The year was 1964, and Burt Bacharach and Hal David had a firm handle on the music charts around the world. In facto, some might say that the duo had a firm grip on the hearts of the music fans everywhere, with hits being written from Marty Robbins, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, The Shirelles, The Drifters, Gene Pitney, Bobby Vinton, Dusty Springfield, Andy Williams, and Dionne Warwick, among others. Soon to join the club would be an English singer with a big voice and an engaging personality. Just as Warwick was releasing the song, Cilla Black recorded "Anyone Who Had A Heart" in the Abbey Road Studios in London. Black created a sensation, and had her first #1 hit with the song. This is Cilla Black singing "Anyone Who Had A Heart".
Clockwise: Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick, Etta James, and Barbra Streisand.
While trying to find an inspiration for tonight's post, I kept coming back to the 1960s, and I wasn't sure what to do about that. And then I finally stepped out of my own way, and decided to take a look at some of the songs released in the Sixties, and knew I was on to something. There were some magnificent ladies making music back then, some who would truly make a memorable impact on music for a long time to come. That would include a beautiful Brit whose voice could sound bright and lovely, or tinged with a bit of darkness. I like the muskiness she brings to her 1965 single, "Some of Your Lovin'". She brought a soulful quality to her Pop, which I found to be irresistible. Please enjoy Dusty Springfield singing "Some of Your Lovin'".
There was some sort of amazing chemical reaction when Burt Bacharach and Hal David worked with a young Dionne Warwick. For much of the decade, they seemed unstoppable, with hit after hit. It began in 1962 with "Don't Make Me Over", Dionne's first single and first hit. The song went to #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, an impressive start to any career. I, however, will focus on the third hit single featuring the words and music of Bacharach/David, the highest charting so far at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The heartbreaking "Walk On By" tackles the aftermath of love gone wrong. Few could serve it up quite like Dionne. Here is Dionne Warwick with her 1964 hit, "Walk On By".
In 1967, a young Barbra Streisand was on the brink of superstardom. She already had success on Broadway, with two Tony Award nominations, including for her 1964 performance as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. She had hit records, and earned four Grammy Awards, including two for her 1963 debut, 'The Barbra Streisand Album'. She had begun working on the movie version of 'Funny Girl', for which she will win the Academy Award. And there was a special event, a free concert in Central Park that was being recorded for Broadcast on network television. She song songs off several of her albums, including the first. Here is Barbra singing the classic "Cry Me A River", with that special spin. She was in great voice, and the audience definitely fell in love.
Finally, I thought I would go with a singer whose voice is as explosive as her personality. Etta James was huge in the 1960s, charting with song after song. Her blend of Pop, Soul and Blues set her apart from the rest. She had many big hits, like "I'd Rather Go Blind", "Sunday Kind of Love", and, of course, "At Last". Her voice was so distinctive, rich and expressive. I picked one of my favorites, even if it wasn't a song that scored well on the charts. In 1966, Etta released "Only Time Will Tell", a song written by Maurice McAlister and Terry Vail. Heartbreaking from start to finish, there was no mistaking the Blues in this one. I hope you love Etta James singing "Only Time Will Tell"!
Over the weekend, the world became just a little bit less musical when the voice of lyricist Hal David was lost. He was 91 years old. David was best known for his work with composer Burt Bacharach, together writing some of the most successful and respected songs of the 1960s and 1970s. While it is easy to say his words were sung by some of the best voices in the music business, but in this case it is true. He and Burt are closely tied to the career for the magnificent Dionne Warwick. Together, they had hit after hit on the charts.
Laughing with writing partner Burt Bacharach.
But there were so many others, far more than I could put into one post. I will start with one of those magnificent voices who delivered the songs with amazing abilities. One of the many combinations that worked in addition to the Bacharach/David duo working with Dionne Warwick was the writers working with the gorgeous voice of Karen Carpenter. Richard & Karen Carpenter worked together in a band aptly called Carpenters, and were a hit factory in the 1970s and 1980s. They had a mega-hit with the single "(They Long To Be) Close To You", but that was not the only Bacharach/David song they recorded. Listen as they perform "Bacharach/David Medley: Knowing When To Leave/Make It Easy On Yourself/There's Always Something There To Remind Me/I'll Never Fall In Love Again/Walk On By/Do You Know The Way To San Jose".
The medley was recorded for the eponymous 1971 album, which went quadruple Platinum in sales. You can download "Bacharach/David Medley: Knowing When To Leave/Make It Easy On Yourself/There's Always Something There To Remind Me/I'll Never Fall In Love Again/Walk On By/Do You Know The Way To San Jose" from iTunes and Amazon. The next song was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1964, but was quickly covered by many others. Nineteen years later, the song was covered by the New Wave/New Romantic group Naked Eyes. "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me" was a great success, making it to #8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Check out the video for "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me".
