Burt Bacharach, master of pop songwriting, dies aged 94

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-

(quote)
With his writing partner Hal David, Bacharach launched himself into the
front rank of pop songwriters with a brilliant streak of hits for Dionne
Warwick during the 1960s, beginning in 1962 with Don’t Make Me Over and
proceeding through (among others) Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I
Say a Little Prayer, Trains and Boats and Planes, and Do You Know the Way
to San Jose. All became standards in Bacharach’s chosen pop-easy-listening
genre, their apparent simplicity concealing his mastery of different
rhythms and metres.
(/quote)

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-obituary

Who doesn't know these songs?

Chris

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 8:02:29 PM UTC+1, Chris J. wrote:
>
>
> Who doesn't know these songs?
>
I'm making a wild guess and say, most people born after 1970?

I'm a fan of BB's best work, and I really don't know what 'easy listening' means.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:02:29 AM UTC-8, Chris J. wrote:
> Burt Bacharach, master of pop songwriting, dies aged 94
>
> https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-
>
> (quote)
> With his writing partner Hal David, Bacharach launched himself into the
> front rank of pop songwriters with a brilliant streak of hits for Dionne
> Warwick during the 1960s, beginning in 1962 with Don’t Make Me Over and
> proceeding through (among others) Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I
> Say a Little Prayer, Trains and Boats and Planes, and Do You Know the Way
> to San Jose. All became standards in Bacharach’s chosen pop-easy-listening
> genre, their apparent simplicity concealing his mastery of different
> rhythms and metres.
> (/quote)
>
> https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-obituary
>
> Who doesn't know these songs?
>
> Chris

Am I the only one who remembers "Message to Michael"?

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:19:52 AM UTC-8, gggg gggg wrote:
> On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:02:29 AM UTC-8, Chris J. wrote:
> > Burt Bacharach, master of pop songwriting, dies aged 94
> >
> > https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-
> >
> > (quote)
> > With his writing partner Hal David, Bacharach launched himself into the
> > front rank of pop songwriters with a brilliant streak of hits for Dionne
> > Warwick during the 1960s, beginning in 1962 with Don’t Make Me Over and
> > proceeding through (among others) Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I
> > Say a Little Prayer, Trains and Boats and Planes, and Do You Know the Way
> > to San Jose. All became standards in Bacharach’s chosen pop-easy-listening
> > genre, their apparent simplicity concealing his mastery of different
> > rhythms and metres.
> > (/quote)
> >
> > https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-obituary
> >
> > Who doesn't know these songs?
> >
> > Chris
> Am I the only one who remembers "Message to Michael"?

And what about "Alfie"?

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 8:22:20 PM UTC+1, gggg gggg wrote:
>
> And what about "Alfie"?

That is a very well-known Bacharach song.
If you're imagining you're the only one who knows this tune, you're off by a couple of million...
There's a video of BB conducting the music in the EMI recording with Cilla Black, George Martin behind the (tiny) console.

On 2/9/23 1:06 PM, Herman wrote:
> On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 8:02:29 PM UTC+1, Chris J. wrote:
>>
>>
>> Who doesn't know these songs?
>>
> I'm making a wild guess and say, most people born after 1970?
>
> I'm a fan of BB's best work, and I really don't know what 'easy listening' means.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Contemporary_(chart)

"Over the years, the chart has gone under a series of name changes,
being called Easy Listening (1961–1962; 1965–1979), Middle-Road Singles
(1962–1964), Pop-Standard Singles (1964–1965), Hot Adult Contemporary
Tracks (1979–1982) and Adult Contemporary (1983–present)."

It helped keep Andy Williams and Ray Conniff off the pop charts.

The recent Dionne Warwick documentary has lots of Bacharach content.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 8:31:07 PM UTC+1, Herman wrote:
> On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 8:22:20 PM UTC+1, gggg gggg wrote:
> >
> > And what about "Alfie"?
> That is a very well-known Bacharach song.
> If you're imagining you're the only one who knows this tune, you're off by a couple of million...
> There's a video of BB conducting the music in the EMI recording with Cilla Black, George Martin behind the (tiny) console.

That Alfie video has more than a million views.

On Thursday, 9 February 2023 at 19:19:52 UTC, gggg gggg wrote:

> Am I the only one who remembers "Message to Michael"?

How about Magic Moments with Perry Como? That's a while back!

