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BURT & HAL

BURT BACHARACH

BURT (Burton F.) BACHARACH was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 12th, 1928 into a Jewish/Austro-German household as only son of the late nationally syndicated columnist and radio host Bert BACHARACH and his wife Irma FREEMAN, a portrait painter. Father Bert (with-an-E) had been a star football player at Virginia Military Institute, and Burt wanted to be an athlete. Too small for team sports, he turned to music.
(Bert Bacharach)
He grew up in New York where, as a boy, he learned to play cello, drums and piano. By his teenage years he had become a jazz fan and was sneaking out at night to see Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker play. This inspired him to form his own pickup band with a group of pals. He began gigging at hotels and Army bases and soon abandoned his early dream of becoming a professional sportsman for a career in music.
(Bert and Burt Bacharach)
His musical education took place at McGill University in Montreal (Canada), the Mannes School of Music in New York City, the Berkshire Music Center, the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara and, most significantly, the New School for Social Research where he studied music theory and composition under composers Bohuslav Martinu, Henry Cowell and DARIUS MILHAUD.
BACHARACH spent the years 1950 to 1952 serving in the US Army. His assignments included stints as an officers' club pianist and a dance band arranger. While on duty in Germany he met singer Vic Damone for whom he went to work as piano accompanist upon leaving the Military. The young BACHARACH also played solo restaurant and club gigs in addition to tinkling the ivories for the AMES Brothers, Georgia Gibbs and Paula Stewart whom he married in 1953.

"Never be ashamed to write a melody that people remember."
(Burt Bacharach)

HAL DAVID

(Art work Â© by Al Hirschfeld )
HAL DAVID was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 25th, 1921 into a Jewish-Austrian household as youngest son of Gedalier DAVID, a deli owner, and Lina GOLDBERG.
As a kid he studied violin and played in neighbourhood bands. A natural wordsmith, DAVID wrote for the Thomas Jefferson High School newspaper, becoming editor in his senior year. He studied at the NYU School of Journalism before joining 'the New York Post' as a copywriter while playing violin for various ensembles on the borscht circuit at weekends.
While serving in the Army, HAL DAVID was posted to the Central Pacific Entertainment Section in Hawaii. When World War II ended he returned to New York where, encouraged by his oldest brother, noted country and Disney songwriter MACK DAVID (1912-1993), he set about earning a living as a professional lyricist.
..ffd978d1c7079a.jpg" border="1" alt="Mack David, American lyricist and songwriter, best known for his work in film and television in the 1960's, particularly his work on the Disney films Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland." (Mack David)
In 1947 he sold his song "Isn't This Better Than Walking In The Rain?" to bandleader Sammy Kaye and enjoyed further success when his composition "The Four Winds And The Seven Seas" charted for Guy Lombardo. HAL DAVID composed many songs with Leon Carr including Teresa Brewer's smash hit "Bell Bottom Blues". On December 24, 1947 he married the first time to Anne RAUCHMAN (marriage ended) with whom he has two sons.
It was in 1956, at the suggestion of EDDIE WOLPIN of 'Famous Paramount Music', that Burt and Hal first began writing together. They scored almost immediately with "I Cry More", performed by Alan Dale in the movie "Don't Knock The Rock".

"I was always writing lyrics, he (Burt) was always writing melodies. We'd meet around 11 o'clock every day: 'What do you think of this? What do you think of that?' It was like show and tell. Either my lyric would spark him to write a melody or vice versa."
(Hal David)

In 1957 "Warm And Tender" became the first of several BACHARACH & DAVID compositions to be recorded by Johnny Mathis. Other early triumphs for the new team included the better-known "The Story Of My Life" by Marty Robbins and Perry Como's "Magic Moments", both high charters early in 1958.
His first marriage now over, BURT BACHARACH spent the next two years working for Marlene Dietrich. He was at the legendary diva's side when she courageously returned to Germany in 1960 and led the orchestra for her when she triumphantly performed at the Titania Palast in Berlin, her first stage appearance in the country of her birth since 1929. He also conducted for Dietrich when she played concerts in England, France, Belgium, Canada and the USA. BURT BACHARACH continued to work, on and off, for Marlene Dietrich for several years, arranging her recordings of "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" and her German language original of "Kentucky Bluebird".
Home from his international jaunt, Burt Bacharach resumed his partnership with HAL DAVID and began a period of feverish activity working under the wing of JERRY LEIBER & MIKE STOLLER at the BRILL BUILDING in New York. He also briefly joined forces with lyricists Paul Hampton, NORMAN GIMBEL, Sydney Shaw and Frederick Tobias.

