Wishin' and Votin' - the BURT BACHARACH SONGBOOK Poll Results

Interesting.

After Burt had stopped conducting for Marlene, I ran into her in Beverly Hills one day. I chased after her and said, “Marlene!” And then I said, “Burt would love to hear from you,” or “I’m so sorry things aren’t working out.” And she said, “Finita la commedia.”

Ah, just got to the part in the book where Neil Simon wanted Tony Roberts to replace Jerry Orbach in the original cast during rehearsals, but then changed his mind at the last minute.

If this thread has that Geico commercial it should certainly have
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBLMbJnN69c

William, I don’t know why you keep saying this book is so short, my copy is 400 pages long. Don’t think it can just be that the ebook has a different numbering system.

It's short compared to Robert Caro's Bacharach: Master of The Melody (#3 of 5 Volumes)

The hardcover is 280 pp.

It's short compared to Robert Caro's Bacharach: Master of The Melody (#3 of 5 Volumes)

L

Finished the book, which I will also recommend. Now to see if I can find one of the volumes by that fellow from Cairo.

Tbh thought it was one of the better memoirs that I have read. Lots of good detail about his working process and on the personal front there is lots of interspersed text from others such as Angie Dickinson so it is not just from his point of view.

So, as to why I put “Mexican Divorce” at number one:

• Knew it wouldn't win but wanted it to place high
• Think highly of the Bob Hilliard collabos in general
• Historic importance of being the session at which Dionne Warwick and Burt made first contact
• The fact that Paul Griffin probably played on this as well as Steely Dan's "Haitian Divorce" (although I don't have confirmation of either of these things)
• The genre-bending: seems like from the music it is going to be a South of the Border novelty song a la The Coaster's "Down In Mexico" mixed with a touch of Mary Robbins' "El Paso" but then it turns into a kind of breakup song (albeit with a tacked on happy ending), echoed decades later in the fireworks-shooting Mexican kids in X's "4th of July"
• The jaunty but lugubrious beat, and they way it is reflected in the slow funereal march of the almost monosyllabic lyrics, the numbed out I can't believe this is happening of it all until the breakout of two three syllable words in "Mexico is different"
• The detail of the "travel folder," as evocative as Hal David's "thumbing" through the Little Red Book.

^ love this

Yes -- like I said, well-considered choices all around.

Forgot to mention the “old adobe courthouse.” Okay, I’m done.

sad i didn't get the time to vote, if only because it meant that nobody voted for roland kirk's "say a little prayer" :(

(actually i would've voted ground zero, but close enough!)

Thought maybe he got a vote for another tune like "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" but seems that was not the case.

Hal David's birthday yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp2AKAhPkZs

This is more relevant perhaps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0rZEi_lT-o

Weird thing I just came across about the group called Smith mentioned several times up thread, they did a version of “The Weight” which is on the Easy Rider soundtrack. Lead vocal is by a dude this time. For a split second I thought it was actually The Band with Levon singing, although I got over it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMQ6QrsTPfw

They seem to be one of the only groups, perhaps the only group, not mentioned on the album cover.

IIRC, the Smith cover was recorded for the soundtrack album because The Band and/or Albert Grossman wouldn't license it out for the album even though it was cleared for the movie proper.

"wouldn't license the original" should be in there.

Makes sense, it’s all clear now, thanks.

I rarely check my release radar on spotify, but did today and saw the Complete Scepter and Warner Albums by Dionne Warwick -- 200 tracks, tons of good stuff, not all BB.

https://open.spotify.com/album/3D7QBZNuwDgKojTvNe74SY?si=RGiU1uggTIuveVXpjd1z-A

Wow

Extensive track notes? Probably not on Spotify

I think if any of the music streamers added liner notes/credits/art, there'd be a mass migration.

Wondering how Bobbie Gentry’s version of “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” placed. Asking for a friend via Zing.

I didn't break down the voting by version past the top 10 (link: Wishin' and Votin' - the BURT BACHARACH SONGBOOK Poll Results). I still have all the tabulations and could do that someday I suppose. Bobbi G's version got 2 votes and 60 points, which would have been around 55th place in the whole poll taken on its own.

