Customer Reviews

The Sound of Bacharach

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I admit it. It took half my life for me to understand just how creative and influential Burt Bacharach and Hal David are. It?s another case of extreme commercial success overshadowing genuine artistic merit. When I?m in a cynical mood, I often think that had one (or both) of them died sometime in the early 70s ? a skiing accident perhaps -- then B&D would have easily ascended to the musical Parthenon, right beside the Gershwins as purveyors of the Great American Songbook. As it stands, their catalog is one of unique and fascinating marriages of musical ?lan and lyrical dexterity ever, though some of the lame, bland artists who?ve interpreted their work have always hindered their reputation. Combine the wit and wisdom of Rodgers and Hart with the drama and melody of Holland-Dozier-Holland and add the commercial versatility and acumen of Dianne Warren and you get an idea of what to expect from their body of work. Don't be fooled by naysayers claiming B+D's songs don't "rock". The Bacharach/David catalog holds some thrills and chills along with a ton of great words and music.

As if all those brilliant Dionne Warwick weren't a convincing enough CV, The Sound of Bacharach is UK label Westside?s reissue of 1965 compilation with original artwork & expanded track listing, presenting a compelling and often fascinating array of artists both great and obscure, all covering songs from the B&D catalog. Teen-drama legend Gene Pitney rates six tracks, each more impassioned than the next, climaxing with the deliriously sensual confession of ?24 Hours from Tulsa?. Chicago supper-soul crooner Chuck Jackson has four tracks three of which are merely great compared to the heartbreaking ?I Wake Up Crying.? Countrypolitan B.J. Thomas, (naturally) sings everyone?s favorite "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head,? but the real treasure of his four tracks is the delightful ?Everybody?s Out of Town.? Upscale girl-group the Shirelles is featured three times, including the often-covered ?Baby it?s You.? In many ways The Sound of Bacharach shines brightest on the lost gems like "This Empty Place" by the forgotten (in the US) uptown soulsters the Tangiers as well as shoulda-been hits by Tommy Hunt, Jimmy Radcliffe, UK favorite Maxine Brown and Tammi Terrell. The disc truly seems to climax with the Isley Brothers? stunning, impassioned, soul-crushing version of "Make it Easy on Yourself". While this song has had a number of successful versions (Jerry Butler, Dionne Warwick, the Walker Brothers), the Isleys manage to bring something new to it...burning yet thoughtful, east-coast soul in place of the stylish drama that marked the pervious versions. That this version wasn't a gigantic hit probably owes to its being so unexpectedly left field from a former Motown act. Finally, Big Maybelle's near existential take on "I Just Don't Know What to do with Myself" closes the dance with a sweet ache. The Sound of Bacharach is an ever-rewarding disc, a lesson in the power of pure song craft.

To know someone you have to get in their shoes and walk around for awhile.

The Sound Of Bacharach. 10 Artist. 27 Tracks.

Huge crossover hits that go up down the Pop and R&B Charts consecutively.

Heart of the homeland.

The Composer, always trying out his material on new prospective label mates.

A Star.

Suited for his own TV Special to be broadcast across England.

Here is the album to commemorate the show.

Originally released in '65, featuring bonus tracks to enrich the anniversary re-issue.

They Don't Give Medals To Yesterday's Heroes Chuck Jackson, '66, not sure if the track appeared on the original compilation.

Catchy tune. I love Chuck Jackson.

3 other tracks by him, look for Chuck Jackson The Breaking Point, powerful.

5 Tracks by Gene Pitney between '62 to '65.

A shining moment for Pitney. If I Never Get To Love You '65. Only Love Can Break A Heart '62. The Fool Killer '65. Major highlights.

Lover Tommy Hunt. Ultra rare.

Make It Easy On Yourself (Are You Lonely By Yourself) The Isley Brothers.

Looking forward to dig up some more background on the Isley Brothers cut.

Sinner's Devotion Tammi Terrell '67. This Empty Place The Tangiers '69.

Interesting to find on the anniversary re-issue.

Two different versions of I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself, Tommy Hunt, Big Maybelle. Just like on another Collection from England. The Greatest Hits Of Burt Bacharach.

A bold move on the Producer's part to demonstrate the Composer's versatility working with various artist.

Perhaps, the main crux of the whole show.

Geared for Greatness.

The Sound Of Bacharach.

I'd like to thank the people responsible for re-issuing this important compilation.

A real find.