"All those so-called abnormalities seemed perfectly normal to me. In the beginning, the A&R guys would say, 'You can't dance to it,' or 'That bar of three needs to be changed to bar of four', and because I wanted to get the stuff recorded, I listened and ended up ruining some good songs. I've always believed if it's a good tune people will find a way to move to it."
(Burt Bacharach)

In February 1961 the Drifters recorded BURT BACHARACH & Bob Hilliard's "Please Stay". For that group's next session, which kicked off with his and HAL DAVID's "Loneliness Or Happiness", BACHARACH was employed as arranger. It was at this session that he first met Dionne Warwick.
Further LEIBER & STOLLER-produced acts to record BACHARACH & DAVID songs include 'Kapp' label artist Babs Tino and, for 'United Artists', the Exciters, Marv Johnson and Jay & the Americans. A fruitful association with Big Top commenced with Del Shannon's recording of BACHARACH & Hilliard's "The Answer To Everything".
("Burt Bacharach... This Is Now", part 3)
The liaison with that label continued with "Brigitte Bardot" by the Burt BACHARACH Orchestra and culminated, three years later, with such magnificent BACHARACH & DAVID-written magnum opuses as "Reach Out For Me", "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me" and "Kentucky Bluebird (Send A Message To Martha)" by Lou Johnson.
Meanwhile, HAL DAVID reunited with SHERMAN EDWARDS, with whom he had co-penned Sarah Vaughan's 1959 smash hit "Broken-Hearted Melody", to script "You'll Answer To Me" for Patti Page and "Johnny Get Angry" for Joanie Sommers.
When Jackie DeShannon's "What The World Needs Now Is Love" soared into the Top 10 in 1965, Dionne Warwick's reign as BURT BACHARACH & HAL DAVID's top star was momentarily threatened. But by the close of the decade the "Walk On By" gal had charted with over thirty of their compositions. And then, dark day and cursed, came "Lost Horizon". So ill-received was that movie and its soundtrack that BACHARACH, by then also a prolific recording artist in his own right, partially withdrew from the music business. With broken contracts to contend with, the BACHARACH-DAVID-Warwick triumvirate expired in a mass of mutual litigation.
Dionne Warwick
BURT BACHARACH's 14-year marriage to the actress Angie Dickinson ended in 1980. He soon re-emerged with the Christopher Cross chart-topper "Arthur's Theme" and, in 1982, married the song's co-writer CAROLE BAYER SAYER. The couple went on to write Dionne Warwick & Friends' "That's What Friends Are For" and "On My Own" for Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald, both of which were also number one records.

"It's not just a revue where one song is done, then another. There are concepts and ideas at work."
(Hal David)

Meanwhile, HAL DAVID joined forces with John Barry to write the James Bond movie theme "Moonraker" and penned "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" with Albert Hammond.
Lincoln College bestowed a 'Doctor of Music' degree on HAL DAVID for his major contribution to American music, and he received an 'Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters' Degree from Claremont Graduate University.
HAL DAVID, BURT BACHARACH and Dionne Warwick are the proud recipients of the prestigious 'New York Heroes Award' from the National Recording Academy.
HAL DAVID is listed as a 'Distinguished Patron of the Arts' of the Los Angeles Music Center. He serves as a member of the Board of Governors of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, as well as the Board of Directors of ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), having formerly served as its President (from 1980 until 1986).
Hal DAVID remarried on September 2nd, 1988 to Eunice FORESTER and is currently Chairman of the Board of the National Academy of Popular Music and the Songwriters Hall of Fame .

"Now, how do I go about the business of writing lyrics? I wish I really knew. If I did it would make writing much easier for me. Because I have no formula, sometimes it flows smoothly and other times it is like rowing a boat upstream. Most often a lyric starts with a title. A line in a book I am reading may set me off. Other times some dialogue in a play or a movie becomes the catalyst. More often than not the idea just pops into my head-where it comes from I hardly ever know.... In writing I search for believability, simplicity, and emotional impact...
The form of songwriting is very restrictive because it's in a very small frame. But because of its restrictions you get a bonus you couldn't get in any other art form. Because it is in this little microcosm, if it works it should have a greater explosion, a greater impact. And I think that's why songs have a greater effect on the public than almost any other form of creative work.
I'm a laborer. I never accept my first idea. I always look for a new approach. The most difficult part of the whole process for me is letting go; of saying 'that's the best I can do,' and go on to the next song."
(Hal David)

