Burt Bacharach: A Life in Song

Enjoyed seeing and hearing this on Channel 4 especially the backing singers - the musicians, as usual, went uncredited! The only name I could find was Josie James where she was listed on this site. Under the BBC credits at the end and on this website's credit list everyone bar the cleaner seems to be there but NOT the backing singers (who put some of the so-called 'star' soloists to shame) and there were also some superb orchestral solos that deserved credit. Good content and well worth viewing but would have preferred to have listened to the three backing singers as they were very accomplished and polished solo performers of Burt's music. There was big build up for Close to You - 'Karen Carpenter's voice can never be equalled' - it certainly wasn't!

As well as hanging upon every word and composer's insight from maestro Bacharach himself, each and every song is a delight to the ears.

I found the not-so-well-known songs, some of which I hadn't heard before, every bit as enjoyable as his many chart-topping hits. Being in Australia I was unfamiliar with all of the singers, and liked their interpretations.

I loved hearing Hal David's lyrics all over again, and admire their content as well as the way that words and music blend so well, in both slow-tempo and fast-tempo songs.

The BBC concert production was excellent, as always. For me the only jarring note was that the host at times came across as rather loud and a bit overpowering (compared with the softly-spoken maestro).