27 TRACKS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

TRK# TITLE/ARTIST

1961
4 SONGS

11 BABY IT'S YOU The Shirelles
09 IT'S LOVE THAT REALLY COUNTS The Shirelles
04 I WAKE UP CRYING Chuck Jackson
23 THE BREAKING POINT Chuck Jackson

1962
9 SONGS

02 ANY DAY NOW (MY WILD BEAUTIFUL BIRD) Chuck Jackson
12 DON'T MAKE ME OVER Tommy Hunt
01 I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Tommy Hunt
27 I JUST DON"T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Big Maybelle
24 LONG DAY, SHORT NIGHT The Shirelles
25 LOVER Tommy Hunt
16 ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK A HEART Gene Pitney
19 THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALENCE Gene Pitney
21 (THERE GOES) THE FORGOTTEN MAN Jimmy Radcliff

1963
2 SONGS

06 TRUE LOVE NEVER RUNS SMOOTH Gene Pitney
20 TWENTY FOUR HOURS FROM TULSA Gene Pitney

1964
2 SONGS

10 I CRY ALONE Maxine Brown
03 LONG AFTER TONIGHT IS ALL OVER Jimmy Radcliff

1965
2 SONGS

05 IF I NEVER GET TO LOVE YOU Gene Pitney
15 FOOL KILLER Gene Pitney

1966
1 SONG

13 THEY DON'T GIVE MEDALS TO YESTERDAY'S HEROES Chuck Jackson

1967
1 SONG

26 SINNER'S DEVOTION Tammi Terrell

1969
2 SONGS

17 RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD B.J. Thomas
14 THIS EMPTY PLACE The Tangiers

1970
3 SONGS

08 EVERYBODY'S OUT OF TOWN B.J. Thomas
18 SEND MY PICTURE TO SCRANTON PA B.J. Thomas
07 THIS GUY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU B.J. Thomas

1972
1 SONG

22 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (ARE YOU LONELY BY YOURSELF) The Isley Brothers

10 ARTIST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

TRK# ARTIST/TITLE/YEAR

10 MAXINE BROWN I cry Alone '64
01 TOMMY HUNT I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself '62
25 TOMMY HUNT LOVER '62
22 THE ISLEY BROTHERS Make It Easy On Yourself '72
02 CHUCK JACKSON Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird) '62
04 CHUCK JACKSON I Wake Up Crying '61
23 CHUCK JACKSON The Breaking Point '61
13 CHUCK JACKSON They Don't Give Medals To Yesterday's Heroes '66
05 GENE PINEY If I Never Get To Love You '65
16 GENE PITNEY Only Love Can Break A Heart '62
15 GENE PITNEY The Fool Killer '65
19 GENE PITNEY The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence '62
06 GENE PITNEY True Love Never Runs Smooth '63
20 GENE PITNEY Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa '63
03 JIMMY RADCLIFF Long After Tonight Is All Over '64
21 JIMMY RADCLIFF There Goes The Forgotten Man '62
11 THE SHIRELLES Baby It's You '61
09 THE SHIRELLES It's Only Love That Really Counts '62
24 THE SHIRELLES Long Day, Short Night '62
14 THE TANGIERS This Empty Place '69
26 TAMMI TERRELL Sinner's Devotion '67
17 B.J. THOMAS Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head '69
18 B.J. THOMAS Send My Picture to Scranton PA '70
07 B.J. THOMAS This Guy's In Love With You '70

27 TRACKS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

TRK# TITLE ARTIST/YEAR

02 ANY DAY NOW (MY WILD BEAUTIFUL BIRD) Chuck Jackson '62
11 BABY IT'S YOU The Shirelles '61
12 DON'T MAKE ME OVER Tommy Hunt '62
08 EVERYBODY'S OUT OF TOWN B.J. Thomas '70
10 I CRY ALONE Maxine Brown '64
05 IF I NEVER GET TO LOVE YOU Gene Pitney '65
01 I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Tommy Hunt '62
27 I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Big Maybelle '62
09 IT'S LOVE THAT REALLY COUNTS The Shirelles '61
04 I WAKE UP CRYING Chuck Jackson '61
03 LONG AFTER TONIGHT IS ALL OVER Jimmy Radcliff '64
24 LONG DAY, SHORT NIGHT The Shirelles
25 LOVER Tommy Hunt '62
22 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (ARE YOU LONELY BY YOURSELF) The Isley Brothers
16 ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK A HEART Gene Pitney '62
17 RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD B.J. Thomas '69
18 SEND MY PICTURE TO SCRANTON PA B.J. Thomas '70
26 SINNER'S DEVOTION Tammi Terrell '67
23 THE BREAKING POINT Chuck Jackson '61
15 THE FOOL KILLER Gene Pitney '65
19 THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALENCE Gene Pitney '62
21 THERE GOES THE FORGOTTEN MAN Jimmy Radcliff '62
13 THEY DON'T GIVE MEDALS TO YESTERDAY'S HEROES Chuck Jackson '66
14 THIS EMPTY PLACE The Tangiers '69
07 THIS GUY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU B.J. Thomas '70
06 TRUE LOVE NEVER RUNS SMOOTH Gene Pitney '63
20 TWENTY HOURS FROM TULSA Gene Pitney '63