(Burt and Hal)
In 1989, all past ill feelings long since forgotten, Dionne Warwick reunited with her former mentors to record the brand new BACHARACH & DAVID composition "Sunny Weather Lovers". The songwriters have since also collaborated on fresh material for a revived version of their 1968 stage musical "Promises, Promises" and had two new numbers featured in the BETTE MIDLER movie "Isn't She Great" (2000).
Commissioned to compose a song for the film "Grace Of My Heart", BURT BACHARACH and Elvis Costello created the wonderful "God Give Me Strength". This successful liaison led to the 1998 BACHARACH & Costello album "Painted From Memory" comprised entirely of material authored by the unlikely twosome. The project contained BURT BACHARACH's best work for many years.
At the age of 78, Burt releases a brand new album featuring 11 never-before-heard compositions that reflect the world as he sees it now and more importantly, the world he will leave behind for his children. Exposing his new and somewhat controversial perspective, "At This Time" (2005) also features guest appearances from Chris Botti, Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright, and an interesting collaboration with Dr. Dre.
GrammyÂ® winner for Best Pop Instrumental Album
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In 2006, BACHARACH recorded a jazz album with the Dutch singer Trijntje Oosterhuis and the Metropole Orchestra called "The Look Of Love (The Burt Bacharach Songbook)"
Today we find BURT BACHARACH and HAL DAVID with their reputations at an all-time apex, worshipped as icons of loungecore cool. Their profiles are as high now as they were in the halcyon days of their "Alfie", "Casino Royale", "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid" and "What's New, Pussycat?" movie themes. Not since Dionne Warwick's "Anyone Who Had A Heart", "Walk On By", and "I Say A Little Prayer" have the names BURT BACHARACH & HAL DAVID been so ubiquitous. In an age when, thanks to television documentaries like the "Walk On By"-series, the art of crafting songs is undergoing a resurgence of appreciation, BURT BACHARACH & HAL DAVID are regarded by many as contenders for the title of the best writer of popular songs that ever lived.
Artists as diverse as Sir Paul McCartney, the Pet Shop Boys, Prince, the Manic Street Preachers, and Elvis Costello cite the pair as a major influence, and songs like "What The World Needs Now", "The Look Of Love", and "Anyone Who Had A Heart" are all but anthems, unassailable landmarks in the history of pop.
Yet lyricist DAVID's contribution is often overlooked, with BACHARACH afforded the lion's share of attention, the user-friendly face of the cocktails and turtlenecks crowd. The balance was redressed to a degree in London (May 27th, 1999), with a special presentation to the wordsmith at the annual Ivor Novello Awards, making him the first non-Briton to be honoured in the Awards' 44-year history. It was a rare foray into the limelight for an unassuming man who seems to like it best in the background.
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HAL DAVID wrote the lyrics for the following film scores: "Wives and Lovers", "Casino Royale", "April Fools", "Lost Horizon", "After the Fox", "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", "Oklahoma Crude", "What's New Pussycat?", "Two Gals and a Guy", "Promise Her Anything", "Alfie", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", and "Moonraker". And he is the author of the book "What the World Needs Now and Other Love Lyrics" (Simon & Schuster).
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"Burt is better known than me for a number of reasons. Composers tend to be better known than lyricists, just look at Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Bernie is a brilliant lyric writer, but Elton is the showman. And like Elton, Burt is a performer, he's good out in the open. That's never been my thing."
(Hal David)

The 'HAL DAVID STARLIGHT AWARD'
The Hal David Starlight Award, created in 2004, was renamed in honor of the SHOF Chairman/CEO for his longtime support of young songwriters.
The Hal David Starlight Award recipients are gifted songwriters in the early years of their careers who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.
Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys, John Mayer and John Legend are past recipients of the Hal David Starlight Award.
(Burt, Dionne and Hal)

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"Burt Bacharach... This Is Now" - part IV

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Member Since: 11/6/2006
Band Website: haldavid.com
Band Members:

("Burt Bacharach... This Is Now", part 2 - directed by Â©Frances Dickenson & Caz Gorham, 1996)

Inducted 1972 | ASCAP Writer

HAL DAVID exemplifies the highest level of achievement in the fine art of the written word that accompanies the music of a memorable song.

Despite his substantial music credentials, DAVID, as a young man, turned to journalism as a potential career, and like a number of other illustrious magicians of words on the printed page, cut his eye teeth at The New York Post.

While pouring out words of the news in The Post's city room, DAVID dabbled in song lyrics as well, and thanks to a lucky break, wrote his first successful lyric for "swing and sway" bandleader, Sammy Kaye, in 1947. With this entree, the door was opened and other hits came tumbling out of DAVID's busy typewriter. One of the first of these was "Four Winds and the Seven Seas", created with co-writer, Don Rodney, a vocalist for the Guy Lombardo Orchestra. A recording by the Lombardo Ensemble became a hit.

DAVID followed with "Broken-Hearted Melody", which became Sarah Vaughan's biggest single hit ever, and "Johnny Get Angry", a great success for yet another female singer, Joanie Sommers.

One of the best-known, most productive songwriting teams of the late 50's and the decade of the 60's was born in the offices of the Famous Music Corporation in 1957, when HAL DAVID first met BURT BACHARACH.

Famous Music executive, Eddie Wolpin, offered them a room and a piano and there was almost instant rapport. Rapport in turn grew into productivity and the two were hitting paydirt in short order with such titles as "Story of My Life", a hit for country singer, Many Robbins, and the same year, "Magic Moments", an important hit for Perry Como. Other hit songs followed, each generating a share of heavy chart activity. Among them were "Wishin' and Hopin'", "Twenty-four Hours from Tulsa", and a pair recorded by the diminutive Connecticut hitmaker, Gene Pitney, "Only Love Can Break a Heart", and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance".

One singer in particular, Dionne Warwick, has for years been associated with HAL DAVID and collaborator, BURT BACHARACH. Their initial success with Warwick came when she recorded a demo of their song, "Make It Easy on Yourself", heard by and recorded into a hit by Jerry Butler. Later presented by Scepter Records with a chance to not only write songs for Ms. Warwick but to produce her records as well, long runs of success ensued, each of them bearing the estimable trademark lyrics of HAL DAVID. The hits included "Don't Make Me Over", "Message to Michael", and "Windows of the World". Warwick at the time, commented on another of the team's songs, "What The World Needs Now", which she felt "should be the national anthem." The song actually became identified for years with singer-songwriter, Jackie DeShannon.

