Artist: Burt Bacharach Rating: Release Date: November 03, 1998Type: Compilation (best of), Box set, Collection (various artists)Genre: Rock
Review While this three-CD, 75-song box set only has a half-dozen tracks actually credited to
Burt Bacharach , it's certainly the best representation of his music likely to ever be assembled. Spanning the late '50s through a 1996 duet with
Elvis Costello , this is the cream of his work as a composer (and, frequently, producer), properly concentrating mostly on the 1960s hit versions of his songs (usually, though not always, co-written with
Hal David ) by
Dionne Warwick ,
Gene Pitney ,
Jackie DeShannon ,
Dusty Springfield ,
the Drifters , Chuck Jackson, and many others. Classics like "Baby It's You," "Walk On By," "What the World Needs Now Is Love," and "Wishin' and Hopin'" are here, of course. What really makes this exceptional by box set standards, however, is the deft intermingling of familiar smash hits with interesting minor hits and rarities. There are four cuts by the unknown
Lou Johnson , who has been described as the male counterpart to
Dionne Warwick ; intriguing obscurities by
Gene Pitney ("Fool Killer"),
Jackie DeShannon ("So Long Johnny"), and others that even fans of the artists might not have heard; rare original versions of familiar classics (
Tommy Hunt 's "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself," for instance); hits by artists who only benefited grandly from the magic Bacharach/David touch once (
Bobby Vinton 's "Blue on Blue,"
Jack Jones ' "Wives and Lovers"); and just plain off-the-wall things like
the Five Blobs ' novelty "The Blob," Manfred Mann's "My Little Red Book,"
Bobby Goldsboro 's "My Japanese Boy I Love You," and TV actor Richard Chamberlain's "Blue Guitar." Thankfully only a little of his subpar work from the '80s is included. Aficionados may find some things to carp about, particularly the absence of some small hits (quantity and licensing would have made it difficult to bring
everything together) and the track choice when several singers made worthy versions; sometimes the big hit is used, sometimes it's a rare original version, sometimes it's a rare rendition that was neither the original nor the biggest hit. Certainly there's more Bacharach/David worth hearing; the first places to start after getting through this are vintage
Dionne Warwick compilations. For a rich but manageable anthology of his best work, though, it could hardly be bettered, enhanced by nearly 100 pages of liner notes and track annotations. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Tracks
CD 1
The Story of My Life
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Marty Robbins , Ray Conniff (2:31)
Magic Moments (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Perry Como , Ray Charles Singers , Mitchell Ayres & His Fashions in Music (2:40)
The Blob
Burt Bacharach , Mack David The Five Blobs (2:39)
Please Stay
Burt Bacharach , Bob Hilliard The Drifters (2:17)
I Wake Up Crying
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Chuck Jackson (2:17)
Tower of Strength (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Bob Hilliard Gene McDaniels , Johnny Mann Singers (2:16)
Baby It's You (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David , B. Williams The Shirelles (2:41)
Mexican Divorce (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Bob Hilliard The Drifters (2:34)
(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Gene Pitney (2:59)
Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird)
Burt Bacharach , Bob Hilliard Chuck Jackson (3:22)
Make It Easy on Yourself (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Jerry Butler (2:41)
I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Tommy Hunt (2:51)
It's Love That Really Counts (In the Long Run)
Burt Bacharach , Hal David The Shirelles (2:16)
Only Love Can Break a Heart (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Gene Pitney (2:49)
(There Goes) The Forgotten Man
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Jimmy Radcliffe (2:49)
Don't Make Me Over (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:25)
Let the Music Play (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David The Drifters (2:37)
Blue on Blue (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Bobby Vinton (2:25)
True Love Never Runs Smooth
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Gene Pitney (2:25)
Blue Guitar
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Richard Chamberlain (2:51)