Thanks! I’ve been kind of digging it. It popped up on some 60’s Country playlist the other day

And now digging the Jackie Trent version of “Make It Easy On Yourself.”

Of all the ballot polls I did, and I bogarted Zeppelin, Bowie, Miles and Eno, this one was the most fun, all 17 voters' worth.

Always liked this Ben Folds Five take on "Raindrops," and Bacharach too gives the impression of liking this "very hot group"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeFgAJVMVeM

I was alone with "Checkout Time", I see. Even Warwick dislikes it, I read. One day the world will recognise its greatness.

I'm not aware of this having happened yet. *weeps*

I remain pissed that I missed this great poll. I have absolutely worn the Rhino box out (which I also bought for my dad) and have the solo albums box that came out about 15 years ago as well. He is about as much a musician hero for me as anyone.

A few very belated comments:

“One Less Bell to Answer” has one of my favorite bridges in popular music. It seems to keep modulating up forever.

“Land of Make Believe” has such an elegant melody. The Dionne version is pretty much perfect.

My favorite version of “The April Fools” is the solo Burt instrumental on the green album (S/T maybe?). The bit where the brushes come in on the second chorus is absolutely glorious.

My favorite version of “Always Something There to Remind Me” remains the Naked Eyes version. Most of the time, Burt’s arrangements win out and the syndrum rolls aren’t awesome but the “girl” of “How can I/Forget you GIRL” is so vastly superior to the rushed and clipped “How can I/Forget you” it’s not even funny.

The Costello record is mostly what you’d expect from Burt and Elvis in his bel canto stage but special mention for “In the Darkest Place” which has one of the most thrilling bridges in Burt’s career.

Here’s a very quick run at a ballot I did – most of it is embarrassingly obvious but it’s all amazing:

1. This Guy’s in Love with You
2. The Look of Love
3. Land of Make Believe
4. My Little Red Book
5. I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself
6. The April Fools
7. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again
8. One Less Bell to Answer
9. The Windows of the World
10. Walk On By
11. I Say a Little Prayer
12. Promises Promises
13. Anyone Who Had a Heart
14. (They Long to Be) Close to You
15. Do You Know the Way to San Jose
16. Alfie
17. Always Something There to Remind Me
18. Here I Am
19. Something Big
20. Take a Broken Heart

burt is 92 today !

Happy Burtday.

I reread this thread the other day and it was such a joy. I'd redo the whole poll over again in a minute if I thought it'd get 30 voters.

No one posted their ballots. A year after the fact...

1. “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” Jackie DeShannon
2. “I Say a Little Prayer,” Aretha Franklin
3. “Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head,” B.J. Thomas
4. “This Guy’s in Love with You,” Herb Alpert
5. “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” Carpenters
6. “Walk on By,” Dionne Warwick
7. “One Less Bell to Answer,” 5th Dimension
8. “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” Dionne Warwick
9. “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” Dionne Warwick
10. “The Story of My Life,” Michael Holliday
11. “What’s New Pussycat,” Tom Jones
12. “Wives and Lovers,” Jack Jones
13. “Trains and Boats and Planes,” Dionne Warwick
14. “Don’t Make Me Over,” Dionne Warwick
15. “(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me,” Sandie Shaw

As I said above, I missed the Shirelles' version of “It's Love That Really Counts.”

wendell stuart and the downbeaters - always something there to remind me
the shirelles - baby it's you
al green - i say a little prayer
dionne warwick - that's not the answer
love - my little red book
dionne warwick - do you know the way to san jose
aretha franklin - april fools
dusty springfield - in the land of make believe
isaac hayes - walk on by
dorothy ashby - the look of love
dusty springfield - i just don't know what do to with myself
dionne warwick - are you there
walter jackson - they don't give medals
the drifters - please stay
dionne warwick - don't make me over
dionne warwick - anyone who had a heart
aretha franklin - this girl's in love with you
chuck jackson - i wake up crying
roy ayers - raindrops keep falling on my head
alton ellis - rain from the skies
james brown - message to michael
the free design - the windows of the world
the boots - another tear falls
gene pitney - the man who shot liberty valance
the rangoons - moon guitar