Later, DAVID, with BACHARACH and others, produced a collection of top hits for other artists, including the Oscar-winning "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (from the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" ), "Alfie", "What's New, Pussycat?", "The Look of Love" (from "Casino Royale"; Oscar nominees), "Wives and Lovers", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again", "It Was Almost Like a Song" (all Grammy nominees), "This Guy's in Love with You", "Anyone Who Had a Heart", "Promises, Promises", "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?", "A House Is Not a Home", "Walk on By", and "Trains and Boats and Planes".

During the late 70's, DAVID ventured into Nashville territory, where he co-wrote with Archie Jordan, "It Was Almost Like a Song", which became a smash country hit for Ronnie Milsap, later crossing over into the pop charts. Another country artist, the renowned Willie Nelson, duetted with the Latin star, Julio Iglesias in the hugely successful "To All The Girls I've Loved Before", which DAVID co-wrote with Albert Hammond.

The author of the book, "What the World Needs Now and Other Love Lyrics" (Simon & Schuster), HAL DAVID also served from 1980 to 1986 as president of the 'American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' (ASCAP) and continues to serve on the Society's board and as chairman of its legislative Committee. He also continues to write songs that the world inevitably takes to its heart.

Mr. DAVID's civic and charitable activities include the New York City Food Bank and he is a member of the Acquisitions Committee of the Whitney Museum in New York, as well as a member of the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Other achievements:

* He is a founder of the Los Angeles Music Center.

* In 1984 HAL DAVID was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

* He received a Doctor of Music degree from Lincoln College, Illinois in 1991 for his major contribution to American music.

* In May 2000 he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Claremont Graduate University.

* He is a member of the Artist's Committee for Kennedy Center Honors.

* He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of ASCAP, having served as its President, and where he now works on reform of intellectual property rights.

* He serves the Advisory Board of the Society of Singers.

* He is a member of the Board of Visitors of Claremont University in California.

* In 1999 HAL DAVID became the first American to be honoured with a prestigious Ivor Novello Award by the British Academy Of Composers And Songwriters for his string of landmark hits.

* He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the National Academy of Popular Music and its Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF).

Inducted 1972 | ASCAP Writer

Songwriters of the 90's often tend to belong to one special niche in the music process. One of the reasons for this is the fact that many are writing principally for themselves as artists, thus tending to fall into a single category. BURT BACHARACH, who has been writing song hits in many regions of the pop landscape for four decades, is decidedly not a member of this special club.

BACHARACH, in fact, has enjoyed major hits in all genres of music, including top 40, rhythm and blues, country, film scores and soundtracks. He is a multi-faceted composer enjoying credits with a host of major collaborators, particularly HAL DAVID.

Born in Missouri, Bacharach did most of his growing up in New York City, where during his elementary school years, he began taking piano lessons. A familiar scenario indeed, which for many, ends almost where it starts with not enough will to practice and too much homework from school. BACHARACH, in fact, ate it up and, already influenced by one of the significant fads of that time, be-bop jazz and such practitioners as Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, he graduated from high school and continued his education at Montreal's McGill University, the New School for Social Research in New York and the Mannes School of Music, also in New York. His studies included music composition from such masters as Darius MILHAUD, Boguslav Martinu and Henry Cowell.

During the earliest phase of his career, BACHARACH worked as accompanist and conductor for Marlene Dietrich's night club act. In the early and mid-60's, his songwriting talents became the pivotal force in his music, with country-rock smashes, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", and the classic, "Only Love Can Break A Heart", for Gene Pitney; and "The Story Of My Life" for the country star, Marty Robbins.

Soon established as a major songwriting duo with HAL DAVID, BACHARACH and his partner became long term contributors to the career of Dionne Warwick. Over a period of 10 years, the pair enjoyed a string of 39 consecutive chart hits with Ms. Warwick, including such memorable songs as "Walk On By", "Don't Make Me Over", "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", "Promises, Promises", and "Message To Michael".

The song, "That's What Friends Are For", recorded by Warwick with Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John and Gladys Knight, and co-written with Carole Bayer Sager, became Number 1 on the hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, received a Grammy for "Song of the Year", and with songwriters and artists all contributing their services without charge, the recording raised over $1,500,000 for the 'American Foundation for AIDS Research' (AmFAR).

BURT BACHARACH's motion picture scores have also achieved classic status. With HAL DAVID a co-writer, the output includes a series of memorable themes, such as "What's New, Pussycat?", (the title song was a million-seller for Britain's Tom Jones); "Casino Royale", from which the song "The Look Of Love" was a Gold record for both Dusty Springfield and Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66. The title song became a major hit for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

Others in the movie genre include: "Alfie", "Together?" with vocals by Michael McDonald, Jackie DeShannon and Libby Titus; "Arthur", "Night Shift", "Making Love", "Baby Boom", and the memorable "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" for which he received a pair of Oscars. Meanwhile, an album compilation of greatest BACHARACH hits featuring the original recordings, and fitled "The Look of Love: the Burt Bacharach Collection" , was released in November 1998 and promptly hit the Number 6 position on the UK best-selling charts.

