A Tribute to Burt Bacharach & Hal David (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)I guess I could give this DVD five stars, as other reviewers have done, simply because I am a huge Burt Bacharach fan. But that would do you, the possible buyer of this DVD, a disservice.
This is a truly odd concert, and part of it has to do with the fact that it features mainly British talent. I think just about the only singers American audiences will be familiar with are Dionne Warwick, Petula Clark, Elvis Costello and Leo Sayer(!). The others are of varying renown, generally solely within Britain (and sometimes for good reason).
Some of the younger singers give hope to karaoke singers everywhere. Two, in particular, seem to be doing their best to imitate Christina Aguilera. And some of the male singers display pop singing mannerisms that wouldn't have made the final cut on "American Idol." Britain has to have better singers than this!
Yet, there are some very worthwhile moments. Dionne Warwick certainly provides one of them. I love her 1960s recordings -- even of (or especially of) obscure Bacharach and David songs. But when I saw her perform in the mid-1980s, it was a tremendous disappointment. Her voice seemed shot, and she gave the impression she held the audience in disdain. I either caught her on a bad night or she has mellowed over time, because here, about 15 years later, she gives her all. Sure, the voice is a bit raspy at times, but she puts the songs over and stamps them once again with her definitive style.
To a lesser degree, Petula Clark does the same. Her voice is more problematic -- some notes sound fine, others most certainly do not. But she succeeds thanks to the confidence and affection, earned over decades, that the audience gives her.
Elvis Costello is . . . Elvis Costello. Either you love him or hate him. Some of the other, lesser known singers are worth hearing. Linda Lewis, in particular, has great fun showing off her wide range in "The Look of Love." And Teish O'Day's intense sincerity is very touching in the rarer "I Just Have to Breathe."
So, all in all, there's enough here to enjoy -- although it only adds up to about a third of the DVD. Yet, because there's a sense of occasion -- both Bacharach and David are on hand -- and because the DVD is so inexpensive, I'm giving this three stars.

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Pop music wouldn't be the same without one of the world's best-loved songwriting teams--Burt Bacharach and Hal David. With Bacharach's passionate melodies and David's heartfelt lyrics, they gave us hit after hit, including "Close to You," "What the World Needs Now Is Love," "Alfie," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and many, many others. Performing 25 of the pair's truly timeless classics, a stunning galaxy of internationally renowned performers paid tribute to the pair in grand style at London's Royal Albert Hall. From Dionne Warwick singing the hits she helped make so popular to Elvis Costello teaming with Bacharach on the piano to Bacharach and David in a rare appearance together on stage, this was a magical night to remember. Songs: Wives and Lovers (Kenny Lynch), One Less Bell to Answer (Lucie Silvas), Don't Make Me Over (Lynden David Hall), Reach Out For Me (Brian Kennedy), Do You Know the Way to San Jose (Yazz), You'll Never Get to Heaven (Shola Ama), Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head (Sacha Distel), This Guy's in Love With You (Paul Carrack), A House Is Not a Home, Wishin' and Hopin', Close to You (Petula Clark), (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me (Leo Sayer), Alfie (Sumudu Jayatilaka), I'll Never Fall in Love Again (Brian Kennedy), What's New Pussycat?, Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa (Brian Conley), I Just Have to Breathe (Teish O'Day), Make It Easy on Yourself (Edwin Starr), The Look of Love (Linda Lewis), I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself (Elvis Costello), Walk On By, I Say a Little Prayer For You, Do You Know the Way to San Jose, Anyone Who Had a Heart (Dionne Warwick), What the World Needs Now is Love (Ensemble). 108 minutes.

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