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| While surfing the movie channels one night, I came
across THE saddest song I had ever heard.
And before I could remark, "My god that's a heart wrenching song!", I heard
this incredibly sweet melody weaving it's way throughout all of this sadness.
I am neither fond of sickly sad or syrupy sweet love songs, but I just
couldn't balk at or ignore this song. Unfortunately, the ending
credits of the movie was scrolling down the screen and the only name I
recognized was Larry Klein (I happen to be a Joni Mitchell fan).
The voice and the melodic sweetness were familiar, but I couldn't identify
them.
A few months later, once again I sat in front of the tube (I rarely engage in this mindless activity) and started watching the end of a movie entitled "Grace of My Heart". Perhaps it was John Tuturro lecturing this woman about the bad relationship choices she had made that kept my interest in this nostalgic look at the music business... until the closing credits. THEN that haunting tune started playing again. Bacharach and Costello... YES! I immediately ran to my computer to find the name of the album only to learn that it wouldn't be released for a couple of months. I have always admired both of these talented artists, but you wouldn't actually call me a fan. Yet, on September 29, 1998 I was at Tower picking up my copy of their album, "Painted From Memory". The album is excellent, and after playing THAT tune, "God Give Me Strength", a hundred times or more, I eventually listened to the other songs. This is not an album that I can listen to in one sitting
without the desire to feel incredibly sad... :) The lyrics are painfully
interpreted by Costello's voice as Bacharach melodically embraces the sadness
with sweet innuendo. It has taken me five months to get through it
completely without sinking into a permanent state of melancholy...
:) Yet, it is an exquisite collaboration of two extremely talented
artists. So, without further rambling by me...
BURT BACHARACH
and
ELVIS
COSTELLO
As usual, I have included a few of my personal favorites
from this album, so enjoy!
"With six marriages between them, Bacharach and Costello summon their memories of the heart's coma, the night that feels endless. " by Rob Tannenbaum - The Villiage Voice
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