Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Burt Bacharach - Magic Moments, The Definitive Burt Bacharach Collection [2008] (3 x CD's)

 

BURT'S BEST

Burt Bacharach - Magic Moments, The Definitive Burt Bacharach Collection [2008] (3 x CD's)

With 75 tracks this is the best Burt Bacharach compilation available by far. Just how many great songs did Burt Bacharach write? Well the answer is far more than you will probably realise. As I listened to the first CD, there were so many that are now already acknowledged as classics. And as I expected a few that I didn't even know were Bacharach songs; such as "Wives and Lovers", which on this set is covered by Jack Jones, but was recorded by Sinatra, which is the ultimate accolade for any songwriter. Its also worth mentioning that across the set there are 7 of Dionne Warwick's great recordings. You should really get these as a collection in their own right!  Elvis Costello provides some interesting sleeve notes, and perhaps most tellingly says that Bacharach's music should not be considered easy listening. This is so true, even though now some of the recordings would seem to fit in that category. As an arranger, melody and harmony writer Bacharach has few peers and this collection provides ample evidence of his great talent. (Amazon)

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Track list


CD1

01 Jackie DeShannon What the World Needs Now is Love 3:15

02 Carpenters (They Long to Be) Close to You 4:35

03 B.J. Thomas Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head 3:01

04 Nancy Wilson Reach Out for Me 2:28

05 Shirelles Baby, It's You 2:41

06 Dionne Warwick Walk on By 2:55

07 Dusty Springfield The Look of Love 3:33

08 Tommy Hunt I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself 2:53

09 Doris Day Send Me No Flowers 2:14

10 Frankie Avalon Gotta Get a Girl 2:08

11 Jack Jones Wives and Lovers 2:30

12 Cilla Black Alfie 2:40

13 Herb Alpert This Guy's in Love With You 3:59

14 Tom Jones Promise Her Anything 2:35

15 Cliff Richard It's Wonderful to Be Young (Alternate Take) 2:30

16 Gene Vincent Crazy Times 2:14

17 Charlie Gracie I Looked for You 2:14

18 Five Blobs The Blob 2:39

19 Jackie Deshannon So Long Johnny 2:27

20 Shirley Bassey A House is Not a Home 3:28

21 Burt Bacharach Nikki 2:22

22 Andy Williams Don't You Believe It 2:30

23 Jimmy Radcliffe (There Goes) the Forgotten Man 2:49

24 Billy J. Kramer Trains and Boats and Planes 2:49

25 Herb Alpert Casino Royale 2:38


CD2

01 Perry Como Magic Moments 2:42

02 Dionne Warwick Do You Know the Way to San Jose 2:55

03 Aretha Franklin I Say a Little Prayer 3:33

04 Dusty Springfield Wishin' and Hopin' 2:56

05 The Walker Brothers Make it Easy on Yourself 3:14

06 Sandie Shaw (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me 2:40

07 Burt Bacharach Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2:28

08 Dionne Warwick I'll Never Fall in Love Again 3:04

09 Drifters Please Stay 2:17

10 Gene McDaniels Tower of Strength 2:17

11 Marty Robbins The Story of My Life 2:34

12 Tom Jones What's New Pussycat 2:20

13 Vi Velasco That's Not the Answer 2:19

14 Dionne Warwick Don't Make Me Over 3:23

15 Chuck Jackson Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird) 3:22

16 Gene Pitney (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance 3:00

17 Drifters Mexican Divorce 2:35

18 Dean Barlow Third Window From the Right 2:33

19 Adam Wade Rain From the Skies 2:57

20 Della Reese How About 2:26

21 Helen Shapiro Keep Away From Other Girls 2:26

22 Trini Lopez Made in Paris 2:22

23 Merseybeats It's Love That Really Counts (In the Long Run) 2:03

24 Manfred Mann My Little Red Book 2:27

25 Searchers This Empty Place 2:08

26 Burt Bacharach Pacific Coast Highway 3:23


CD3

01 Dionne Warwick That's What Friends Are For 4:16

02 Elvis Costello With Burt Bacharach God Give Me Strength 4:43

03 Will Young What's in Goodbye 3:06

04 Christopher Cross Arthur's Theme (The Best You Can Do) 3:55

05 Neil Diamond Heartlight 4:25

06 Burt Bacharach & Rufus Wainwright Go Ask Shakespeare 5:45

07 Elvis Costello With Burt Bacharach Who Are These People 4:15

08 Burt Bacharach South American Getaway 5:15

09 B.J. Thomas Everybody's Out of Town 2:42

10 Dionne Warwick Odds and Ends 3:27

11 Hammond Brothers Thirty Miles of Railway Tracks 2:27

12 Irma Thomas Long After Tonight is All Over 2:29

13 Drifters Let the Music Play 2:37

14 Dionne Warwick Paper Mache 2:59

15 Keely Smith One Less Bell to Answer 2:45

16 Anita Harris London Life 2:54

17 Richard Chamberlain Blue Guitar 2:52

18 Drifters The Land of Make Believe 2:35

19 Stylistics You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) 3:39

20 Carole Bayer Sager Just Friends 3:44

21 Burt Bacharach Hasbrook Heights 3:12

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14 comments:

  1. When a composer has won just about every major award in the entertainment industry for his achievements - including multiple Grammys, Oscars and Golden Globes, this artist is definitely a musician of merit across all genres and can reach anyone with half a musical sensibility, thank you for this wonderful suggestion!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi WOODY.
      It is a terrific set of tracks that has his ownership on it. A very talented songwriter.

      Cheers.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. That is a nice SHOUT out, Aussie.
      Thank you.

      Cheers.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for this. Astonished to hear he is currently working on another record with Elvis Costello.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Frank,
      Talent is always Appreciated. Both artists will make great music together.

      Cheers.

      Delete
    2. Thanks. What a fantastic collection.

      Delete
    3. Hi LakerCrazy,
      You are welcome,
      Cheers.

      Delete