 |
| Songwriter and composer Burt Bacharach was prolific in the 1980s, including "That's What Friends Are For" and "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do". Source: ITV/Rex Features https://www.theguardian.com/ music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-obituary (May be subject to copyright) |
Even if you don’t recognize his name, it is more than likely that if you grew up in the 1980s you would recognize his songs.
Sadly, the music stopped a few weeks ago when Burt Bacharach died. He was 94.
Pre-history
Burt Bacharach had much of his success just as the 1980s had dawned, with songs such as “Rain Drops Keep Fallin’ on my Head" that was recorded by B.J. Thomas and appeared in the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” in 1969. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won an Oscar for best original song.
Burt Bacharach had much of his success just as the 1980s had dawned, with songs such as “Rain Drops Keep Fallin’ on my Head" that was recorded by B.J. Thomas and appeared in the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” in 1969. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won an Oscar for best original song.
There was also “The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance” by Gene Pitney in 1962; “There’s Always Something There to Remind Me” by Lou Johnson in 1964, and covered by Naked Eyes in 1983; “What’s New Pussycat?” by Tom Jones in 1965; and also many songs recorded by Dionne Warwick including “I Say a Little Prayer” in 1967; and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” in 1968.
Chris Cross in the ‘80s
Burt Bacharach started the decade in style in 1981 with “Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do)” recorded by Christopher Cross.
Burt Bacharach started the decade in style in 1981 with “Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do)” recorded by Christopher Cross.
Christopher Cross was on a roll. He had a hit in “Sailing” earlier in the year, which set the stage for “Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do)” which became a monster hit and put Cross in rare company. The song, which was the main theme for the movie “Arthur” starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli, won the Oscar for best original song in 1981, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Second time lucky
In 1985, a group called Dionne and Friends, made up of Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder, recorded a moving song, penned by Bacahrach and long-time partner Carole Bayer-Sager, called “That’s What Friend Are For”. It was a fundraiser for AIDS research and prevention, going all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the number one single in the United States in 1986. It also won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Song of the Year.
In 1985, a group called Dionne and Friends, made up of Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder, recorded a moving song, penned by Bacahrach and long-time partner Carole Bayer-Sager, called “That’s What Friend Are For”. It was a fundraiser for AIDS research and prevention, going all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the number one single in the United States in 1986. It also won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Song of the Year.
After that song came out, I saw a movie from 1982 called “Night Shift” starring Michael Keaton, Henry Winkler and Shelly Long, about two guys who work night shift at the morgue and start running prostitutes out of it.
At the end of the movie, the theme starts playing and sounds like “That’s What Friend Are For” but being sung by Rod Stewart. I had never heard it before, and it sounded kind of weird. It turns out Bacharach and Bayer Sager had written the song originally for Rod Stewart and the “Night Shift” sound track, and the Dionne and Friends song was a cover version.
Number one again
Bacharach and Bayer Sager hit number one again on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986, with “On My Own”, a duet recorded by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald. “On My Own”, about a relationship that had run its course with the couple going their separate ways, was released in February and stayed at number one for three weeks. Interestingly, it was initially written for Dionne Warwick for her album “Friends” released in 1985.
Bacharach and Bayer Sager hit number one again on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986, with “On My Own”, a duet recorded by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald. “On My Own”, about a relationship that had run its course with the couple going their separate ways, was released in February and stayed at number one for three weeks. Interestingly, it was initially written for Dionne Warwick for her album “Friends” released in 1985.
Burt Bacharach would continue recording almost up until his death.
Parting thoughts
It is interesting that the performer of a song is most associated with the song, when they may have had nothing to do with its writing or arrangement. Sometimes, you can hear songs from different performers and they have the same kind of feel.
It is interesting that the performer of a song is most associated with the song, when they may have had nothing to do with its writing or arrangement. Sometimes, you can hear songs from different performers and they have the same kind of feel.
That was the case with “That’s What Friends are For”, “On My Own”, and “Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You can Do)”. Dionne and Friends, Christopher Cross, and Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald are vastly different performers but those songs have a similar feel. Not only that, but they are powerful, emotional ballads.
What united them was Burt Bacharach who, with partner Carole Bayer Sager, penned some of the best songs of the last quarter of the 20th Century and beyond.
Anyone who didn’t recognize him by name, definitely recognized at least one of his songs.
That was the power of Burt Bacharach.
No comments:
Post a Comment