Burt Bacharach, the songwriter, has provided the world with a long list of great songs, many of them TOP 40 classics for other performers. His appeal was and is widespread, attracting not only the adult audiences from the 60s but bridging the gap and writing cool songs for the younger market. Of course, the younger market has grown and is still endeared to his music but the amazing thing is that his appeal has broadened yet again.

Working with Elvis Costello and having his songs played on the Austin Powers series lent additional exposure to the man who would rule Top 40. Over generations! And that’s a feat not many in the industry can boast of. Coupled with the work of Hal David, Burt Bacharach filled the world with love songs.

A&M culls classic works of Bacharach’s catalog and collects them on a single CD. They’re all here. Of course, you will not find the compositions as sung by Dionne Warwick (Do You Know The Way to San Jose?, I Say a Little Prayer, Walk on By, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again), BJ Thomas (Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head), Herb Alpert (This Guy’s in Love With You), and Jackie DeShannon (What the World Needs Now is Love) on this set but you will find the originals as played by Bacharach.

Now, before you make the mistake of shunning the set for whatever reasons that you may, take the time to consider the importance of the originals and how they became classics from other entertainers. They took Bacharach’s timeless melodies and put their own stamp on the songs. By doing so, the originals become a bookmark in songwriting history and not to be ignored.

To hear the beginning piano of the beautifully haunting “What The World Needs Now Is Love” is to revisit a place in time where choirs of vocalists added a special meaning to the composition. Likewise with “I Say a Little Prayer” with its 60s styled drums and horns arrangements along with the ever present piano. To hear "Something Big" in the crystal clarity that this remaster has achieved is nothing less than stunning; a 'you are there' experience. And that continues on through every song. "Do You Know The Way to San Jose?" reveals every instrument. There are some noticeable imperfections due to the condition of the master tapes but otherwise the whole package is pretty good.

There are 23 songs on this set, the last a medley of live hits performed in Japan that includes "Don't Make Me Over", "What's New, Pussycat", and "Wives and Lovers" . With included gems like "I'll Never Fall in Love Again", "One Less Bell to Answer", and "Walk on By", you'll be litening to this collection repeatedly. Many of these songs are originals from his albums with the exception of some live tracks, still, from his live issues.

I'm saying that the older crowd should get this one and relive, for 75 minutes, the gorgeous melodies from the pen of Burt Bacharach, the ones that many of you grew up on. Yes, its pure early 60s but that's part of the allure. For the younger crowd, find out why some of our current bands call him 'timeless'; or, if for no other reasons, why Austin Powers thinks he rocks.

Remembrance can be a beautiful thing. With entertainers like Bacharach, our nostalgia is pure Michelangelo.

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Burt Bacharach

What The World Needs Now
Burt Bacharach Classics

Released: August 05, 2003
Origination Year: 2003
Time: 75:48
Tracks: 23
Produced by: Burt Bacharach
Style: Studio
Format: CD
Enhancement: None
Label: A&M Records
Website:
www.janesaddiction.com

True Nature
Strays
Just Because
Price I Pay
The Riches
Superhero
Wrong Girl
Everybody's Friend
Suffer Some
Hypersonic
To Match the Sun