RIP Burt Bacharach

[Sam Mills 51]

Is there any chance a group like Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass would have a string of hits in this day and age?

Probably not. Unless it was the horn section for Chicago, Phil Collins or Earth, Wind & Fire or something like that. But as a standalone, I don't like the chances.

 

[DanOregon]

Best equivalent of Herb Alpert recently may have been Daft Punk.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Um, no. No way.

I’d put him with his contemporaries
Sondheim and Bernstein

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Very nice obit
Explains how he met David and Warwick and broke up with them

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...D101tHtByB6lIMi5lK92-Sl0oNdiE&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

 

[Jake from State Farm]

This thread needs more Dusty

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

I remember Dusty Springfield's comeback in 1990-ish courtesy of the Pet Shop Boys.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

This thread is getting Dusty all of a sudden.

 

[DanOregon]

Did not know "Cloee To You" had been released by Dionne prior to the Carpenters making it a hit. Apparently, Richard Carpenter came up with the :da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da, Why do birds...."





Fun note: the fluegalhorn solo was meant for Herb Albert, but he was unavailable so Chuck Findlay did it - it was his big break and everyone wanted him - later heard on Steely Dan's Aja, a bunch of Toto's stuff, later joined Carson's band.

 

[Songbird]

Was going to post this in the Super Bowl thread based on the "naked eye" comments over and over ...



... then see this ...

@barryblakeley1428
4 days ago
One of Burt Bacharach’s best compositions. RIP Burt!

And holy **** it's true.

Not sure if Greg Olsen would've known that from his naked eye.

 

[BTExpress]

This almost-62-year-old would have been fine with a Super Bowl halftime show of someone singing --- not lip-synching --- 4-5 Burt Bacharach hits.

 

[DanOregon]

Back in the day, trotting out a cross-section of all the different artists who had hits with his songs WOULD have been a great show. I'd suggest though - going back and checking out some of the specials featuring his music. Think of all the artists they could have had doing halftime shows in the first 20 years of the SB that they wasted with Up With People.

 

[dixiehack]

I’d be fine with going back to HBCU bands, but I’m guessing the same people would still be getting Big Mad online.

 

[Monday Morning Sportswriter]

I’d be fine with going back to HBCU bands, but I’m guessing the same people would still be getting Big Mad online.

I'd have been fine with Burt on his piano. Mic optional.

But I also think James Taylor should do the halftime show. Just him and his guitar. Maybe a stool if he's going to play a little longer.

 

[DanOregon]

Next year's SB needs animals, showgirls, some Circe de Solei, magicians, an Elvis or two and a headliner to pull it all together. I don't have any ideas.

 

[Bubbler]

Burt Bacharach appreciation came to me late, but I'm glad it came.

Though I have Bacharach songs I like better, my favorite late 60s Bachrachian moment is "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid". The "South American Getaway" part.

Here's a (poor) clip of it.



The first time I saw this scene? I thought it was hilarious. And it is kind of hilarious. Bank-robbery in Bolivia and horseback chases to the tune of sophisticated piano and scatting? Holy ****. Welcome to the swinging 60s.

On first viewing, I thought it was one of the most incongruent pieces of music ever put in a film. I also thought the music was forced to fit the tastes of the time.

But, as I saw the scene repeated times, I began to soften. I always looked forward to it because it's so distinctive, and yes, kind of dorky cool in its way. (The actual montage itself is entertaining of course.)

Then I had another epiphany. I'm a massive lover of Morricone movie scores. How is this any less incongruent to a Western than Morricone's psychedelia and operatic music was? The simple answer is that it's not and that hooked me on it as not only legitimate, but also, kind of a brave choice.

Anyhow, Bacharach is cool as ****. Dionne Warwick is a brilliant singer, but was never better than when she did Bacharach songs. On my LP quest, I bought the "Make It Easy On Yourself" album within the last year. Great one for the turntable. So warm. What a life well-lived.