I learned so much from him about how to write melodies. He had a unique way of using larger intervals between notes in the melody. Like in Alfie or I Say a Little Prayer. He was uniquely gifted. One of the greatest ever songwriters. RIP and thank you.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:02:29 AM UTC-8, Chris J. wrote:
> Burt Bacharach, master of pop songwriting, dies aged 94
>
> https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-
>
> (quote)
> With his writing partner Hal David, Bacharach launched himself into the
> front rank of pop songwriters with a brilliant streak of hits for Dionne
> Warwick during the 1960s, beginning in 1962 with Don’t Make Me Over and
> proceeding through (among others) Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I
> Say a Little Prayer, Trains and Boats and Planes, and Do You Know the Way
> to San Jose. All became standards in Bacharach’s chosen pop-easy-listening
> genre, their apparent simplicity concealing his mastery of different
> rhythms and metres.
> (/quote)
>
> https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-obituary
>
> Who doesn't know these songs?
>
> Chris

I dedicate the following to everyone who has been mean to me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk1wqDzHKU

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:02:29 AM UTC-8, Chris J. wrote:
> Burt Bacharach, master of pop songwriting, dies aged 94
>
> https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-
>
> (quote)
> With his writing partner Hal David, Bacharach launched himself into the
> front rank of pop songwriters with a brilliant streak of hits for Dionne
> Warwick during the 1960s, beginning in 1962 with Don’t Make Me Over and
> proceeding through (among others) Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I
> Say a Little Prayer, Trains and Boats and Planes, and Do You Know the Way
> to San Jose. All became standards in Bacharach’s chosen pop-easy-listening
> genre, their apparent simplicity concealing his mastery of different
> rhythms and metres.
> (/quote)
>
> https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-obituary
>
> Who doesn't know these songs?
>
> Chris

I dedicate the following to everyone who has been mean and cruel to me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk1wqDzHKU

On Thursday, 9 February 2023 at 21:25:45 UTC, gggg gggg wrote:

> I dedicate the following to everyone who has been mean and cruel to me:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk1wqDzHKU

Ha Ha..... But we're such generous, homely, likeable people here. The Look of Love is in our eyes and hearts........

I'll say a little prayer for you before I put on my makeup and wonder what dress to wear.......

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 2:03:56 PM UTC-8, Andy Evans wrote:
> On Thursday, 9 February 2023 at 21:25:45 UTC, gggg gggg wrote:
>
> > I dedicate the following to everyone who has been mean and cruel to me:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk1wqDzHKU
> Ha Ha..... But we're such generous, homely, likeable people here. The Look of Love is in our eyes and hearts........
>
> I'll say a little prayer for you before I put on my makeup and wonder what dress to wear.......

I think I'll just WALK ON BY.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 5:54:57 PM UTC-5, gggg gggg wrote:
> On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 2:03:56 PM UTC-8, Andy Evans wrote:
> > On Thursday, 9 February 2023 at 21:25:45 UTC, gggg gggg wrote:
> >
> > > I dedicate the following to everyone who has been mean and cruel to me:
> > >
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk1wqDzHKU
> > Ha Ha..... But we're such generous, homely, likeable people here. The Look of Love is in our eyes and hearts........
> >
> > I'll say a little prayer for you before I put on my makeup and wonder what dress to wear.......
> I think I'll just WALK ON BY.

I’ll always remember him by this song and this particular singer. I love her voice:

https://youtu.be/88UgwiJXEw0

On Friday, February 10, 2023 at 6:31:18 AM UTC+11, mINE109 wrote:

> "Over the years, the chart has gone under a series of name changes,
> being called Easy Listening (1961–1962; 1965–1979), Middle-Road Singles
> (1962–1964), Pop-Standard Singles (1964–1965), Hot Adult Contemporary
> Tracks (1979–1982) and Adult Contemporary (1983–present)."
>
> It helped keep Andy Williams and Ray Conniff off the pop charts.

I once suggested in another forum, that my favourite recording of Handel's "Messiah" was the Ray Conniff version, with the gals doubling the trumpets and the guys the trombones, and that this was particularly effective in "For Unto Us A Son Is Born". A very serious and rather supercilious American musicologist took me perfectly seriously ...

Andrew Clarke
Canberra

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 2:03:56 PM UTC-8, Andy Evans wrote:
> On Thursday, 9 February 2023 at 21:25:45 UTC, gggg gggg wrote:
>
> > I dedicate the following to everyone who has been mean and cruel to me:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk1wqDzHKU
> Ha Ha..... But we're such generous, homely, likeable people here. The Look of Love is in our eyes and hearts........
>
> I'll say a little prayer for you before I put on my makeup and wonder what dress to wear.......