On the Broadway stage, BACHARACH and DAVID wrote "Promises, Promises", a smash hit at the box office as well as through the Dionne Warwick recording of the title song. On another front, BACHARACH, as arranger and conductor, has also recorded 8 albums for A&M Records.

In the few moments not totally devoted to composing, BACHARACH has also become a horse owner with several successful thoroughbreds currently running, including ' Soul of the Matter ' (who won a 1 million dollar prize race in 1995 and was a close 2nd in the 1996 Dubai World Cup ) and 'Afternoon Deelites'. Another from the BACHARACH stable, 'Heartlight No. One', a filly, was winner of the prestigious Eclipse Award (1983), an extremely significant accolade in track and paddock circles. The horse was named after the song, "Heartlight", composed by BACHARACH, Carole Bayer Sager and recording artist Neil Diamond.

* In May 2001, Mr. BACHARACH accepted the Royal Academy of Music Award, presented by King Carl Gustav XVI in Stockholm (Sweden).

* As of 2006, BURT BACHARACH had a total of 70 Top 40 hits in the USA, and 52 Top 40 hits in the U.K.

* "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" won an Academy Award as the score for the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".

* "What The World Needs Now (Is Love)" was honored with the Towering Song Award (2004).

* "Don't Make Me Over", "(They Long to Be) Close to You", and "Walk on By" are all in the GrammyÂ® Hall of Fame.

* "What's New, Pussycat?", "Alfie", and "The Look of Love" received Oscar nominations.

Â©2007 Songwriters Hall of Fame

Influences:

HAL DAVID's All-Time Favorite Songs :
"Mack The Knife" (Brecht-Weill, 1928)

"As Time Goes By" (written by Herman Hupfeld, 1931)

"Night and Day" (Cole Porter, 1932)

"Summertime" (Gershwin & Heyward, 1935)

"September Song" (Anderson-Weill, 1938)

"You'll Never Walk Alone" (Rodgers & Hammerstein II, 1945)

"By The Time I Get To Phoenix" (Jimmy Webb, 1965)

"Fire And Rain" (James Taylor, 1970)

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Burt BACHARACH's music utilizes a variety of styles, including Latin, rock, and gospel, and is marked by unexpected chord changes.

Burt studied with French polytonal composer DARIUS MILHAUD (1892-1974), who "attached extreme importance to melodic line, superimposing different keys to produce a polytonal texture characteristic of his style"
('Larousse Encyclopedia of Music').

And he claims to have been deeply influenced by MAURICE RAVEL's "Daphnis et ChloÃ©" Suite (premiered in 1912), a strikingly atmospheric Impressionist piece featuring a huge orchestra, a wordless chorus for extra flavor, and a panoply of percussion, including a wind machine.

In the liner notes to Rhino Records' "The Look of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection", BACHARACH recalls DARIUS MILHAUD encouraging him to "let the melody shine through. It's nothing to be ashamed of", he said. BACHARACH never forgot. His melodic structures may be unconventional or oddly shaped, but they are unashamedly glorious. BACHARACH can drop glittering two- or three-note tune fragments upon one another until he's built a gorgeous melody that surprises you because you didn't hear it coming. These little clusters of notes tease you, keep you guessing, and the overall shape of the melody doesn't become apparent until the last piece is dropped into place.

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BACHARACH's music is characterized by the frequent use of innovative chord changes, striking rhythmic patterns, frequent modulation (that is, key changes), and odd time signatures (for example, 5/4 or 3/2), going from one time signature to another in the same song, often successively.

BACHARACH is more than a mere songwriter, having himself arranged, conducted, and co-produced much of his recorded output. An example of his use of distinctive use of changing meter is found in "Promises, Promises" (from his score for the Musical of the same name). In this song, he incorporates a very complex time signature sequence of |3/8|Ã·|4/8|3/8|Ã·|4/8|.

"I think he (BACHARACH) could be spoken about in the same breath with RICHARD RODGERS . I think he's that good."
-- Elvis COSTELLO (to 'The Irish Times')

"BURT BACHARACH is one of the great geniuses of American popular music... A trailblazer. A questioner. An unbridled genius.... BACHARACH's songs explode the expectations of what a popular song is supposed to be. Advanced harmonies and chord changes with unexpected turnarounds and modulations, unusual changing time signatures and rhythmic twists, often in uneven numbers of bars. But he makes it all sound so natural you can't get it out of your head or stop whistling it. Maddeningly complex, sometimes deceptively simple, these are more than just great pop songs: these are deep explorations of the materials of music and should be studied and treasured with as much care and diligence as we accord any great works of art."
-- John ZORN (in the liner notes for "Great Jewish Music: Burt Bacharach")

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The many songs of BACHARACH & DAVID have been sung/recorded by a number (1724!) of popular artists including :

