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"…The Bell That Couldn't
Jangle…"
"Something Big: The
Complete A&M Years…And More!" by BURT BACHARACH is a sumptuous 5CD set
originally released November 2004 in the USA-only as a non-numbered limited
edition of 5000 by Universal’s premium reissue label - HIP-O SELECT (reissued
January 2007).
I’ve managed to borrow a copy
from a friend and while it sounds spiffing (remasters from real tapes) –
musically it’s a very mixed bag to say the least - some of it good - some of it
downright awful. There’s a lot on Hip-O Select B0003615-02 (Barcode
602498642863) - so let’s get to it straight away…
Disc 1 (72:14 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 11 are the album
"Reach Out" - released 1967 on A&M Records SP 4131 (Stereo)
Track 12, "The Bell That
Couldn't Jingle" is the A-side of the 1968 US 7" single on A&M
1004
Tracks 13 to 23 are the album
“Make It Easy On Yourself” - released 1969 on A&M Records SP 4188 (Stereo)
Disc 2 (77:00 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album
"Burt Bacharach", A&M SP 3501, 1971
Tracks 11 to 20 are the album
"Living Together", A&M SP 3527, 1973
Track 21 is the 1st song on
the album "Futures", A&M SP 4622, 1977
Disc 3 (79:59 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10 are the
remaining songs on the album "Futures", A&M SP 4622, 1977
Tracks 11 to 18 are the album
"Woman", A&M SP 3709, 1979
Disc 4 (78:24 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are the
soundtrack "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid", A&M SP 4227,
1969
(Track 2 is the famous B.J.
Thomas number 1 chart hit, "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" -
track 5 is an instrumental version of it track 6 is "On A Bicycle Built
For Joy" - another vocal version of "Raindrops…" by B.J. Thomas
- the one used in the film with the speeded-up 'vaudeville' bit towards the end
of the song)
Track 10 is "Etta's
Theme", a previously unreleased alternate version of track 7 "Come
Touch The Sun" - it's from the "Butch Cassidy…" sessions, 1969
Tracks 11 to 25 are the album
"Burt Bacharach In Concert", A&M SP 68279, 1974
(11, 13-15 and 17-25 are
previously unreleased in the USA)
Disc 5 - "Essentials” -
64:40 minutes):
Track 1 is a previously
unreleased alternate mono mix of "Saturday Sunshine", 1963
Track 2 is "And So
Goodbye, My Love", a US 7" single on Kapp Records 532, 1963
Tracks 3 to 14 are the album
"Hit Maker!" on Kapp Records KS 3428, 1965
Track 15 and 16 are
"What's New, Pussycat?" b/w "My Little Red Book (All I Do Is
Talk About You)" - the A & B-side of Kapp Records 685, a US 7"
single from 1965. The A is not the more famous Tom Jones hit - but has vocals
by Joel Grey - the B-side vocals are by Tony Middleton
Track 17 is from the
soundtrack "After The Fox" on United Artists UAS 5148, 1966
Track 18 is "The Fox
Trot", a US 7" single on United Artists 50123, 1966
Tracks 19 and 20 are
"Nikki" b/w "Juanita's Place" - the A&B sides of
Liberty 55934, a US 7” single from 1966
Track 21 is from the
soundtrack "Arthur The Album", 1981 on Warner Brothers, it’s an
instrumental and not the number 1 chart hit sung by Christopher Cross
Track 22 is "That's What
Friends Are For", from the soundtrack to "Night Shift" in 1982
on Warner Brothers, it’s an instrumental and not the chart hit sung by Dionne
Warwick & Friends in 1985
Track 23 is "Love Theme
From Arthur", on the soundtrack "Arthur 2: On The Rocks", 1988
on A&M Records, it’s an instrumental version
Burt Bacharach and his
lyricist Hal David have penned huge numbers of great tunes across the decades,
carried into record charts the world over by scores of superb interpretative
artists. But therein lies the problem with this nice, but hugely expensive set
– it does NOT provide an overview of those definitive versions, but instead
Bacharach’s interpretations of his own songs, and to call them cheesy is to
be way too generous!
Most tracks are instrumentals and removing the singer, and
the lyrics they sing, reduces the songs to boring brass blasters that just
don't work. When he does sing, his voice is grating and wildly un-expressive.
They are to my ear just awful – beyond the valley of drivel. Remember, this
exclusive and limited 5CD velvet book set clocks in at over $150 Stateside and
£100 sterling here in the UK – and given that half of the material is
un-listenable dreck - a person has to question whether it’s worth even half
that price.
Don't get me wrong – there
are lovely moments on here, the 1971 remake of the 1966 "Nikki" is beautiful –
both are included. The three instrumental versions on Disc 5 of The Arthur
movies and Night Shift track are as lovely as anything John Barry has done. The
remastering too – superlative – "Something Big..." has been done by tape supremo ERICK LABSON at
Universal and is typically warm, full and beautiful to hear, and I suspect, one
of the main reasons why easy/soundtrack enthusiasts will buy this set – despite
its price.
But I would say – hand on my heart - hold those expectations on this
one. Try to hear it before you buy. Or better still - purchase the original
'long-book' issue of the superlative 1998 Rhino 3CD Box set "The Look Of
Love" instead – it’s a fraction of the cost and ten times the listening
pleasure. And its track-by-track attached booklet is a work of art in itself -
both it and the music contained within - a genuine tribute to Bacharach's songwriting
genius…