Generous? Homely? Likeable?

Because of the way I have been treated here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmTZewh3LOE

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:45:46 AM UTC-8, Andy Evans wrote:
> On Thursday, 9 February 2023 at 19:19:52 UTC, gggg gggg wrote:
>
> > Am I the only one who remembers "Message to Michael"?
> How about Magic Moments with Perry Como? That's a while back!
>
> I learned so much from him about how to write melodies. He had a unique way of using larger intervals between notes in the melody. Like in Alfie or I Say a Little Prayer. He was uniquely gifted. One of the greatest ever songwriters. RIP and thank you.
Agree -- I'll take Aretha for Say A Little Prayer -- great record

Initially I disliked What's New Pussycat but later did a 180 on that one...

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:31:18 AM UTC-8, mINE109 wrote:
> "Over the years, the chart has gone under a series of name changes,
> being called Easy Listening (1961–1962; 1965–1979), Middle-Road Singles
> (1962–1964), Pop-Standard Singles (1964–1965), Hot Adult Contemporary
> Tracks (1979–1982) and Adult Contemporary (1983–present)."
>
> It helped keep Andy Williams and Ray Conniff off the pop charts.
>
Whose appearance there would have marked the chart as uncool to a more coveted demographic cohort??

On 2/9/2023 7:36 PM, number_six wrote:
> On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:45:46 AM UTC-8, Andy Evans wrote:
>> On Thursday, 9 February 2023 at 19:19:52 UTC, gggg gggg wrote:
>>
>>> Am I the only one who remembers "Message to Michael"?
>> How about Magic Moments with Perry Como? That's a while back!
>>
>> I learned so much from him about how to write melodies. He had a unique way of using larger intervals between notes in the melody. Like in Alfie or I Say a Little Prayer. He was uniquely gifted. One of the greatest ever songwriters. RIP and thank you.
> Agree -- I'll take Aretha for Say A Little Prayer -- great record
>
> Initially I disliked What's New Pussycat but later did a 180 on that one...

In the early to mid 1970s, my wife and I sat in a booth adjacent to Burt and then-wife Angie Dickinson in a restaurant in LA or Beverly Hills. I don't actually remember where it was, but we exchanged a few words. Don't remember them, either.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 4:47:58 PM UTC-8, Frank Berger wrote:
> On 2/9/2023 7:36 PM, number_six wrote:
> > On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:45:46 AM UTC-8, Andy Evans wrote:
> >> On Thursday, 9 February 2023 at 19:19:52 UTC, gggg gggg wrote:
> >>
> >>> Am I the only one who remembers "Message to Michael"?
> >> How about Magic Moments with Perry Como? That's a while back!
> >>
> >> I learned so much from him about how to write melodies. He had a unique way of using larger intervals between notes in the melody. Like in Alfie or I Say a Little Prayer. He was uniquely gifted. One of the greatest ever songwriters. RIP and thank you.
> > Agree -- I'll take Aretha for Say A Little Prayer -- great record
> >
> > Initially I disliked What's New Pussycat but later did a 180 on that one...
> In the early to mid 1970s, my wife and I sat in a booth adjacent to Burt and then-wife Angie Dickinson in a restaurant in LA or Beverly Hills. I don't actually remember where it was, but we exchanged a few words. Don't remember them, either.

https://groups.google.com/u/1/g/alt.conspiracy.jfk/c/eSLKFpqRqF4

On 2/9/23 5:11 PM, Andrew Clarke wrote:
> On Friday, February 10, 2023 at 6:31:18 AM UTC+11, mINE109 wrote:
>
>> "Over the years, the chart has gone under a series of name
>> changes, being called Easy Listening (1961–1962; 1965–1979),
>> Middle-Road Singles (1962–1964), Pop-Standard Singles (1964–1965),
>> Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (1979–1982) and Adult Contemporary
>> (1983–present)."
>>
>> It helped keep Andy Williams and Ray Conniff off the pop charts.
>
> I once suggested in another forum, that my favourite recording of
> Handel's "Messiah" was the Ray Conniff version, with the gals
> doubling the trumpets and the guys the trombones, and that this was
> particularly effective in "For Unto Us A Son Is Born". A very serious
> and rather supercilious American musicologist took me perfectly
> seriously ...

Ouch! I retain my childhood bias against easy listening but I've learned
to appreciate some performances and arrangements, as well as the
occasional "what were they thinking" project: David Axelrod's Rock
Interpretations of Handel's Messiah; Andre Kostelanetz Plays Chicago.

