Somewhere Austin Powers is pouring one out
Burt Bacharach has died at 94. You have to acknowledge he's one of the all-time great songwriters, whether you like that style or not.
https://www.npr.org/2023/02/09/56155...iHQpClkjkprGfI
R.I.P.
Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. - George Jean Nathan
Somewhere Austin Powers is pouring one out
Yeah, I'm not sure the youngsters around here would get it. Brings back memories of simpler times (the 60s were simple if you were a kid). Most any of his songs coming on the hi-fi would get Mom & Dad slow dancing in the living room. Embarrassing at the time, but sweetly nostalgic now.
Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. - George Jean Nathan
The album he did with Elvis Costello a few years ago is worth a listen.
Gifted songwriter, melodicist and arranger who crafted a very distinctive sound, one that has aged surprisingly well in my view
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. (They Long to Be) Close to You was huge hit for The Carpenters. It didn't really become a hit, but the James Taylor version of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance springs to my mind. Between the Moon and New York City was the best thing about both Arthur and Christopher Cross. (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me became a huge hit for Naked Eyes. Not to mention What's New (Wankerizer)cat, Walk On By, What the World Needs Now is Love, and Say a Little Prayer.
The man could really lay down a tune. I, for one, will miss Burt Bacharach, and I've never even seen Austin Powers.
Yea, I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I too enjoy his music (I have quite a few of his songs on my Spotify play list); reminds me of my days as a kid back in the 60's. He was a great melody writer (IMHO) and lyricist (along with Hal David).
This is quite a good compilation of many of his greatest hits, performed by some of the singers/winners from American Idol, with Burt playing the piano:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Czo2BXbaTI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HQXVRzVniw
RIP to a gifted musician and composer. And a Forest Hills resident (Forest Hills High School, 1946).
May his memory be a blessing.
I attended a 5th Dimension concert last night (how's that for showing my age!). The concert was OK - only one original member is in the version of the group currently performing, and she admitted that she's 81 and a great-grandmother. The other 4 weren't spring chickens either.
Anyway, they gave a shout-out to Burt Bacharach when they sang One Less Bell to Answer, and this was (I believe) before his death was announced. They played several songs that were hits recorded by others, including at least one other Bacharach song (Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head).
According to the Washington Post, he composed over 70 top 40 hits (although I saw slightly different numbers elsewhere). That's pretty incredible.
Actually earlier (I think 1958). We’ve had a continuum of music genres here, from Bacharach to S&G to Leslie West (Mountain) to the Ramones. (The street in front of FH High School was renamed after the Ramones.)
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And, many may know that Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, went to Forest Hills High School and, in fact, lived around the block from me at 20 Ingram St. An interesting story and a coincidence is that for many years the real family who lived at 20 Ingram St. were named the Parkers.