An AW associate has just pointed this out yo me – a rare glimpse of pre-Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, in a TV session man role for mellow songwriter and camp conductor Burt Bacharach in 1965. 20 seconds at the start…
John McLaughlin (no fusion solo required) in 1965
No shade on McLaughlin, of course, but that was the most unusually bloodless and dull performance/arrangement of a Bacharach song I’ve ever heard. Probably because the vocals are so unspectacular – strong singers are often what lifts his hits above similar music of the time (and better arrangements than this one).
Burt B had/has a remarkable gift for creating music that is both bland and instantly memorable at the same time – like a marshmallow carved into unusual topiary. John McL met him again at Miles Davis’ house 20+ years later and mentioned that he’d played on this album for Burt in London – obviously, Burt didn’t remember him. Which I suppose at least provides a sort of negative proof that at no point did John, at that session, say, ‘Look, Mr Bacharach, this is all great but maybe just a bit *too* bland. I have this idea for a screaming fusion solo in 9/8 just after the muted trombones. Here, let me show you – it goes like this…’
Burt Bacharach is a genius of popular music. Look Of Love, This Guy’s In Love With You, Walk On By, Say A Little Prayer For You, enough said. John McLaughlin? Tedious guitar wank.
Burt B had/has a remarkable gift for creating music that is both bland and instantly memorable at the same time – like a marshmallow carved into unusual topiary.
Burt Bacharach is a genius of popular music.
You are of course both correct. Like any artist, he’s capable of both, and had good days and bad ones.
Same for McLaughlin – musical genius at times, tedious guitar wank at other times… 🙂
Occasionally cheesy productions from Burt to be fair. 😉
Perhaps you misunderstood me, Diddley – I think Burt B is terrific, some amazingly beautiful songs… but also strangely wispy and sugary and floaty. at the same time. Clouds in one’s coffee. Musically complex yet seeming constructed out of gossamer. He’s a one-off. John McL is also a one-off, who has had (in my view) some moments of musical magic (almost all in the early 70s) on a par with the Burtmeister.
Mahavishnu first two albums absolutely superb and a couple of John McLaughlin albums also very good. Burt Bacharach has written some absolute classics and Painted from Memory with Costello contains two absolute belters.
Perhaps their genres just dont work together.
It’s a shame it’s Costello singing them, in that awful testicles-stuck-in-the-mangle voice he’s used since The Juliet Letters.
Not having that Moosey baby. Toledo,This house is empty now and I still have that other girl are all sung excellently.
Funnily enough the song that was used to promote the album God give me strength really grates on me and my least favourite song on the album.
That’s the one I was thinking of, to be fair.
I will always love old Elv’, though he hasn’t made any music I actually like since All This Useless Beauty (very underrated in me ‘umble)
BB has written a handful of brilliant songs but beyond that lie dull fare.
I think it’s an odd song – I can never quite fathom out the rhythm of it. It’s like everyone is playing on the off-beat. Listen to the snare on that recording – what beat is he coming in on?
Bacharach and McLaughlin – a marriage forged in the deepest Mines of Mordor. A place so dark and dismal no light has ever shined. Eric and Ernie in pyjamas
Am confused Lodey. Are you not a fan of Eric and Ernie?
How very dare you!
I watched The Two Ronnies then Morecambe and Wise yesterday. TTR had the odd laugh. MaW not once. Perhaps funnier as a vague memory.
Each to their own of course @twang but I did find Eric Morecambe naturally funny.
Oh I agree, I just didn’t find the mugging with Des O’Connor and Andre Previn, which went on and on, very amusing.
Initially seduced by Painted from Memory then Declan’s vibrato did my head on to the point that that was all I could hear.
McLaughlin I love. Even his wigouts are tasteful. OOAA.
Burt Bacharach is like a Schrodinger artist – managing the unique feat of being very cool and very square at the same time – rather like Johnny Mac rocking his little shortie haircut in the hirsute seventies.
What a peculiar set, in that clip. Health & Safety manager’s day off, presumably.
Were they all lifted up up onto those shelves by forklift?
If that bloke dropped his double bass on your head, you’d know it.