Junk Box Jury

Taken from the LP ‘Tribute To Burt Bacharach’ | (A&M AMLB 1018) 1970

When one thinks of present-day popular music giants one thinks, automatically, of BURT BACHARACH. For as a songwriter, arranger/conductor, pianist, accompanist and singer, Bacharach possesses that certain extra something which makes his a unique talent.

That certain extra something which no doubt caused another well known multi-talent ANTHONY NEWLEY — to comment: “Burt Bacharach has contributed to the world of commercial music by
making romance and sadness marketable in the pop field:’.

And that combination of romance and sadness has certainly been easily marketable! The list of Bacharach song successes, for instance, reads like a comprehensive guide to some of the better entries to international Hit Parades during the past 10 years.

Ask DIONNE WARWICK for HER opinions of Burt Bacharach’s songwriting abilities! ‘Walk on By’… ‘Don’t Make Me Over’ … ‘Reach Out For Me’ …. ‘Do You Know The Way To San Jose?’ … ‘Alfie’ ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’ … just a few Bacharach numbers for which Miss Warwick is eternally grateful.

A & M chief, HERB ALPERT, has had his share of Bacharach hit tunes, too: ‘Casino Royale’, ‘This Guy’s In Love With You’, both sold handsomely.

We Five | Walk On By

Similarly, CILLA BLACK (‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’), PERRY COMO (‘Magic Moments’), JACKIE DE SHANNON (‘What The World Needs Now Is Love’), JACK JONES (‘Wives & Lovers’), DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (‘The Look Of Love’) and the WALKER BROTHERS (‘Make It Easy On Yourself’), are other artistes who have cause to admire the songwriting talents of the man who once studied under ‘serious’ composers DARIUS MILHAUD and HENRY COWELL.

Though he’d taken piano lessons, encouraged by his mother, Burt Bacharach was, at 12 years, more interested in becoming a football player than developing into a top musician. But in order not to disappoint his mother, he continued his studies.

Whilst at high school, Burt often visited the once famous 52nd Street and Broadway jazz clubs. There, he heard and marvelled at the superlative music which men like DIZZY GILLESPIE and alto-saxophone genius CHARLIE PARKER were playing.

With a band he helped organise during high school days, he played at parties and in New York army camps, and later did a tour of US army hospitals. He wrote his first song — ‘The Night Plane To Heaven’ — whilst studying music at McGill University, Montreal.

He was drafted into the army after college, during the Korean War. During his tour of the First Army area, he was billed as a concert pianist — which he wasn’t!

After Army service, came a fairly lengthy spell as singer VIC DAMONE’S pianist/accompanist. Afterwards he worked with the AMES BROTHERS. Then, he was asked to conduct for no less than MARLENE DIETRICH, who was to appear at a Las Vegas nightspot.

We Five | Walk On By

Result? Highly-successful engagement. Mutual admiration. A world tour together. Soon there were the first big song writing successes —’The Story Of My Life’ (a hit here for MICHAEL HOLLIDAY and ALMA COGAN), and ‘Magic Moments’. Success and yet more success. An Academy Award nomination for ‘What’s New Pussycat?’ — and a huge hit for TOM JONES into the bargain — was to follow. A similar Academy nomination for ‘Alfie’ came too

And now? Continued success for the good-looking New Yorker, who continues to have the musical world at his feet. A smash-hit musical — “Promises, Promises” — opened in London in 1969 and is still going strong.

With music by Bacharach and lyrics by his collaborator-in-chief of long standing — HAL DAVID — the show has brought him more accolades.

His recordings for A&M will, of course, continue to appear — and will no doubt receive the kind of praise accorded to his albums “Burt Bacharach: REACH OUT” (AM LS 908), “MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF” (AM LS 938) and “BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID” (AM LS 963). Burt Bacharach was once told by a music tutor: “Write something people can whistle”. Seems he listened to that advice.

For wherever you go these days, it won’t be long before you hear a Bacharach melody being whistled by someone.

What the world needs now is MORE Burt Bacharach . . . .

cost of record: £1
from: British Heart Foundation