The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

Here's an excerpt from an interview Elvis Costello gave on BBC TV to promote the new album. In it he talks about how the three songs on the album written with Bacharach were originally intended for a new musical. He doesn't say which one but whatever it is it sounds like it's not going to see a production. I'm guessing it's the show that was going to take some of the songs from 'Painted From Memory' as its starting point.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kEl_JK2GyYk

I've yet to hear any of the songs co-written with Bacharach but the three tracks from the album I've heard so far have all been tremendous. This is 'Suspect My Tears':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HNR8lJ7ThsE

Here - again - is "He`s Given Me Things". Elvis is off key.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1io5y7m7k9w

I'm going to stick my neck out and predict that the version on the album of 'He's Given Me Things' is going to be a whole lot better than that live rendition.

Here's another one of those three tracks that have been put out ahead of the album's official release next month, 'Unwanted Number':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v_E9GbErv_g

Martin Johnson wrote:I'm going to stick my neck out and predict that the version on the album of 'He's Given Me Things' is going to be a whole lot better than that live rendition.

Here's another one of those three tracks that have been put out ahead of the album's official release next month, 'Unwanted Number':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v_E9GbErv_g

Superb !

'blue'

It has always been an unpleasant experience for me to listen to Declan`s voice (and can someone tell me why he chose that stupid nom-de-plume)?, but he is Burt`s best lyricist. I recall an article in the NYRB years ago speculating what Promises... would have been like if Brecht had written the lyrics. Imagine how different the entire oueuvre would have been if Declan had been old enough to have collaborated with Burt from the beginning.

I know where you're coming from re- Elvis's voice but he sure can convey emotion...which leads me to favor his take on God Give Me Strength or This House is Empty Now over trijntje's (love her voice) or anyone else's...

'Under Lime' is by far the most complex both musically and lyrically of the thee songs released so far but none the worse for that:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xMKkQtH75R8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOexpTcIv2s

'blue'

That guy is eons too old to be wearing a Batman t-shirt.

Blair N. Cummings wrote:That guy is eons too old to be wearing a Batman t-shirt.

I used to wear one, and I'm pretty ancient !

'blue'

For me at least it's astonishing that it's virtually twenty years to the day since the release of 'Painted From Memory'. For such a superb collection of songs it's disappointing that it's really only 'God Give Me Strength' and 'This House is Empty Now' that have been covered by other artists. Here's a rare recording of one of the other ten songs.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yRPAyKoES-Q

pljms wrote:For me at least it's astonishing that it's virtually twenty years to the day since the release of 'Painted From Memory'. For such a superb collection of songs it's disappointing that it's really only 'God Give Me Strength' and 'This House is Empty Now' that have been covered by other artists. Here's a rare recording of one of the other ten songs.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yRPAyKoES-Q

Released in the UK on September 28th 1998 and a day later in the States. I believe the title song might have been covered by one or two not so well known singers and Siobhan Pettit included it on her album of Bacharach songs entitled 'Long Ago Tomorrow':

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

Good interview feature in Billboard re the new album.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.billbo ... -interview