Product Details

• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Polygram Video
• VHS Release Date: December 8, 1998
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305198330
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,951 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

What began as a songwriting collaboration conducted entirely by phone and fax bloomed into one of 1998's most acclaimed pop albums and, now, a satisfying video companion. Recruited to jointly pen a big, romantic ballad for Grace of My Heart, director Allison Anders's 1996 musical drama about the heady days of '60s pop, once and future angry young man Elvis Costello and eternal '60s mainstream maestro Burt Bacharach proved a match made in pop heaven. Bacharach's canny, classic pop inspired Costello's most emotionally direct lyrics; those lyrics, in turn, were arguably the sharpest ever wedded to the composer's lush, intricate music. That ballad ("God, Give Me Strength") led to 1998's album-length collaboration, Painted from Memory, which provides the compositional spine for this terrific episode taped for PBS's Sessions from W. 54th, hosted by David Byrne.

With Bacharach conducting from the podium or his piano bench, Costello steps into the pre-rock shoes of a crooner, clad in an Eisenhower-era single-breasted tux, his hair cropped close. If that image defies his post-punk zeitgeist, the music doesn't lie, its exquisite heartbreak borne out by Costello's heartfelt vocals. His partner's sleek, subtle orchestrations likewise confirm that we're hearing classic love songs (including "In the Darkest Place," "Toledo," "I Still Have That Other Girl," and "Painted from Memory"), which build toward the climactic performance of "God, Give Me Strength." In between, the duo is interviewed by Byrne, and Costello slips in a solid version of his own "Accidents Will Happen," arranged by long-time Attractions keyboard player Steve Nieve. That the net effect of the program is mesmerizing, however, is no accident at all. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please put this on DVD!, July 6, 2008

By 

S. James - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach: Sessions From W. 54th [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Or better yet, Blu-Ray. This is music magic. Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach partner to bring an evening of relaxing music filled with beautiful melodies and poignant lyrics. If you haven't seen this - you owe it to yourself...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great music, awesome singing, this is sublime!, August 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach: Sessions From W. 54th [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I was fortunate to see one of the few concerts Elvis and Burt did to promote the Painted from Memory album. This video captures the magic of that concert. These great songwriters share an absolute dedication to the craft of great songwriting and musicianship. Don't miss this video!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could give this video SIX stars!!!!, January 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach: Sessions From W. 54th [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A truly breathtaking video...Elvis continues his incomparable genre-bending career, singing his heart out, along with the suberb accompaniment of Burt Bacharach, ace Attraction Steve Naive, out-of-this-world background singers and many talented musicians.