The Warwick-Bacharach-David Set

So as not to jack Double-C's "WALK ON BY" post, here's a separate thread dedicated to other songs by the Warwick/Bacharach/David team.

To me they represent a sterling example of classic Pop songwriting.
Memorable melodies, succinct complimentary arrangements and on point vocal performances.

In Dionne Warwick, the Bacharach/David compositions found a perfect vocal vehicle.
Someone who could sing the melodies, as written, in pitch perfect fashion.




...Don't Make Me Over




...Walk On By




...You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)




...A House Is Not A Home




...Looking With My Eyes




...Are You There (With Another Girl)




...Message To Michael




...Alfie




...I Say A Little Prayer




...Theme From Valley of the Dolls
(written by Andre & Dory Previn, produced by Bacharach/David)




...Do You Know The Way To San Jose?




...I'll Never Fall In Love Again




...What The World Needs Now Is Love




...This Girl's In Love With You



Other tunes that aren't on YouTube in their original form (or at least utilizing the original arrangement):
Anyone Who Had A Heart
Reach Out For Me
Who Can I Turn To
Trains and Boats and Planes
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
Another Night
The Windows of the World
Always Something There To Remind Me
Promises, Promises
The April Fools
The Green Grass Starts To Grow
Wishin' and Hopin'
Make It Easy on Yourself
Close To You
Who Is Gonna Love Me


Selections chosen from my copies of...



...The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits & Hidden Gems: The Best of Dionne Warwick, Vol. 2 (Two fine Rhino compilations)



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431
[Edited 10/4/09 12:26pm]

I finally sat and listened to "Walk On By" for the first time ever and I keep repeating it. Something about it I really like...

theAudience said:

In Dionne Warwick, the Bacharach/David compositions found a perfect vocal vehicle.
Someone who could sing the melodies, as written, in pitch perfect fashion.




...The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits & Hidden Gems: The Best of Dionne Warwick, Vol. 2 (Two fine Rhino compilations)



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

damosuzuki said:

I have that 'her all-time greatest hits' comp and really love it to death. I'm going to add that 'hidden gems' record to my amazon basket next time I swing by there.

I really don't have anything to add, other than to say that I think these are all great songs & performances. They really don't write them like this anymore.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that my favourite song from that batch of tracks is the Valley of the Dolls Theme.

theAudience said:

damosuzuki said:

I have that 'her all-time greatest hits' comp and really love it to death. I'm going to add that 'hidden gems' record to my amazon basket next time I swing by there.

I really don't have anything to add, other than to say that I think these are all great songs & performances. They really don't write them like this anymore.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that my favourite song from that batch of tracks is the Valley of the Dolls Theme.

Embarrassed? Why?
It's a great song. Although not written by Bacharach/David, due to label contract issues, her released version on Scepter was re-recorded and produced by Bacharach/David. It thereby retains their indelible sound-stamp and doesn't sound out of place in the collection.

RipHer2Shreds turned me on to that second Rhino comp, Hidden Gems: The Best of Dionne Warwick, Vol. 2



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

damosuzuki said:

damosuzuki said:

theAudience said:

damosuzuki said:

Oh, it's a wonderful song certainly; I just can't help but feel it's a little tainted by its assocation with that silly, campy film. That, plus the fact it's a sissy ballad for 10 year-old girls and I'm a grown man who ought to be listening to...I dunno...Slayer or something.

Not so sure about that part.
Lyrically, so the story goes, it was Dory Previn's story of being addicted to pills.
A lot more grown up than you think.

And regarding your collection. Don't think so much, just enjoy the music.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

damosuzuki said:

Oh, you're completely correct of course. I was just trying to be funny; that's almost always a bad idea.

theAudience said:

TD3 said:

I love you. When I saw the title. I said to myself, "Self TA isn't gonnna have the "Theme To Valley of the Dolls". I know, shame on me, oh yea of little faith. Those 3 song above are my favorites by Warwick-Bacharach. I don't think anyone besides Ms.Warwick could see sing Mr.Bacharach , unusual chord progressions, striking syncopated rhythmic patterns, irregular phrasing, frequent modulation, and odd and changing meters song compositions.

There are 2 version (interms of lyrics) for "Theme Of The Valley of the Dolls." If you watched the movie, the lyrics aren't the same for the song at (I think it starts at the second verse) the end of the film. I'd sale my soul to the devil if I could get a copy.

Check Out Time
Amanda
The Windows Of The World
The whole "Promises Promises" CD is kewl. It's has that Lifetime Channel vibe but the songs are still nice.
The Green Grass Starts To Grow.

theAudience said:

TD3 said:

I love you. When I saw the title. I said to myself, "Self TA isn't gonnna have the "Theme To Valley of the Dolls". I know, shame on me, oh yea of little faith. Those 3 song above are my favorites by Warwick-Bacharach. I don't think anyone besides Ms.Warwick could see sing Mr.Bacharach , unusual chord progressions, striking syncopated rhythmic patterns, irregular phrasing, frequent modulation, and odd and changing meters song compositions.

There are 2 version (interms of lyrics) for "Theme Of The Valley of the Dolls." If you watched the movie, the lyrics aren't the same for the song at (I think it starts at the second verse) the end of the film. I'd sale my soul to the devil if I could get a copy.

What an insult...


Well, I don't think even the devil can help you on this one.
Dionne sang on the actual movie appearances of the song (opening and reprise)...





...but contractual issues (soundtrack on 20th Century Fox, Dionne on Scepter) prevented her performances from appearing on the official soundtrack album.





...Dory Previn's vocals end up on the soundtrack album.




...The Dionne Warwick re-recorded hit version that most are familiar with.



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

carlcranshaw said:

TD3 said:

I'm sorwe....

Tryin' to bring me outta the woordwork?

theAudience said:

My FAVE Dionne Warwick song is a very underrated tune from her 70s period which could be found in....


Its titled Love Song one of the most beautiful melodies ever written,,,,AMG says the song was written/composed by Lesley Duncan. I never heard of that name before.

But the album was arranged by one of CTI/Kudu's producers/arrangers(according to AMG again) which makes no surprise to me why it sounds like one of CTI's albums.

Another 2 70s fave albums of mine(from the 70s again) are...



None of the songs featured are in youtube though.

I noticed something about her singing when she wasn't with the Bacharach/David, she's less self-conscious and more in control.

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone


Lady Day

Don't forget about Hal David, who wrote ALL the lyrics. As Warwick once said, "If it wasn't for Hal, people would just be humming."

Yes Ms Warwick... a class of her own.

Very much appreciate the knowledge.

It appears that “Hidden Gems” needs to be added pronto, as well as some other Warwick albums/flavors.

Dionne seems very undervalued at the moment in terms of in-depth compilations.

===

And it looks as though this Burt Bacharach 3CD box set “Collection” may be another avenue to go down? Anyone care to second that emotion?

I love all of Dionne's interpretations of the Bacharach & David songs over any other artist, with one sole exception...



Aside from this one song, you only need this one budget-priced U.K. compilation album...



There's a few on eBay right now, available for peanuts: http://tinyurl.com/ybqrnqu

RipHer2Shreds said:

Tryin' to bring me outta the woodwork?

..

Great thread!!!!

Two of my favorites, "Paper Mache", and "Window Wishing", are gone from youtube....

Regarding "What The World Needs Now"... I remember reading that Dionne originally didn't want it. She told Burt, and he thought, "Oh well, it must not be any good"...and Hal David said to him, "You're nuts! Give it to somebody else...Jackie DeShannon, maybe..."





...
[Edited 10/6/09 0:24am]