If I was just rating the music it would be five stars. Rating the aspects of the physical item I received would be one star, hence the three-star review.
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This is NOT a criticism of CD Baby; I've ordered from them tons of times until they stopped selling directly this past spring. I miss their webstore with song samples, catalog listings of other similar artists I might like and so on. But now they are a middleman distributor and selling this through Amazon, so this criticism is about Amazon: the listing page has no song titles, which would inform potential buyers this is not a full album but only a 5-song EP costing the full-album price of over $15. Making that price more outrageous, it's a CD-R, not a factory-pressed CD, and one that comes in a single-pocket cardboard cover with no credits other than listing the song titles and saying in the bottom left corner in letters so small a flea would have to use a magnifying glass that the five songs were written and produced by Bacharach and Tashian; not a single musician credit. There's a female vocalist on track 3, but no credit for her, or the drummer, guitarist, bassist etc.. But musically, the 5 songs are great. Hopefully a full album — presented properly as a pressed CD in a digipak or jewel case with full credits — will be forthcoming.

UPDATE: so, in October, this Deluxe edition, now with seven songs, came out in the US as a download only. Here on Amazon, if you click on the CD option on the download page, it mistakenly takes you to the original 5-track CD-R version, But ... the Deluxe 7-song version was in fact released as a genuine CD in Japan only, jewelcase and everything. Great!

But wait, there's more. In fact, two songs more, as released on Jan. 29th there is now a Blue Umbrella: The Complete Recordings with NINE songs, the new ones being "Traveling Light" and "Can't Go Wrong" [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RG88RQ2/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp]. The music is great, but reissuing it three times in six months so the fans who want the extra songs have to buy it three times is a little ridiculous, whether it's due to aggressive marketing or bad planning. At the time I'm posting this edit (Feb. 13th, 2021, there is no word on a physical release. I can't wait for Blue Umbrella: The Complete Recordings - Deluxe Edition...

16 people found this helpful

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mailman mike

Worth the wait

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 9, 2020

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Although it's been 15 years since Bacharach has released an album and this is only a five song EP, it is good to know he hasn't lost any of his chops. This is another classic in a lifetime full of them. It isn't the music as much as it is the feelings that these songs evoke. There isn't a dud to be found. Not to be dismissed is the expertise that Daniel Tashian brings to the project. These two, working together, have created something sublime. That two men, one 92 and one several decades younger, can come together to create such magic is heartening because they can share their, and our, common humanity and touch something deep in the human soul.

4 people found this helpful

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H. Erich Hunt

Only a few songs but BACHARACH music all the way

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 18, 2021

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Although short, this is the kind of music you would expect from Bacharach, great melodic songs.

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Thomas B

just like the old Burt Baracharet

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 16, 2021

great music

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 26, 2020

Burt Bacharach's new album, Blue Umbrella, which is a collaboration with Daniel Tashian, is a good album- I liked every track on it.
But there's just one thing: it's short! When the full album comes out, I hope there will be a few more songs on it than
the current EP. Other than that it's really really good!
P.S. I submitted an incomplete review a minute ago, this is the complete one. Thank you.

2 people found this helpful

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Mike Blakesley

He's still got it

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 2, 2020

Burt Bacharach's last project was the politically-slanted "At This Time," and it's happy news to report that he's back to doing what he does best -- love songs, on this terrific 5-song EP. Bacharach has lost none of his knack for a melody that can be strong and quirky at the same time; and Danial Tashian is just the type of singer/lyricist called for to complement the arrangements. This is at least the equal of Bacharach's fine compilation with Elvis Costello all those years ago, and in some ways better. Recommended for any Bacharach fan.

4 people found this helpful

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F. Coombs

Bacharach for the ages

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 12, 2020

Burt Bacharach produces with his latest collaborator Daniel Tashian, a Nashville whiz kid with a serious sense of melody. Tashian writes the lyrics and sings. Burt does writes the music and does what he does best. Not to be missed.

One person found this helpful

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agostino di franco

cd da collezione

Reviewed in Italy 🇮🇹 on February 22, 2021

Verified Purchase

ho finalmente ricevuto il bellissimo disco!

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