I was surprised by the Living Voices & Living Voices Music From The Rock
Opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" which looks like a quick knock-off that
preserves much of the mood of the original using sound-alike arrangements.

On 2/10/23 9:23 AM, mINE109 wrote:

> I retain my childhood bias against easy listening but I've learned
> to appreciate some performances and arrangements,
Back to Bacharach, the specificity of his songs and arrangements gives
them an art-song like quality that makes it difficult to rearrange them.
I'll mention "Always Something There to Remind Me" as an exception on
the pop charts.

Successful updates: Here I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach; and,
The Dells Sing Dionne Warwicke’s Greatest Hits.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 1:25:45 PM UTC-8, gggg gggg wrote:
> On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:02:29 AM UTC-8, Chris J. wrote:
> > Burt Bacharach, master of pop songwriting, dies aged 94
> >
> > https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-
> >
> > (quote)
> > With his writing partner Hal David, Bacharach launched himself into the
> > front rank of pop songwriters with a brilliant streak of hits for Dionne
> > Warwick during the 1960s, beginning in 1962 with Don’t Make Me Over and
> > proceeding through (among others) Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I
> > Say a Little Prayer, Trains and Boats and Planes, and Do You Know the Way
> > to San Jose. All became standards in Bacharach’s chosen pop-easy-listening
> > genre, their apparent simplicity concealing his mastery of different
> > rhythms and metres.
> > (/quote)
> >
> > https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-obituary
> >
> > Who doesn't know these songs?
> >
> > Chris
> I dedicate the following to everyone who has been mean and cruel to me:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk1wqDzHKU

https://www.google.com/search?q=vivien+leight+deliberate+cruelty+gif&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjr2LaU8Yv9AhVKO0QIHa4VC9wQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=vivien+leight+deliberate+cruelty+gif&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1DeCFjeCGD_FmgAcAB4AIABqQWIAc0IkgEFNC0xLjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=NbXmY6vqNsr2kPIPrqus4A0&bih=657&biw=1366#imgrc=IyGyQIsNyxfQeM

On 2023-02-09 19:06:47 +0000, Herman said:

> On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 8:02:29 PM UTC+1, Chris J. wrote:
>>
>>
>> Who doesn't know these songs?
>>
> I'm making a wild guess and say, most people born after 1970?
>
> I'm a fan of BB's best work, and I really don't know what 'easy
> listening' means.

Easy listening == most likely to be heard in an elevator.

-Owen

On Friday, 10 February 2023 at 22:22:19 UTC, Owen Hartnett wrote:
> > I'm a fan of BB's best work, and I really don't know what 'easy
> > listening' means.
> Easy listening == most likely to be heard in an elevator.
> > -Owen

Bacharach was popular because he was a great songwriter. Good enough to receive the Gershwin Prize at an audience with President Obama in the White House.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJimNX54tGs

On Friday, February 10, 2023 at 1:23:38 PM UTC-8, gggg gggg wrote:
> On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 1:25:45 PM UTC-8, gggg gggg wrote:
> > On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:02:29 AM UTC-8, Chris J. wrote:
> > > Burt Bacharach, master of pop songwriting, dies aged 94
> > >
> > > https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-
> > >
> > > (quote)
> > > With his writing partner Hal David, Bacharach launched himself into the
> > > front rank of pop songwriters with a brilliant streak of hits for Dionne
> > > Warwick during the 1960s, beginning in 1962 with Don’t Make Me Over and
> > > proceeding through (among others) Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I
> > > Say a Little Prayer, Trains and Boats and Planes, and Do You Know the Way
> > > to San Jose. All became standards in Bacharach’s chosen pop-easy-listening
> > > genre, their apparent simplicity concealing his mastery of different
> > > rhythms and metres.
> > > (/quote)
> > >
> > > https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-obituary
> > >
> > > Who doesn't know these songs?
> > >
> > > Chris
> > I dedicate the following to everyone who has been mean and cruel to me:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk1wqDzHKU
> https://www.google.com/search?q=vivien+leight+deliberate+cruelty+gif&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjr2LaU8Yv9AhVKO0QIHa4VC9wQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=vivien+leight+deliberate+cruelty+gif&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1DeCFjeCGD_FmgAcAB4AIABqQWIAc0IkgEFNC0xLjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=NbXmY6vqNsr2kPIPrqus4A0&bih=657&biw=1366#imgrc=IyGyQIsNyxfQeM

What the world needs now is love.