What the World Needs Now: Burt Bacharach Classics

by Burt Bacharach

Overview

What the World Needs Now is a comprehensive single-disc compilation of Burt Bacharach's recordings of his music for Kapp and A&M Records between 1965 and 1974, drawn from his albums Hit Maker, the Man! Burt Bacharach and His Songs, Reach Out, Make It Easy on Yourself, Burt Bacharach, Living Together, and Burt Bacharach in Concert, as well as the soundtrack to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Bacharach arranges and conducts the performances, using a studio orchestra including strings and electric instruments, usually with a female chorus to sing some portion of the lyrics written for the tunes by Hal David (or, in one instance, Bob Hilliard). The composer himself also handles occasional vocals, humming here and there and even singing whole lyrics on such songs as "A House Is Not a Home" and "Make It Easy on Yourself." The studio trickery of the 21st century no doubt could have made it sound like he could sing competently if he were cutting this material 40 years later than he did; as it is, he has moments in which he sings expressively and on key, but for the most part his voice is poor. While these recordings are a cut above mere easy listening run-throughs, boasting interesting arranging ideas and sections that illuminate Bacharach's melodies in ways the more familiar hit recordings did not, this is still music that depends heavily on the listener's recollection of those hit versions. When the tune is less familiar, such as on "Reach Out" or "Knowing When to Leave," the loss is felt particularly. For those who want to hear Bacharach's own, largely instrumental, take on his most popular songs of the 1960s and '70s, this is an excellent selection from his catalog. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	08/05/2003
Label:	A&M
UPC:	0602498604489

Tracks

1. Something Big
2. Do You Know the Way to San Jose?
3. What the World Needs Now Is Love
4. I Say a Little Prayer
5. Walk on By
6. Nikki
7. This Guy's in Love With You
8. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
9. The Look of Love
10. Message to Michael
11. (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me
12. I'll Never Fall in Love Again
13. A House Is Not a Home
14. One Less Bell to Answer
15. Reach Out for Me
16. Make It Easy on Yourself
17. (They Long to Be) Close to You
18. Trains and Boats and Planes
19. Any Day Now
20. Alfie
21. Knowing When to Leave
22. Promises, Promises
23. Medley: Don't Make Me Over/Anyone Who Had a Heart/What's New Pussycat

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Burt Bacharach   Primary Artist,Conductor
The Burt Bacharach Orchestra   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Phil Ramone   Producer
Mike Ragogna   Compilation Producer
Burt Bacharach   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Hal David   Composer
Barry Korkin   Editorial Assistant
Vartan   Art Direction
Adam Abrams   Production Coordination
Lee Lodyga   Editorial Assistant
Ryan Null   Coordination,Photo Research
Jim Pierson   Compilation Producer,Photo Research
Bob Hilliard   Composer