Burt Bacharach: A&M Greatest Hits 1974 (Alfie, The Look Of Love) CD-New $46.99

Burt Freeman Bacharach (May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. He composed hundreds of pop songs from the late 1950s, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. Bacharach’s music is characterized by unusual chord progressions, influenced by his background in jazz harmony, and uncommon selections of instruments for small orchestras. He arranged, conducted, and produced much of his recorded output.

In 1971, Barbra Streisand appeared on The Burt Bacharach Special (aka Singer Presents Burt Bacharach), where they discussed their careers and favorite songs and performed songs together. The other guests on the television special were dancer Rudolph Nureyev and singers Tom Jones and The Carpenters.

In 1973, Bacharach and David wrote the score for Lost Horizon, a musical version of the 1937 film. The remake was a critical and commercial disaster; a flurry of lawsuits resulted between the composer and the lyricist, as well as from Warwick. She reportedly felt abandoned when Bacharach and David refused to work together further.

Bacharach tried several solo projects, including the 1977 album Futures, but the projects failed to yield hits. He and David reunited briefly in 1975 to write and produce Stephanie Mills‘ second album, For The First Time, for Motown.

By the early 1980s, Bacharach’s marriage to Angie Dickinson had ended, but a new partnership with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager proved rewarding, both commercially and personally. The two married and collaborated on several major hits during the decade, including “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” (Christopher Cross), co-written with Christopher Cross and Peter Allen, which won an Academy Award for Best Song; “Heartlight” (Neil Diamond); “Making Love” (Roberta Flack); and “On My Own” (Patti LaBelle with Michael McDonald). Another of their hits, “That’s What Friends Are For” in 1985, reunited Bacharach with Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder.

Video: Burt Bacharach – What The World Needs Now

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