although I do have a sort of 'Best Of' 5th Dimension' 2-CD compilation which contains no less than four tracks from the albu...
by Martin Johnson
Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:58 am
Forum: The Burt Bacharach Forum
Topic: Long Ago Last Summer
Replies: 16
Views: 12949

Re: Long Ago Last Summer

What an extraordinary compilation for Bacharach completists like myself. I own or am at least familiar with about half of the tracks, including the afore-mentioned rarer than rare 'Two-Hour Honeymoon'. It's a 'death record' and so not for the squeamish, although it does feature some very nice alto s...