Showing posts with label Bacharach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bacharach. Show all posts

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

The Happy Hammond Plays The Hits Of

Burt Bacharach.

When the happy sound of the Hammond organ meets up with some of the world's most popular and enduring melodies, any record turntable is set for some lively entertainment. Especially, of course, when the collection of songs stem from two of the most creative and prolific songwriting minds in pop, messrs Bacharach and David.

Ena Baga, one of four sisters, was giving public performances as a church organist at the age of twelve and was a professional organist at the age of fourteen, initiating a glittering career. Now, Ena is passing on her vast experience to the organists of tomorrow.

As a party companion you'll find no better company than the kind of atmosphere that this album provides and if your taste is merely to listen and enjoy some of the finest pop melodies ever written then just sit back. The happy Hammond sound, on this occasion provided by a model TTR, and the genius of Bacharach and David will do the rest for you.

Side 1

1. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
2. This Guy's In Love With You
3. Anyone Who Had A Heart
4. Wives And Lovers
5. The Look Of Love
6. Do You Know The Way To San Jose

Side 2

1. I Say A Little Prayer
2. Close To You
3. There's Always Something There To Remind Me
4. Trains and Boats and Planes
5. I'll Never Fall In Love Again
6. I'm A Better Man

SHM 767 - 1972

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

Beatles, Bach & Bacharach Go Bossa

You probably never realised that The Beatles, Bach and Bacharach wrote some marvellous Bossa Novas! Mind you, they didn't sound quite like Bossas when first performed, although some of them very nearly did. But all the titles we chose for this album were, potentially at least, great Bossa Novas.

Alan Moorhouse, who created these very special arrangements, and directed the hand-picked musicians who played them, described this set as "Happy Bossa". After all, he said, the Brazilians who started it all were happy, carefree people, and when they played their original Bossa rhythms, all they were thinking of was a good time!

Alan and I chose three Bach, Four Beatles and five Bacharach compositions. Two of the Bach pieces must be very well known to you already. Air On A G-String accompanied a very famous tobacco advert on T.V. Minuet in G has already had a taste of honey as a smash hit called "Lover's Concerto" by The Toys. Musette in D may be new to you at first hearing, but you'll be surprised how catchy it becomes.

The Four Beatles numbers (including George Harrison's Something) are already well known to you, but they sound really fresh and inviting in their smart new Brazilian style.

As for Bacharach, a great number of his compositions could actually have been written just for this album. We've chosen Trains & Boats & Planes, Do You Know The Way To San Jose, This Guy's In Love, I'll Never Fall In Love Again and I Say A Little Prayer.

Alan has presented these famous songs in a number of refreshing new ways-mixing flute, flugelhorn and a girl's voice to produce a beautifully mellow, haunting sound; tenor sax improvising gently around the main theme; electric harpsichord lending a new and unusual timbre rarely heard in this context; and of course a full, driving rhythm section that keeps your feet tapping.

So, if your party ever looks like sagging in the middle, switch on to The Beatles, Bach & Bacharach in Bossa beat-and give the party a swinging new lease of life!

Bill Wellings

Side One

Fool On The Hill (Lennon/McCartney)
Something (Harrison)
Air On A G-String (Bach arr. Moorhouse)
Trains and Boats and Planes (Bacharach/David)
Yesterday (Lennon McCartney)
Minuet In G (Bach arr. Moorhouse)

Side Two

Do You Know The Way To San Jose (Bacharach/David)
With A Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney)
This Guy's In Love (Bacharach/David)
I Say A Little Prayer (Bacharach/David)
I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Bacharach/David)
Musette In D (Bach arr. Moorhouse)

Photography Brian Tyler - Design Clare Osborn

MFP 5206 - 1971