You can find "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me" on the compilation album, The Very Best of Naked Eyes. You can purchase the single from iTunes and Amazon. In 1964, Dionne Warwick sung the achingly beautiful "A House Is Not A Home", written by Bacharach/David. It was the B-side of "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)", and both songs ended up on the US Billboard Hot 100. In 1967, Burt & Hal wrote "One Less Bell To Answer" for Keely Smith, but it wasn't a hit. It was recorded by the 5th Dimension featuring the gorgeous voice of Marilyn McCoo for a 1970 hit. In 1971, the two were recorded as a medley on the album 'Barbra Joan Streisand', which brought the haunting quality of both songs together is a delicious package, Streisand singing a duet with herself. Enjoy as Barbra Streisand sings "One Less Bell To Answer/A House Is Not A Home".
You can find this medley on Streisand's 1971 album, Barbra Joan Streisand. You can purchase it from iTunes and Amazon. In 1969, one of the runaway hits in the movie theaters was Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, starring the gorgeous duo of Paul Newman and Robert Redford. The soundtrack also featured a song written by Bacharach/David that was sung by B.J. Thomas that was the definition of charm. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" went on the win the Academy Award for Best Original Song and went to #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Adult Contemporary, and the US Cashbox Top 100. This is B.J Thomas singing "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head".
"Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" can be found on countless albums. You can purchase it on iTunes and Amazon off the album All-Time Greatest Hits of BJ Thomas. In 1967, Columbia Pictures released Casino Royale, a comedy spoof of spy adventures like James Bond, starring David Niven and Ursula Andress. It was said Bacharach was inspired by seeing sexy Andress in a particular scene when he wrote the music. David wrote the lyrics and Dusty Springfield as asked to sing the song, and "The Look of Love" went on to earn an Academy Award nomination. Check out Dusty giving a great performance.
"The Look Of Love" can be found on the 1967 album of the same name. You can purchase it from iTunes and Amazon. And finally, I couldn't do this memorial without including the woman who was a muse for much of this great music, Dionne Warwick. She sang much of the great songs by Bacharach/David, so I decided to pick my favorite. Well, my favorite at this moment, since there were so many, I could easily pick another tomorrow. Anyway, I am going with the 1964 hit, "Walk On By". I loved the way the song sat perfectly in Warwick's voice, and delivered an amazing depth of emotion. Here is the glorious "Walk On By" as sung by Dionne Warwick.
You can find "Walk On By" on Dionne's 1964 album, Make Way For Dionne Warwick. You can purchase it from iTunes and Amazon. So much great music, and much I haven't mentioned. Rest in peace, Hal David, for you left a lifetime of music here on earth.
Clockwise from top: Margaret Whiting, Dinah Shore, Dionne Warwick, Rosemary Clooney and Ella Fitzgerald.
I thought I would come back to this sweet sound with yet another group of talented ladies. It is a collection of classic voices, some with household names, others with a bit of a cult following. The first would fall more into the latter, as Margaret Whiting might not have the cache of some of the ladies who follow, but certainly had a long career, having been raised in the business, as father Richard Whiting was a songwriter, having written classics like Hooray For Hollywood. After having her heyday in the 40s and 50s, she continued to sing in clubs on both coasts. In 1994, she married gay adult star Jack Wrangler, and they stayed together until his passing in 2009. Margaret passed in January of this year. In 1945, She had a hit singing It Might As Well Be Spring with Paul Weston and his Orchestra.
The next young lady was singing background vocals for many of the top stars of the late 50s and early 60s, having been first noticed singing with a gospel group, which won the weekly amateur contest at the legendary Apollo Theater. Soon she was noticed by in one of the sessions by writer Burt Bacharach, who, along with writing partner Hal David, singed the young lady with the voice they loved. Soon Dionne was singing their songs and making the pairing of Dionne with Bacharach and David a steady member of the Pop charts. That would include their startling song from 1964, Walk On By.
While she couldn't seem to get a job with a big band the way every other girl singer was doing in the late 30s, she became the first woman singer to take her talent solo, and certainly made a name for herself in the 40s and 50s. Dinah Shore couldn't get the job with Benny Goodman or either Tommy or Jimmy Dorsey, so she followed her own path to fame. In 1944, she appeared in Belle of the Yukon, and sung the beautiful song by Jimmy van Heusen, Like Someone In Love. She later went on to host her own talk show. Despite several marriages and high-profile relationships, Dinah's support of Women's Golf somehow translated into constant rumors of her being a lesbian, which is not really supported by any fact.
Our next singer needs no introduction, especially form me. Ella Fitzgerald is a brilliant singer, with a career spanning seven decades, from the 30s to the 90s. she just had so much talent, be it her ability to scat, to groove on some jazz, or just flat out sing a song. This video is of her singing Cole Porter's great song, Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye. This clip is from 1965, but she originally recorded the song in 1956.
I can't tell you how much I loved the ovice of our final singer tonight. My mother played her music, and she was certainly in some of my favorite films I remember watching, including White Christmas. Rosemary Clooney's voice was so lovely, with a depth of tone that could bring you to tears as easily as it could get you dancing. Enjoy her singing her 1954 hit, Hey There, written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for their Broadway musical, The Pajama Game.
