The Very Best of Burt Bacharach [Rhino]

by Burt Bacharach

Overview

Like Rhino's exquisite three-disc The Look of Love, this set does not concentrate on proper Burt Bacharach recordings. Instead, it contains versions of Bacharach's greatest songs, usually the greatest versions -- or cuts that are damn close to the greatest versions. And, really, that's what makes it magical, since Bacharach wasn't the best interpreter of his material -- vocalists like Dionne Warwick, Sandie Shaw, Gene Pitney, Dusty Springfield, and the Shirelles were. This doesn't contain every one of his great songs or recordings, and it does run out of steam toward the end, when "That's What Friends Are For" rears its ugly head, but there are no other single-disc collections that offer such a succinct, accurate overview of Bacharach at his best, as a melodicist and songwriter. The Very Best Of starts to flow with "Baby It's You," and then runs through such indelible classics as "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" by Sandie Shaw, "Walk on By" by Dionne Warwick, "What the World Needs Now Is Love" by Jackie DeShannon, and "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" by B.J. Thomas, among many, many others. Yes, it's possible to point out songs that should have been here, but what's here is nearly impeccable (though the last three songs, with the possible exception of Christopher Cross' "Arthur's Theme," should have been replaced by better songs from the '60s). There is no better, succinct introduction to the glories of Burt Bacharach than this. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/06/2001
Label:	Warner Bros. / Rhino
UPC:	0081227672126
Rank:	1188

Tracks

1. Baby It's You
2. Only Love Can Break a Heart
3. Anyone Who Had a Heart
4. (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me
5. Walk on By
6. What the World Needs Now Is Love
7. Alfie
8. What's New Pussycat?
9. I Say a Little Prayer
10. The Look of Love
11. Do You Know the Way to San Jose?
12. Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
13. I'll Never Fall in Love Again
14. One Less Bell to Answer
15. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)
16. That's What Friends Are For

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Burt Bacharach   Primary Artist,Conductor
Dionne Warwick   Primary Artist
Christopher Cross   Primary Artist
Jackie DeShannon   Primary Artist
Dusty Springfield   Primary Artist
The 5th Dimension   Primary Artist
Sandie Shaw   Primary Artist
The Shirelles   Primary Artist
Tom Jones   Primary Artist
Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist
Elton John   Primary Artist
B.J. Thomas   Primary Artist
Gladys Knight   Primary Artist
Gene Pitney   Primary Artist
Reg Guest   Accompaniment

Technical Credits

Bob Alcivar   Arranger
B.J. Thomas   Performer
Bill Inglot   Producer,Remastering
Bones Howe   Arranger,Producer
Bill Holman   Arranger
Christopher Cross   Composer,Performer
Jackie DeShannon   Performer
Barney Williams   Composer
Emily Cagan   Project Assistant
Dusty Springfield   Performer
Dionne Warwick   Performer
Mack David   Composer
Wally Gold   Producer
Gene Pitney   Performer
Steve Woolard   Project Assistant
Hugh Brown   Art Direction
Sandie Shaw   Performer
Jim Pierson   Project Assistant
Peter Allen   Composer
The Shirelles   Performer
Aaron Schroeder   Producer
Daniel Goldmark   Editorial Research
Stevie Wonder   Performer
Burt Bacharach   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Larry Wilcox   Arranger
Hal David   Composer,Producer
Carole Bayer Sager   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Elton John   Performer
Luther Dixon   Producer
John Franz   Producer
Peter Sullivan   Producer
Michael Omartian   Producer,String Arrangements
B. Williams   Composer
Rachel Gutek   Design,Art Direction
Ginger Dettman   Project Assistant
Julee Stover   Editorial Supervision
Chris Cuffaro   Cover Photo
Andrew Garver   Remastering
Chris Andrews   Producer
Stephen Paley   Producer
Patrick Milligan   Compilation Producer
Shawn Amos   Editorial Coordinator
Gladys Knight   Performer