Given the breadth of his body of work, the following Bacharach Top Five -- songs or performances or both -- is not meant to be definitive; in fact, it's wildly subjective, and, depending on the weather, I could easily change my picks on any given day. As of right this moment, however, these are my faves, and my life would be the poorer without any of them.
5. Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach -- I'll Never Fall in Love Again
Yeah yeah, it's from Austin Powers and it's self-consciously campy. I still say it's a gorgeous performance of a gorgeous song.
4. Dusty Springfield -- Wishin' and Hopin'
A lot of people consider Dusty to be Bacharach's premier interpreter, and I wouldn't necessarily disgree. Obviously, the sexual politics of this one are problematic for some killjoys of late, but the combination of innocence and yearning Springfield projects here remains a marvel.
3. Sandie Shaw -- (There's) Always SomethingThere to Remind Me
The great Sandie, and this one just screams Swinging London, IMHO. Hell, it's such a terrific song it survived the soulless 1983 synth-pop cover by the justly forgotten Naked Eyes.
2. Aretha Franklin -- I Say a Little Prayer
Dionne Warwick, who is the singer most closely identified with Bacharach, had the hit with this song, deservedly, but Aretha adds a gospel piano that takes it somewhere else. Just great, in any case.
And speaking of...
1. Dionne Warwick -- Trains and Boats and Planes
That electric piano/twangy guitar riff just slays me. And for my money this is one of the most haunting pop records ever made.
Oh -- and just because...
BTW, my titular reference to Les Six has to do with the fact that -- before he became one of the most awesome pop songwriters of the second half of the 20th century -- Bacharach studied composition with Darius Milhaud, the de facto leader of a group of simpatico French post-Impressionist classical guys who hung with the likes of Jean Cocteau; I suspect the subtle Gallic tinge you can detect in some of Burt's orchestral arrangements -- particularly his use of winds and horns -- is largely attributable to Milhaud's tutelage.
4 comments:
I've never heard "The Blob" before. It's a weirdo riot!
Very good choices in your top five. I would consider Dionne Warwick Bacharach's best interpreter but Dusty is overall the better artist. You know, whatever I said, I said it. What?
Captain Al
I'd toss in one of the three versions of Baby It's You - the Beatles, Smith, or Elvis C. and Nick Lowe.
The original Casino Royale is a campy mess, but the soundtrack album is a serious delight.
In honor of the late great Adam Schlesinger, please check out Fountains of Wayne's cover of "Trains and Boats and Planes"
Good to have you back Steve. Stay safe and well.
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