Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83608 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-02-19
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, Compilation, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 108 minutes

Amazon.com
London's Royal Albert Hall provides an appropriately regal backdrop for this July 2000 concert tribute to Burt Bacharach and Hal David, "one of the greatest songwriting partnerships in the history of popular music," according to emcee Johnnie Walker. And how. A parade of international singing talent demonstrates the elegance and deceptive complexity of pop songs that haven't merely stood the test of time, they've grown in stature; mini epics describing emotional journeys through sophisticated lyrics and melodies. The showbiz legends provide the classiest moments: Petula Clark ("Close to You"), Sacha Distel ("Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"), and Elvis Costello ("I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"). Then Dionne Warwick effortlessly shows everyone how these songs are really done. With Bacharach himself at the piano, she slips into "Walk On By" and the years fall away. Hal David joins the final lineup for a sing-along "What the World Needs Now"--a magic moment for any true pop fan. --Piers Ford

Customer Reviews

Here's the proof: Bacharach songs are indestructible
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.

Burt Bacharach and Hal David.....absolutely great
Growing up in the 1970's, my parents practically raised me on soft pop music such as Burt Bacharach and Engelbert Humperdinck and the likes. It's no surprise that one can get attached to the wonderful music that was created by the team of Bacharach and David for the magic and melody that they've provided for millions over the years. Yes, its that good.

This tribute is a fine collection of their hits brought to the viewer in a great location at London's Royal Albert Hall. A befitting location for such a distinguished list of great performers which include but not limited to Dionne Warwick, Petula Clark, Elvis Costello, and Leo sayer.

There are 25 songs listed as being performed during this concert but actually, there are 30 total as some of the songs are sung but also performed instrumentally and it is just plain outstanding all the way around. As an owner of a home theater system, I was very pleased with the terrific sound of this music in Dolby 5.1 surround. No complaints anywhere. To be accurate in my review here, I also viewed the program in Dolby 2.0 for those who don't have a surround system and it sounds just great in that regard also.

If you're a fan of this genre of music and you enjoy long lived classics created by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and memorialized by the artisits here, you are in for a treat and won't be disappointed. The DVD price is right, the sound and video qualities are amazing, and the enjoyment potential is very high. It is indeed recommended to one and all.

A must for any Bacharach-David fan
Here is a concert filmed in beautiful Royal Albert Hall, with a superb orchestra and top-of-the-line sound system, featuring every major (and even a few lesser-known) Bacharach-David song. That being said, many of the performances are sub-standard, sung by little-known performers (outside the UK). Even the big-name stars such as Petula Clark and Dionne Warwicke, are quite frankly well past their primes, and their voices (particularly Petula's) are shamefully wobbly, tired and painful to listen to. This concert would have been a first-class event with an A-list roster of performers. Still, the setting, orchestrations and choice of songs makes it a must for any serious Bacharach-David fan.