Steve Alaimo
All Saints
Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
Gerald Alston
Ed Ames
Paul Anka
Little Anthony & The Imperials
Richard Anthony
Charles Applewhite
Joe Arthur
John Ashley
Frankie Avalon
Average White Band
Avons (The)

Burt Bacharach
Anita Baker
Long John Baldry
Ron Banks
Barenaked Ladies
Dean Barlow
Joey Baron
Dame Shirley Bassey
Carole Bayer Sayer
Beatles (The)
Tony Bennett
Brook Benton
Jon Best
Cilla Black
Peggi Blue
Pat Boone
BossHoss (The)
Chris Botti
Brenda & The Tabulations
James Brown
Maxine Brown
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack
B T Express
George Burns
Burt & The Backbeats
Mr Bungle
Sam Butera
Jerry Butler

Tevin Campbell
Capitol Steps
Wendy Carlos
Carola
Carpenters (The)
Cathy Carr
Vikki Carr
Valerie Carr
Paul Carrack
Dina Carroll
Pat Carroll
Harry Carter Singers (The)
Mel Carter
Richard Chamberlain
Gene Chandler
Cher
Desmond Child
Sylvaine Clair
Petula Clark
Dee Clarke
Buddy Clinton
Alma Cogan
Phil Colbert
Lloyd Cole & the Commotions
Natalie Cole
Nat King Cole
Anthony Coleman & Selfhaters
Lyn Collins
Perry Como
Brian Conley
Elvis Costello
Kevin Coyne
Cranberries (The)
Randy Crawford
Christopher Cross
Sheryl Crow
Tim Curry

Alan Dale
Vic Damone
Doris Day
El De Barge
Deacon Blue
Delfonics (The)
Dells (The)
Jackie DeShannon
Neil Diamond
Marlene Dietrich
Sacha Distel
Don and Juan
Dave Douglas
Rusty Draper
Drifters (The)
D-Train

Brenda Lee Eager
Earth, Wind & Fire
Eligibles
Bill Evans
Paul Evans
Everything But The Girl
Exciters (The)
Exotics (The)

Adam Faith
Percy Faith
Faith No More
Georgie Fame
Fastball
Ernie Felice
Sos Fenger
5th Dimension (The)
Fred Firth
Five Blobs (The)
Roberta Flack
Ben Folds Five
Brian Foley
David Foster
Four Aces
Four Coins
Four Preps (The)
Four Seasons (The)
Claude Francois
Barry Frank
Aretha Franklin
Freddie and the Dreamer
Erik Friedlander
Bill Frisell
Fuller Brothers (The)

Noel Gallagher
Gallahads (The)
Gals & Pals (The)
Siedah Garrett
Gloria Gaynor
Bobbie Gentry
Stan Getz
Don Gibson
Astrud Gilberto
Bobby Goldsboro
Ron Goodwin & his Orchestra
Peter Gordeno
Robert Goulet
Charlie Gracie
R.B. Greaves
Buddy Greco
Merv Griffin
Gwen Guthrie

Larry Hall
George Hamilton
Hammond Brothers (The)
Paul Hampton
Anita Harris
Johnny Hartman
Isaac Hayes
Bobby Helms
Everit Herter
Todd Herzog
Vince Hill
Shelley Hirsch
Michael Holliday
Nancy Holloway
John Holt
Yuka Honda
Lena Horne
Wayne Horvitz
Cissy Houston
Engelbert Humperdinck
Tommy Hunt
Chrissie Hynde

Mari Iijima
James Ingram
Ronald Isley & Burt Bacharach
Isley Brothers (The)

Chuck Jackson
Milt Jackson
Walter Jackson
Etta James
Sonny James
Jay & The Americans
Will Jennings
Joanne & The Streamliners
Lou Johnson
Marv Johnson
Glenn Jones
Jack Jones
Salena Jones
Tom Jones
Rosemary June

Nick Kamen
Eyvind Kang
Eddie Kendricks
Brian Kennedy
Anita Kerr
Dave King
Diana King
Guy Klucevsek
Klymaxx
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Dave Koz
Diana Krall
Kramer
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas

Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle & The Blue Belles
Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald
Gloria Lambert
K.D. Lang
Nicolette Larson
Steve Lawrence
Peggy Lee
Sean Lennon
Letterman
Jerry Lewis
Linda Lewis
Light Brothers (The)
Mark Lindsay
Trini Lopez
Love
Kenny Lynch
Gloria Lynne

Melissa Manchester
Barbara Mandrell
Manic Street Preachers
Manfred Mann
Bob Manning
Donna Marie
Tony Martin
Johnny Mathis
Big Maybelle
Mary Mayo
Marie McAuliffe
Gene McDaniels
Maureen McGovern
Stephanie McIntosh
Carmen McRae
Medeski, Martin & Wood
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
Buddy Merrill
Merseybeats (The)
P.P. Michiels
Gary Miller
Stephanie Mills
Ronnie Milsap
Matt Monro
Wes Montgomery
Jane Morgan
Ronny Mosuse
Mouches (Les)
Nana Mouskouri
Mike Myers

Naked Eyes
Bernie Nee
Rick Nelson
Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias
Peter Nero

