What The World Needs Now...

 

You (should) know the answer should be "is love sweet love." but I'm going to add to listen and appreciate the music of Burt Bacharach who passed away on Feb 8th. (Yes, I know the words are not his, but those of his partner, Hal David.  Even without the lyrics, the music speaks for itself.)

If you don't know Burt, then you are either pretty young (under 25?) or you are musically uneducated.  In either case, you need to get out there and listen.  It is my opinion, that EVERYONE needs a little Burt Bacharach in their lives.

My own introduction came when I was really young.  So young that I can't remember how old I was, but it was definitely before I was 6 because I remember his albums Reach Out and Make It Easy On Yourself along with the incredible soundtrack to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (a soundtrack and movie that SHOULDN'T have worked but did and did so WONDERFULLY) sitting in the record rack by my mother's stereo.  And this memory comes before our move after my brother was born, so I had to have been under 6.  I *think* she played them a lot.   Once we moved, I know I listened to them a lot.  

Through the years from youth to "old" lady, the music has stayed with me.  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid has remained one of my favorite albums  and another favorite, the soundtrack from Grace of My Heart has one of my all-time favorite songs, "God Give Me Strength," written by Burt and Elvis Costello.  (Go now and listen to it; I dare you not to be moved and/or blown away by its power.)  

The song is also featured on the 1998 album, Painted from Memory Of course I purchased the album.  (Or maybe my husband purchased it for me.)   In the fall of that year, Elvis and Burt, did an album signing session in New York City. (Research says it was probably at the Virgin Mega Store although Tower Records is also a possibility.  Hey it was a LONG time ago!)  My husband was working in the city at the time, and if I recall correctly (again, long time ago), I took the bus in (probably after work or at least later in the afternoon), we met and went to the venue to get the cd signed.  This was "back in the day" when selfies did not exist and photos were not encouraged or necessarily allowed.  My husband did get two photos in (and I got one of him), but they are of OUR back and Burt & Elvis's front.  (You can see at the top of this post)  I can VAGUELY remember speaking to Burt and saying that I had been a fan since I was a little girl when my mom had all his albums.  (Well that probably made him feel old.)  I will say that it was a thrill to meet him (and Elvis too of course.)

A few weeks later, I journeyed back into the city and met up again with my hubby, only this time we headed to Radio City Music Hall where Burt and Elvis were performing.  It was a great night with songs by Burt (like "What the World Needs Now" and one of my favorites, "This Guy's In Love With You"), songs by Elvis (like "Alison" and another one of my favorites, "Almost Blue), and of course the songs they wrote together for Painted From Memory The concert ended, of course, with "God Give Me Strength."

 I think back on these two nights in 1998 and am so grateful that I had the opportunity.  I am also thrilled that in less than a month, The Songs of Bacharach and Costello will be coming out and that my husband had the foresight to order it.  The boxed set includes unreleased songs from the never realized musical by the two based on the songs from Painted from Memory (How cool would that have been?)  I'm sure it will be a bittersweet day when the set arrives and we delve into it.  And delve we will!

Until then, in memory of Burt, I'll pull out the soundtrack to Isn't She Great   (still haven't seen the movie, but grabbed the cd when it come out 23 years ago) and marvel in the melodies of the great Burt Bacharach.

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