This isn't the first instrumental treatment of Burt Bacharach's songs. There have been several, including an album of Moog synthesizer arrangments entitled (what else?) Switched On Bacharach. Nor is this the first tribute to Bacharach by various artists. But this IS, as far as I know, the first tribute to Bacharach by instrumental surf and garage bands. The idea of surf and garage bands paying homage to arch-hodad Burt Bacharach is, of course, crazy. MUCHO Loco. John Barry, okay, but Burt Bacharach? In the 1960s, when surf pioneer Dick Dale was down at the Southern California beach blasting out raucous dance music for Gidget and Moondoggie, Burt Bacharach (ten years Dale's senior) was up in Hollywood writing sophisticated pop tunes for their parents.
My , how times have changed.
When surf music made a comeback in the 1990s, Bacharach was collaborating with Elvis Costello. Still, nobody can deny the catchiness of Bacharach's melodies. And it's not crazy, but actually a clever idea, to remove those melodies from Hal David's cloying lyrics (you know, like: "Pussycat, pussycat, I love you. Yes I do" or: "LA is a great big freeway. Put a hundred down and buy a car"). Hey, you know, without Tom Jones or Dionne Warwick singing, those songs are actually kinda cool! The rough vocals and surf/garage attitude give some of them a whole new meaning for the 07's. That is new, pussycat!
You might think that Bacharach's quirky melodies would be a challenge for the bands participating here. Surf and garage music aren't known for their exact mastery of syncopation. The standard surf beat is a straight 'double on the two, single on the four'. Bacharach, on the other hand, is all about odd syncopation. And yet, listen for yourself: almost everybody pulls it off, and some even do so brilliantly. Burt to shag to.
1 24 Hours From Tulsa – Apeman
2. The Blob – Aqualads
3. Trains & Boats & Planes – Baronics
4. Casino Royale Theme - Big Ray & Futuras
5. Baby It's You - Bradipos Four
6. God Give Me Strenght – Chubbies
7. The Look of Love - Cosmonauti
8. Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head – Deadbolt
9. The Windows of the World - Fabulous Planktones
10. Italian Fuzz - Fifty Foot Combo
11. Baby It's You - Hi-Fi Ramblers
12. Walk On By - Mill Valley Taters
13. Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head - Mummy The Peepshow
14. This Guy's in Love With You - Noseriders
15. Baby It's You - Petty Booka
16. I Say a Little Prayer - Pollo Del Mar
17. Do You Know the Way to San José - Seks Bomba
18. Close to You - Squid Vicious
19. Bond Street - Surfones
20. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - Susan & Surftones
21. What's New Pussycat? - Tiki Tones
22. Anyone Who Had a Heart - Richie Venus
23. (there's) Always Something to Remind Me - Voodoo Court
24. Downhill & Shady – Waistcoats25. Trains & Boats & Planes - Wrong Corpses
partytime
1 comment:
Thanks!
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