1. Promises, Promises - Erik Friedlander
2. This Guy’s in Love with You - Herb Alpert
3. I Say a Little Prayer - Dionne Warwick
4. Alfie - Cilla Black
5. My Little Red Book - Manfred Mann
6. You’ll Never Get to Heaven if You Break My Heart - The Stylistics
7. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart - Marc Ribot
8. Walk on By - Dionne Warwick
9. She’s Gone Away - Mike Patton
10. The Look of Love - Dusty Springfield
11. Trains and Boats and Planes - Fred Frith
12. God Give Me Strength - Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
13. Wives and Lovers - Dave Douglas
14. Casino Royale - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
15. Don’t Make Me Over - Dionne Warwick
16. They Long To Be Close To You - The Carpenters
17. I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself - Isaac Hayes
18. Please Stay - The Drifters
19. Everybody’s Out of Town - B.J. Thomas
20. Baby It’s You - Smith
21. Any Day Now - Chuck Jackson
22. Are You There with another girl - Dionne Warwick
23. Anyone Who Had a Heart - Dionne Warwick
24. Made in Paris - Trini Lopez
25. Wishin’ and Hopin’ - Dusty Springfield
26. What the World Needs Now Is Love - Jackie DeShannon
27. Something Big - Jim O’Rourke
28. The Story of My Life - Marty Robbins
29. The Windows of the World - Dionne Warwick
30. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again - Jill O’Hara & Jerry Orbach

Discovered yesterday that the youtube of my #1 has been taken down, bummed.

1. Mexican Divorce- The Drifters
2. I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
3. The Look of Love - Dusty Springfield
4. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself - Dusty Springfield
5. My Little Red Book - Love
6. Don’t Make Me Over - Dionne Warwick
7. Any Day Now - Elvis Presley
8. Make It Easy On Yourself - Jerry Butler
9. Baby, It’s You - The Beatles
10. Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa -Dusty Springfield
11. Anyone Who Had a Heart - Dionne Warwick
12. Walk On By - Dionne Warwick
13. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - Gene Pitney
14. One Less Bell To Answer - The 5th Dimension
15. Do You Know the Way to San Jose - Dionne Warwick
16. I’ll Never Fall In Love Again - Dionne Warwick
17. What the World Needs Now Is Love - Jackie DeShannon
18. The Story of My Life - Marty Robbins
19. Are You There (With Another Girl) - Dionne Warwick
20. Wishin’ and Hopin’ - Dusty Springfield
21. Always Something There To Remind Me - Naked Eyes
22. Promises, Promises - Dionne Warwick
23. This Guy’s In Love With You - Herb Alpert
24. (They Long To Be) Close to You - The Carpenters
25. Only Love Can Break a Heart - Gene Pitney
26. What’s New Pussycat? - Tom Jones
27. April Fools - Aretha Franklin
28. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head - B.J. Thomas
29. Casino Royale - Herb Alpert
30. Nikki - Burt Bacharach

I really labored quite a bit over this ballot, it was like solving a puzzle.

Honestly I’m not a big POLL or ranked list guy (just in case you didn’t know and you cared), but I found this poll a really useful and fun way to navigate through and get some sort of handle on his sprawling catalog.

that is basically how i went about this. i basically took it for granted that we were all here to celebrate burt bacharach's work and that therefore we all had some degree of appreciation and respect for the music. a more "honest" ballot from me would have been 85% dionne and burt instrumentals. but i just thought it would be more interesting to find as many cool alternate versions i could and then rank them more or less haphazardly with a handful of exceptions at the top.

, basically

I really labored quite a bit over this ballot, it was like solving a puzzle.

― Louder Than Bach's Bottom (James Redd and the Blecchs),

All my favorite polls have been just like that. Also, I just noticed we both had "My Little Red Book" at #5 but in different versions.

I started this thread a year ago tomorrow, Happy Burtday every day.

See you here next year, unless you are there with another URL.

haaaaa

Just noticed that the big pre-voting playlist has only 11 followers which means that six - or maybe five, I guess - balloteers were flying commando.