Jill O'Hara
Trijntje Oosterhuis & the Metropole Orchestra
Tony Orlando
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett

Patti Page
Nick Palmer
Ray Parker Jr.
Zeena Parkins
Sherry Parsons
Mike Patton
Sandi Patty
Ray Peterson
Shawn Phillips
Gene Pitney
Pizzicato Five
June Pointer
Pointer Sisters (The)
Petra Polak
Joey Powers
Elvis Presley
Gary Puckett

Quarterflash
Robert Quine

Jimmy Radcliffe
Ed Rambeau
Rangoons (The)
Johnnie Ray
Eivets Rednow (aka Stevie Wonder)
Mike Redway
Sandra Reemer
Della Reese
Resala's Band
Marc Ribot Ensemble
Cliff Richard
Marty Robbins
Kenny Rogers
Roland
Linda Ronstadt
Sonia Rosa
Diana Ross
Steve Rossi
Russells (The)

David Sandborn & George Duke
Sandi & Salli
Sandpipers (The)
Tommy Sands
Mongo Santamaria
Lonnie Sattin (demo singer)
Leo Sayer
Diane Schuur
Linda Scott
Marilyn Scott
Seal
Taja Sevelle
Del Shannon
Helen Shapiro
Elliott Sharp
Roland Shaw
Sandie Shaw
Shepherd Sisters (The)
Shirelles (The)
Lucie Silvas
Carly Simon
Frank Sinatra
Percy Sledge
Smith
Jimmy Smith
Keely Smith
Terry Smith
Sofie
Splitsville
Dusty Springfield
Jo Stafford
Edwin Starr
Connie Stevens
Rod Stewart
Gale Storm
Billy Strange
Stranglers (The)
Barbra Streisand
Stylistics (The)
Surfs (Les)
Sweet Inspirations
Swinging Blue Jeans
Sybil

Tangeers (The)
James Taylor
Tammi Terrell
B. J. Thomas
Carla Thomas
Irma Thomas
Babs Tino
Tin Tin Out feat. Espiritu
Oscar Toney Jr.
Mel Torme
Diana Trask
Turbans (The)
McCoy Tyner
Steve Tyrell

Hikaru Utada

June Valli
Luther Vandross
Dick Van Dyke
Leroy Van Dyke
Ornella Vanoni
Frankie Vaughan
Sara Vaughan
Bobby Vee
Gene Vincent
Kristen Vigard
Bobby Vinton
Sofie von Otter & Elvis Costello

Adam Wade
Walker Brothers (The)
Wanderers (The)
Jennifer Warnes
Dee Dee Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osborne
We Five
Lenny Welch
Paul Weller
Tony Joe White
White Stripes (The)
David Whitfield
Margaret Whiting
Andy Williams
Joe Williams
Nancy Wilson
Bobby Womack
Wynonna

Kumiko Yamashita
Will Young
Timi Yuro

X-Legged Sally

and countless more...

What Is Your Favorite BACHARACH-DAVID Song?
I'll Never Fall In Love Again
A House Is Not A Home
Make It Easy On Yourself
Alfie
I Say A Little Prayer
This Guy's In Love With You
(They Long To Be) Close To You
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
The Look Of Love
Walk On By
Reach Out For Me
Trains And Boats And Planes
Send Me No Flowers
Wishin' And Hopin'
Do You Know The Way To San JosÃ©?
What The World Needs Now (Is Love)
(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
Don't Make Me Over
Promises, Promises

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The sophisticated melodies of Burt BACHARACH were among the defining sounds of American popular music in the 60's and early 70's. In an era when rock gained ascendancy, his elegant compositions echoed the heyday of the great Broadway and Tin Pan Alley songwriters. In tandem with lyricist Hal DAVID, BACHARACH created songs graced with complex rhythms and fresh harmonic patterns that were rich in color and mood.

The BACHARACH / DAVID team produced a remarkable body of work for the stage and screen as well as for the record-buying market. The Carpenters, Sir Tom Jones, B.J. Thomas, Dusty Springfield and, most of all, Dionne Warwick were among the artists who popularized BACHARACH's songs. The start of the 21st century found him increasingly productive, working with new collaborators and releasing retrospectives of his best work.

[Song title - Original version - Release date]
"The Story of My Life"
(Marty Robbins, 1957)

"Magic Moments"
(Perry Como, 1957/1958)

"The Blob"
(the Five Blobs, 1958; co-written with Mack David)

"Heavenly"
(Johnny Mathis, 1959)

"Faithfully"
(Johnny Mathis, 1959)

"Baby It's You"
(the Shirelles, 1961; with Mack David & B. Williams)

"Any Day Now"
(Chuck Jackson, 1962; with Bob Hilliard)

"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"
(Gene Pitney, 1962)

"Only Love Can Break a Heart"
(Gene Pitney, 1962)

"Don't Make Me Over"
(Dionne Warwick, 1962)

"Make it Easy On Yourself"
(Jerry Butler, 1962)

"Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa"
(Gene Pitney, 1963)

"Blue on Blue"
(Bobby Vinton, 1963)

"Anyone Who Had a Heart"
(Dionne Warwick, 1963)