Reach Out for Me (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Lou Johnson (2:43)
Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Gene Pitney (2:59)
Anyone Who Had a Heart (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:12)
A House Is Not a Home
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Brook Benton (3:00)
Wives and Lovers (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Jack Jones (2:30)
Wishin' and Hopin' (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dusty Springfield (2:54)
CD 2
Walk on By (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (2:56)
(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Lou Johnson (3:18)
Me Japanese Boy I Love You (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Bobby Goldsboro (2:27)
To Wait for Love
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Tony Orlando (2:22)
Kentucky Bluebird (Send a Message to Martha)
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Lou Johnson (3:17)
Land of Make Believe
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:02)
The Last One to Be Loved
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Lou Johnson (3:29)
Fool Killer (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Gene Pitney (3:23)
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Burt Bacharach (2:26)
What the World Needs Now Is Love (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Jackie DeShannon (3:14)
Trains and Boats and Planes (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Burt Bacharach (2:45)
What's New Pussycat? (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Tom Jones (2:19)
My Little Red Book (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Manfred Mann (2:26)
Here I Am (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (2:58)
A Lifetime of Loneliness
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Jackie DeShannon (2:36)
Made in Paris
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Trini Lopez (2:22)
Promise Her Anything (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Tom Jones (2:34)
Are You There (With Another Girl)
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (2:50)
Come and Get Me (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Jackie DeShannon (2:41)
Alfie (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Cilla Black (2:39)
In Between the Heartaches (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (2:51)
Nikki (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Burt Bacharach (2:22)
So Long Johnny
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Jackie DeShannon (2:25)
The Windows of the World
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:17)
Take a Broken Heart (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Rick Nelson (2:39)
I Say a Little Prayer (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:04)
Casino Royale
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Herb Alpert (2:36)
CD 3
The Look of Love
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dusty Springfield (4:08)
Do You Know the Way to San José (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (2:55)
This Guy's in Love With You (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Herb Alpert (3:58)
Knowing When to Leave
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Jill O'Hara (2:19)
Promises, Promises (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:00)
Pacific Coast Highway
Burt Bacharach Burt Bacharach (3:21)
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David B.J. Thomas (2:59)
Odds and Ends
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:26)
Everybody's out of Town (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David B.J. Thomas (2:42)
I'll Never Fall in Love Again (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:00)
(They Long to Be) Close to You
Burt Bacharach , Hal David The Carpenters (3:43)
Paper Maché (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (2:56)
One Less Bell to Answer (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David The 5th Dimension (3:31)
Check Out Time (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (4:06)
Hasbrook Heights (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David Burt Bacharach (3:11)
The Balance of Nature
Burt Bacharach , Hal David Dionne Warwick (3:25)
Living Together, Growing Together (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Hal David The 5th Dimension (3:50)
You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)
Burt Bacharach , Hal David The Stylistics (3:38)
Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)
