Post by Rob Durkee on Sept 2, 2012 0:23:35 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
LOS ANGELES (RTDP) -- Hal David, who was best known as half of the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach-Hal David, died Saturday (September 1, 2012) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. According to the Associated Press and Dennis McLellan of the Los Angeles Times, David died from complications of a stroke. He was 91.
The Bacharach-David song writing team cranked out at least 50 Top 40 hits in roughly a 16-year period from 1957-1973. They met at the legendary Brill Building where songwriters would meet and attempt to come up with hit songs.
The duo began with writing hits for Marty Robbins ("The Story Of My Life") and Perry Como ("Magic Moments"). They would write at least 20 hits alone for Dionne Warwick. Among Warwick's many hits written by Bacharach-David were "Do You Know The Way To San Jose," "Anyone Who Had A Heart," "Promises Promises" and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again."
It's almost impossible to pinpoint the biggest and best Bacharach-David song, but a strong case can be made for "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by B.J. Thomas. The song, introduced in the movie "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid," won the Oscar for top movie song.
The songs written by Bacharach-David were so successful that many of them would be hits for at least two acts. "Baby It's You" was first a hit for the Shirelles in 1962, was remade by the Beatles and then was a hit again in 1969 for the rock group Smith. "What The World Needs Now Is Love" was first a hit for Jackie DeShannon, then for DJ Tom Clay in a medley with "Abraham, Martin And John."
In many cases, a hit for Warwick written by the Bacharach-David team would be a hit at the same time or later for someone else, too. For instance, "Make It Easy On Yourself" was a hit for Warwick, the Walker Brothers and Jerry Butler. "Always Something There To Remind Me" was a hit for Warwick, Naked Eyes and R.B. Greaves among others. "I Say A Little Prayer" was first a hit for Warwick, then a remake hit for Aretha Franklin. "Walk On By" was first a hit for Warwick, then a remake hit for Isaac Hayes. "Don't Make Me Over" was a hit for Warwick, then a remake hit over 25 years later for Sybil in 1989.
Reversing the trend, "This Guy's In Love With You" was first a #1 hit in the summer of 1968 for Herb Alpert, while Warwick remade the song as "This Girl's In Love With You."
Among the Bacharach-David movie songs were "The Look Of Love" (from "Casino Royale" and a hit for Dusty Springfield and Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66); "Casino Royale" (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass); "Alfie" (Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Cher); "What's New girl thingycat?" (Tom Jones); "Wives And Lovers" (Jack Jones); and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (Gene Pitney). Pitney's hits courtesy of the songwriting team also included "Only Love Can Break A Heart," "True Love Never Runs Smooth" and "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa."
Among the many other acts the Bacharach-David team wrote hits for were the 5th Dimension ("One Less Bell To Answer"), Bobby Vinton ("Blue On Blue"), the Carpenters ("Close To You"), Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond.
In spite of all the hit success for the songwriting team, they sued each other. Plus Warwick once sued both of them, too. All the lawsuits were settled out of court by 1979 and the three reconciled by 1992.
Just last May, Bacharach and David were honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during an honorary White House concert attended by President Barack Obama. Sadly, David wasn't able to attend as he was recovering from a stroke.
David explained the secret to his success in 1999 interview. He said, "Try and tell a narrative. The songs should be like a little film, told in three or four minutes. Try to say things as simply as possible, which is probably the most difficult thing to do."
David was a former President of ASCAP plus was a long-time member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Paul Williams, the current ASCAP President said, "As a lyric writer, Hal was simple, concise and poetic…conveying volumes of meaning in the fewest possible words and always in service to the music. It's no wonder that so man of his lyrics have come part of our everyday vocabulary and his songs…the backdrop of our lives."
LOS ANGELES (RTDP) -- Hal David, who was best known as half of the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach-Hal David, died Saturday (September 1, 2012) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. According to the Associated Press and Dennis McLellan of the Los Angeles Times, David died from complications of a stroke. He was 91.
The Bacharach-David song writing team cranked out at least 50 Top 40 hits in roughly a 16-year period from 1957-1973. They met at the legendary Brill Building where songwriters would meet and attempt to come up with hit songs.
The duo began with writing hits for Marty Robbins ("The Story Of My Life") and Perry Como ("Magic Moments"). They would write at least 20 hits alone for Dionne Warwick. Among Warwick's many hits written by Bacharach-David were "Do You Know The Way To San Jose," "Anyone Who Had A Heart," "Promises Promises" and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again."
It's almost impossible to pinpoint the biggest and best Bacharach-David song, but a strong case can be made for "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by B.J. Thomas. The song, introduced in the movie "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid," won the Oscar for top movie song.
The songs written by Bacharach-David were so successful that many of them would be hits for at least two acts. "Baby It's You" was first a hit for the Shirelles in 1962, was remade by the Beatles and then was a hit again in 1969 for the rock group Smith. "What The World Needs Now Is Love" was first a hit for Jackie DeShannon, then for DJ Tom Clay in a medley with "Abraham, Martin And John."
In many cases, a hit for Warwick written by the Bacharach-David team would be a hit at the same time or later for someone else, too. For instance, "Make It Easy On Yourself" was a hit for Warwick, the Walker Brothers and Jerry Butler. "Always Something There To Remind Me" was a hit for Warwick, Naked Eyes and R.B. Greaves among others. "I Say A Little Prayer" was first a hit for Warwick, then a remake hit for Aretha Franklin. "Walk On By" was first a hit for Warwick, then a remake hit for Isaac Hayes. "Don't Make Me Over" was a hit for Warwick, then a remake hit over 25 years later for Sybil in 1989.
Reversing the trend, "This Guy's In Love With You" was first a #1 hit in the summer of 1968 for Herb Alpert, while Warwick remade the song as "This Girl's In Love With You."
Among the Bacharach-David movie songs were "The Look Of Love" (from "Casino Royale" and a hit for Dusty Springfield and Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66); "Casino Royale" (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass); "Alfie" (Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Cher); "What's New girl thingycat?" (Tom Jones); "Wives And Lovers" (Jack Jones); and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (Gene Pitney). Pitney's hits courtesy of the songwriting team also included "Only Love Can Break A Heart," "True Love Never Runs Smooth" and "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa."
Among the many other acts the Bacharach-David team wrote hits for were the 5th Dimension ("One Less Bell To Answer"), Bobby Vinton ("Blue On Blue"), the Carpenters ("Close To You"), Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond.
In spite of all the hit success for the songwriting team, they sued each other. Plus Warwick once sued both of them, too. All the lawsuits were settled out of court by 1979 and the three reconciled by 1992.
Just last May, Bacharach and David were honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during an honorary White House concert attended by President Barack Obama. Sadly, David wasn't able to attend as he was recovering from a stroke.
David explained the secret to his success in 1999 interview. He said, "Try and tell a narrative. The songs should be like a little film, told in three or four minutes. Try to say things as simply as possible, which is probably the most difficult thing to do."
David was a former President of ASCAP plus was a long-time member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Paul Williams, the current ASCAP President said, "As a lyric writer, Hal was simple, concise and poetic…conveying volumes of meaning in the fewest possible words and always in service to the music. It's no wonder that so man of his lyrics have come part of our everyday vocabulary and his songs…the backdrop of our lives."