"Wives and Lovers"
(Jack Jones, 1963)

"Wishin' and Hoping"
(Dionne Warwick, 1963)

"Walk On By"
(Dionne Warwick, 1964)

"I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself"
(Dusty Springfield, 1964)

"(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me"
(Dionne Warwick, 1964)

"(They Long To Be) Close To You"
(Richard Chamberlain, 1963)

"A House Is Not a Home"
(Brook Benton, 1963)

"What the World Needs Now (Is Love)"
(Dionne Warwick, 1965)

"What's New, Pussycat?"
(Tom Jones, 1965)

"Alfie"
(Cilla Black, 1966)

"My Little Red Book"
(Manfred Mann, 1965)

"I Say A Little Prayer" (Dionne Warwick, 1967)

"The Look of Love"
(Dusty Springfield, 1967)

"One Less Bell to Answer"
(Keely Smith, 1967)

"This Guy's In Love With You"
(Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, 1968)

"Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"
(Dionne Warwick, 1968)

"Promises, Promises"
(Jill O'Hara, 1968)

"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
(B. J. Thomas, 1969)

"I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
(Dionne Warwick, 1969)

"Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)"
(Christopher Cross, 1981)

"That's What Friends Are For"
(Rod Stewart, 1986)

"On My Own"
(Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald, 1986)

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"The Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection" [Boxed Set]

Since the late 1950's, Burt BACHARACH has been one of pop music's premier songwriter/producer/arrangers. Though perhaps best known for his many collaborations with lyricist Hal DAVID on more classic Dionne Warwick records than we have space to mention, he also worked his hitmaking magic for the likes of the Drifters, Chuck Jackson, The Shirelles, Gene Pitney, Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield, Jackie DeShannon, Tom Jones, the Carpenters, the 5th Dimension, the Stylistics, Christopher Cross, and a host of others. And it's all collected on this amazing 3-CD box set! Make no mistake about it, this is the most comprehensive BACHARACH-DAVID compilation to date, spanning nearly 40 years of some of the greatest pop music ever made. Includes a deluxe booklet filled with extensive liner notes, glowing testimonials from his peers, and track-by-track annotation.

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Record Label: EMI Music / Columbia Records-Sony BMG Music
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My Blog

Coming Soon: the official Burt Bacharach website

Yep, we're working hard on it! "The Boss" is on tour down under but stay tuned for more, precious friends...! Greetings XO B-Alec (B&D webmaster) WWW.BURTBACHARACH.NET ...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Sun, 08 Jul 2007 01:15:00 PST

Sal DiTroia, we shall miss you!

So Long, Sal! We all lost a good friend today. A magnificent guitar artist named Sal DiTroia. Yesterday, June 22, he apparently lay down to take a nap and just didn't wake up. He was...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 06:56:00 PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HAL!

Best wishes from Eunice, Jim, Craig, Burt, B-Alec & the NY crew, and many many others: HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAL!! Song Hall To Honor John Legend with Hal David Starlight Award Hal David, Chairman/CE...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Fri, 25 May 2007 06:42:00 PST

"(They Long To Be) Close To You" (the making of...)

1970 version by Richard & Karen Carpenter: "Close To You" (The Making of...) ...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Wed, 16 May 2007 07:13:00 PST

Burt's latest recordings can now be purchased online!

Best wishes from Jane, Oliver, Raleigh, Christopher Elton, Hal and Eunice, Linda, Kelly, B-Alec and many others: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BURT!! Last February 180 Music and Target released Burt Bacharac...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Sat, 12 May 2007 04:52:00 PST

"Unchained Melody" to be honored with 'Towering Song' Award

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Hal David, Chairman/CEO of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, announced today that this year's "Towering Song" honor would be bestowed upon the classic "Unchained Melody" at the 2007 Song...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Fri, 25 May 2007 06:37:00 PST

DON KIRSHNER to receive Abe Olman Publisher Award For Lifetime Achievement

Don Kirshner To Receive The Abe Olman Publisher Award For Lifetime Achievement In The Music Industry New York, N.Y. Hal David, Chairman/CEO of The Songwriters Hall of Fame, today announced that Don ...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Tue, 29 May 2007 05:05:00 PST

A - short - 1999 Interview with Hal David...

Hal David First American to Receive Ivor Novello Award In 1999 lyrical legend Hal David became the first non-Briton to be honoured with a prestigious Ivor Novello Award by the British Ac...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Sun, 15 Apr 2007 05:37:00 PST

ASCAP biography : Hal David

Hal David "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head," "Close to You," and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," are just three of the hits in a string of standards written by lyricist Hal David. "Raindrops," it s...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 06:33:00 PST

2 audio interviews with Burt.... (2006)

TWO AUDIO INTERVIEWS WITH BURT BACHARACH (Summer 2006) 1. Interview with mvyradio.com. (2006)2. Wanna know the secrets behind some of Burt Bacharach's songwriting techniques...
Posted by Burt Bacharach & Hal David on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 06:08:00 PST

Burt Bacharach & Hal David

Welcome to the BURT BACHARACH & HAL DAVID MySpaceÂ©