Christopher Cross , Peter Allen , Burt Bacharach , Carole Bayer Sager Christopher Cross (3:52)
On My Own (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Carole Bayer Sager Patti LaBelle , Michael McDonald (4:40)
That's What Friends Are For (Lyrics) Burt Bacharach , Carole Bayer Sager Dionne Warwick , Elton John , Gladys Knight , Stevie Wonder (4:14)
God Give Me Strength (Lyrics) Elvis Costello , Burt Bacharach Elvis Costello , Burt Bacharach (6:07)
Credits Marty Robbins (Performer), Ray Conniff (Performer) , Perry Como (Performer) , Trini Lopez (Performer) , Bobby Vinton (Performer) , Dionne Warwick (Performer) , Herb Alpert (Producer) , Herb Alpert (Performer) , Brook Benton (Performer) , Jerry Butler (Performer) , The Carpenters (Performer) , Elvis Costello (Producer) , Elvis Costello (Performer) , Christopher Cross (Performer) , The Drifters (Performer) , Bobby Goldsboro (Performer) , Chuck Jackson (Performer) , Elton John (Performer) , Lou Johnson (Performer) , Gladys Knight (Performer) , Patti LaBelle (Performer) , Michael McDonald (Performer) , Gene Pitney (Performer) , The Shirelles (Performer) , Dusty Springfield (Performer) , The Stylistics (Performer) , Bill Holman (Arranger) , Chuck Sagle (Arranger) , Larry Wilcox (Arranger) , Tommy Hunt (Performer) , Mitch Miller (Producer) , Burt Bacharach (Arranger) , Burt Bacharach (Conductor) , Burt Bacharach (Producer) , Burt Bacharach (Main Performer) , Burt Bacharach (Liner Notes) , Burt Bacharach (Choir Director) , Jack Jones (Performer) , Carole Bayer Sager (Arranger) , Carole Bayer Sager (Producer) , Cilla Black (Performer) , Jerry Leiber (Producer) , Alan Lorber (Arranger) , Alan Lorber (Conductor) , Peter Matz (Arranger) , Richard Carpenter (Arranger) , Richard Chamberlain (Performer) , George Martin (Producer) , Gene McDaniels (Performer) , Henry Jerome (Producer) , The 5th Dimension (Performer) , Bob Alcivar (Arranger) , Bob Alcivar (Vocal Arrangement) , Thom Bell (Arranger) , Thom Bell (Conductor) , Thom Bell (Producer) , Hugh Brown (Art Direction) , Artie Butler (Arranger) , Claus Ogerman (Arranger) , Claus Ogerman (Conductor) , Jack Daugherty (Producer) , Hal David (Producer) , Jackie DeShannon (Performer) , Ray Ellis (Arranger) , Ray Ellis (Conductor) , Tommy "Snuff" Garrett (Producer) , Jack Gold (Producer) , Wally Gold (Producer) , Paul Griffin (Arranger) , Jimmie Haskell (Director) , Bones Howe (Arranger) , Bones Howe (Producer) , Bill Inglot (Producer) , Bill Inglot (Remastering) , Bert Keyes (Arranger) , Jerry Lieber (Producer) , Bill McElhiney (Conductor) , David McLees (Project Assistant) , Bob Morgan (Producer) , Jerry Moss (Producer) , Rick Nelson (Performer) , Michael Omartian (Producer) , Michael Omartian (String Arrangements) , Tony Orlando (Performer) , Jimmy Radcliffe (Performer) , Phil Ramone (Producer) , Phil Ramone (Associate Producer) , Ivor Raymonde (Director) , Joe Reisman (Arranger) , Aaron Schroeder (Producer) , Garry Sherman (Arranger) , Garry Sherman (Conductor) , Shelby Singleton (Producer) , Mike Stoller (Producer) , Peter Sullivan (Producer) , B.J. Thomas (Performer) , Jonathan Tunick (Orchestration) , Harold Wheeler (Director) , Harold Wheeler (Musical Director) , Cathy Williams (Project Assistant) , Stevie Wonder (Performer) , Paul Grein (Liner Notes) , Jim Pierson (Project Assistant) , John Franz (Producer) , Luther Dixon (Producer) , Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (Performer) , Johnny Mann Singers (Vocals) , Ray Conniff & His Orchestra (Orchestra) , Skip Heller (Project Assistant) , Pete King (Conductor) , Pete King (Director) , Rachel Gutek (Art Direction) , Rachel Gutek (Design) , Patrick Milligan (Liner Notes) , Patrick Milligan (Compilation Producer) , Jill O'Hara (Performer) , Elizabeth Pavone (Editorial Coordinator) , Craig Kamins (Project Assistant) , Brian Schuman (Project Assistant) , Steven Chean (Project Assistant) , Vanessa Atkins (Project Assistant) , Julee Stover (Editorial Supervision) , Jim McCrary (Photography) , Andrew Garver (Remastering) , Emily Cagan (Project Assistant) , Lori Carfora (Project Assistant) , Michael Johnson (Project Assistant) , Richard Lewine (Producer) , Amy Dean (Project Assistant) , Bill DeMain (Liner Notes) , Snuff Garrett (Producer) , Allyson DeSimone (Project Assistant) , Gary Stewart (Project Assistant) , The Five Blobs (Performer) , Mitchell Ayres & His Fashions in Music (Performer) , Malia Doss (Project Assistant) , Daniel Goldmark (Editorial Research) , Manfred Mann (Performer) , Stephen Paley (Executive Producer)
