Okay, so it's Sunday evening (early) and the news is on most TV channels, that is, channels not devoted to football. The local public television channel (KQED) has a program on devoted to the legacy of song writer Burt Bacharach. ("My Music: Burt Bacharach BEST")
WARNING: This program is frequently interrupted by pledge breaks. Even if you are already a member you have to endure the breaks. Some day they will find a way so members who have already pledged can filter the breaks out. Shortly afterward the number of pledges will increase exponentially.
Anyway, it is easy to forget or overlook the amazing contribution Bacharach made to popular music. Even if you discount the string of really wonderful...amazing... tunes recorded by Dionne Warwick, the remaining songs are the soundtrack of boomer existence in the 60's/70's.
Herb Alpert. Karen Carpenter. Aretha Franklin. Dusty Springfield. Gene Pitney. Gene McDaniels. Cilla Black. Jackie deShannon. Jack Jones. Tom Jones. The 5th Dimension. Chuck Jackson. The list goes on and on because so many artists covered his tunes. But if you were listening to the radio during the 60's especially, you were touched by songs that can only be described as "crafted."
Together with Hal David's lyrics they created songs that are a huge part of the sound track of our Boomer" experience. You will not hear anything remotely similar recorded by Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or any of the forgettable male vocalists today.
Personal favorite? A House is Not a Home. (There are over a hundred recorded versions...the hallmark of a well-written song.) Millennials might consider Luther Vandross' 1983 version THE version, but if you find the medley of "A House..." and "One Less Bell to Answer" (another Bacharach/David tune) performed by Kristin Chenoweth on an episode of Glee I can promise your eyes will water up. Big time.
For me it was a Mel Torme performance at the Sands in Las Vegas in '65 (or was it 66?) Made my Mom cry.
Good times.
WARNING: This program is frequently interrupted by pledge breaks. Even if you are already a member you have to endure the breaks. Some day they will find a way so members who have already pledged can filter the breaks out. Shortly afterward the number of pledges will increase exponentially.
Anyway, it is easy to forget or overlook the amazing contribution Bacharach made to popular music. Even if you discount the string of really wonderful...amazing... tunes recorded by Dionne Warwick, the remaining songs are the soundtrack of boomer existence in the 60's/70's.
Herb Alpert. Karen Carpenter. Aretha Franklin. Dusty Springfield. Gene Pitney. Gene McDaniels. Cilla Black. Jackie deShannon. Jack Jones. Tom Jones. The 5th Dimension. Chuck Jackson. The list goes on and on because so many artists covered his tunes. But if you were listening to the radio during the 60's especially, you were touched by songs that can only be described as "crafted."
Together with Hal David's lyrics they created songs that are a huge part of the sound track of our Boomer" experience. You will not hear anything remotely similar recorded by Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or any of the forgettable male vocalists today.
Personal favorite? A House is Not a Home. (There are over a hundred recorded versions...the hallmark of a well-written song.) Millennials might consider Luther Vandross' 1983 version THE version, but if you find the medley of "A House..." and "One Less Bell to Answer" (another Bacharach/David tune) performed by Kristin Chenoweth on an episode of Glee I can promise your eyes will water up. Big time.
For me it was a Mel Torme performance at the Sands in Las Vegas in '65 (or was it 66?) Made my Mom cry.
Good times.
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