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martle
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« on: 22:02:38, 03-07-2008 » |
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Maybe worthwhile, thought I, starting a thread on great pop/light music composer/lyricist teams. This is a spin-off from the awesome SNOB thread. For my money, Burt Bacharach and Hal David are one of the most accomplished composer/lyricist duos of the 20th century. It's remarkable indeed to find a match that rivals, IMO, Rogers and Hammerstein, Lennon & McCartney, or even the Gershwins. But I think they do. Richard B drew attention to BB's skill as an arranger/ instrumentator of his own music, quite rightly since the 'feel' of these songs is so dependent on their instrumental colouring. Witness: BB's use of the flugel horn in 'The Look of Love', and 'Walk on By', for instance. And David's lyrics just beg for the rhythmically intricate treatment BB seems always able to come up with. Any thoughts? This is just a starter. And do note how non-snobbish it is!  |
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« Last Edit: 22:11:34, 03-07-2008 by martle »
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Green. Always green.
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BobbyZ
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« Reply #1 on: 22:29:47, 03-07-2008 » |
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Holland - Dozier - Holland ? Ranging from fairly straight ahead gospel / r 'n' b such as Can I Get A Witness, through perfect simple three minute pop such as Where Did Our Love Go ? and onto more elaborate full blown productions like Reach Out I'll Be There and Bernadette. And soaring melodic hooks like Baby I Need Your Loving. Not just the same old song.
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Dreams, schemes and themes
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Stanley Stewart
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« Reply #2 on: 22:34:04, 03-07-2008 » |
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I certainly favour the partnership of Richard Rodgers & Larry Hart; or Oscar Hammerstein & Jerome Kern. Betty Comden & Adolph Green also enjoyed an endurable partnership; George & Ira Gershwin's output was tragically cut short. Stephen Sondheim has had memorable associations with Bernstein, George Furth & James Lapine. Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby were also tuneful wordsmiths. Just a few instant responses before I deliberate further.
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Antheil
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« Reply #3 on: 22:40:33, 03-07-2008 » |
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Oh, Please, Peas Sir, can we include Morrissey/Johnny Marr? No? Oh Well ............... How about Pet Shop Boys? No? Justin Hayward and The Blue Jays? Phil Spector? Surely Zappa has to be there. Call any vegetable and it will respond to you, even beetroot it seems are attentive to the touchy-feeley call, witness my last salad. I'll get me non-snob coat before I get a severe spanking Who is Bert Bacharach? Obviously Welsh, therefore thoroghly talented and we like him. Oh. we see Motown is involved - now you're talking |
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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martle
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« Reply #4 on: 22:41:33, 03-07-2008 » |
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Case in point: check out BB/HD's 'stretching' of the second line of this classic from 4 beats to 6. You almost don't notice it's happening, yet it creates a perfect extended upbeat to the hook line 'I say a little prayer for you...' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLffN6G-F8g |
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Green. Always green.
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burning dog
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« Reply #5 on: 22:48:45, 03-07-2008 » |
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Zappa's more suited to the jazz thread in a way despite what he said about it smelling funny
Say a little Prayer wonderful ...mixed race collaboration with no fuss about it.
I much prefer rodgers and hart to rodgers and Hammerstien but for the music as much as the words oddly enough. went a bit soppy did he? Tunes ideal for modern jazz but not used much? Hello young lovers up the tempo a bit.
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burning dog
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« Reply #6 on: 22:56:18, 03-07-2008 » |
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Case in point: check out BB/HD's 'stretching' of the second line of this classic from 4 beats to 6. You almost don't notice it's happening, yet it creates a perfect extended upbeat to the hook line 'I say a little prayer for you...' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLffN6G-F8gmartle hard to credit but though that clip is on totp 2 it was originally from the Cliff Richard show I'm pretty sure. |
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BobbyZ
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« Reply #7 on: 23:05:53, 03-07-2008 » |
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Goffin and King. Not that sophisticated lyrically until some later songs like Goin' Back but killer hooks.
Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook.
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Dreams, schemes and themes
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ahh
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« Reply #9 on: 23:20:05, 03-07-2008 » |
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Bacharach and David - I'm with you Martle.
It's in the bittersweet contrast, Bacharach's sunny Californian optimism and David's acidic 'windows of the world, ... covered with rain' pessimism. Gets me every time. I'd be interested to hear RB's thoughts on the arrangements which certainly show a sophistication and indeed an ability to handle large numbers of instruments (and not all playing the same notes as often happens when a producer throws an orchestra at a pop tune).
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insert favoured witticism here
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ahinton
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« Reply #10 on: 23:32:21, 03-07-2008 » |
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Who is Bert Bacharach? Obviously Welsh,
It'll only be a matter of time before you get a suitably barbed and, frankly, well-deserved ripost from Lord Barrett of Abertawe for that one (and it won't be for your mis-spelling of BB's forename, either); I might remind you, while on the subject, that Do You Know the Way to Swan-er-Sea was not the title of one of BB's songs... |
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George Garnett
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« Reply #11 on: 07:20:48, 04-07-2008 » |
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This is just a starter. And do note how non-snobbish it is! Hah! A blatant attempt at reverse snobbery. You're not getting away with that, marters. (Um,  , for the avoidance of doubt.) I'll happily line up with the Bacharach/David enthusiasts. I hope we can also find a quiet corner in the hall of fame somewhere for Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, another songwriting duo who played a big part in my growing up and whose songs have stuck around to be returned to with affection ever since. |
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #12 on: 08:08:32, 04-07-2008 » |
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Any opinions on the Bacharach/Costello collaboration "Painted From Memory"? EC at his most depressing...
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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ahh
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« Reply #13 on: 01:02:30, 05-07-2008 » |
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Any opinions on the Bacharach/Costello collaboration "Painted From Memory"? EC at his most depressing...
Reiner, all I can say is that I liked it a great deal when released and listened to little else for a month or two back then. But I havn't listened since. I'm moved to, since this thread, should I bother? Has anyone seen Bacharach perform? Half the gig is raconteur anecdote of life in CalifornIA, and marvelous it is too! I was charmed by the insanity/unreality of it. |
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insert favoured witticism here
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time_is_now
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« Reply #14 on: 15:29:42, 08-07-2008 » |
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Any opinions on the Bacharach/Costello collaboration "Painted From Memory"? EC at his most depressing...
I'm afraid that was the point I decided to give up on EC for good. (I speak as one of his biggest fans for the stuff up to around 1990 at least.) Then I made the mistake of giving him another chance and buying North. I recommend staying well clear. |
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The city is a process which always veers away from the form envisaged and desired, ... whose revenge upon its architects and planners undoes every dream of mastery. It is [also] one of the sites where Dasein is assigned the impossible task of putting right what can never be put right. - Rob Lapsley
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