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Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach - Painted from Memory Audio CD

A fair review of the Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach "Painted from Memory" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach reviews here, or go back to the Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach tabs.

Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach Band: Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
Title: Painted from Memory
Rating:
Release Date: 1998-09-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: In the Darkest Place - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello 2: Toledo - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello 3: I Still Have That Other Girl - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello 4: This House Is Empty Now - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello 5: Tears at the Birthday Party - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello 6: Such Unlikely Lovers - Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello 7: My Thief - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello 8: Long Division - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello 9: Painted from Memory - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello 10: Sweetest Punch - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello 11: What's Her Name Today? - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello 12: God Give Me Strength - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello

Absolutely Amazing!
Astounding and Timeless! Thank you Elvis and Burt!. I was soooo ecstatic to finally get this Masterpiece in my hands and into my home entertainment system.


I 'dunno. I just don't know what to...
Burt Bacharach has written some incredible stuff over the years--some incredible radio music that I recall from when I was a kid. At the outset:

I admire Elvis Costello tremendously. I even recall that full-page ad that appeared in Billboard to promote his first solo release, "Nicky". (?) The tagline for the ad was something like, "Burt Loves Nicky" scrawled inside a lover's Valentine heart in chalk. (I guess it was the tearing point of his working relationship w/Hal David. )

When I first heard of this collaboration, it sounded like a dream.

I was. . . somewhat disappointed when I heard the results. Nevertheless, I own "Painted from Memory" on vinyl, on cassette, and on CD. When I told this to a close friend of mine, he asked me: Why?

My answer? 'Cause I kept expecting/wanting the thing to be good! (And, because formats changed: vinyl bit the dust; I then drove a car that still had a cassette player; then I bought a car w/a CD player. These days, I do most of my listening in my car. These days. . . )

By the by, Nico's recording of "These Days" on her Chelsea Girl album is far & away the best version of it. (imho)

In all fairness, I haven't listened to Painted from Memory in quite some time. I really have to listen to again--with "fresh" ears.


Astonishing
Elvis Costello was a fresh burst when I was in college and we were saddled with disco and arena rock. I grew up listening to, but not particularly enamored of, Burt Bacharach's music. I approached this unlikely pairing with a more mature appreciation of the Bacharach classics and style, and a mixed appreciation for some of Costello's musical experiments. Well, this one is a soaring success, even as it is one of the most melancholy albums I know. Elvis has penned a set of heartbreaking songs of love and loss and betrayal and regret, and Bacharach has put them onto wings. I had this album for over a year and oddly, it did not strike me on first listening. I cannot imagine why. The songs are wrenching beauty, and I think I have never heard better production values. If you appreciate what George Martin did for the Beatles, what Brian Wilson did for the Beach Boys, what Richard Carpenter did for his sister, you will love what Bacharach does for Elvis's tunes. I find both men at the peak of their creative genius here.


An Inspired Collaboration


Well, a strange thing happened on the way to that opposites don't attract scenario - Bacharach and Costello made a remarkable record that after a decade of repeated listening has only become more vibrant and powerful. With a reputation so rooted in the nicotine-infused lounge lizardry of Hal David, Dionne Warwick and the zero consequence hedonism of Southern California affluence - the prospect of a Burt Bacharach tag-team with the much rougher and far more tumbled Elvis Costello would have seemed to be an Irwin Allen disaster in waiting - a wildly ironic vanity project with all the nervous energy and awkward body language of an arranged marriage. The vastly different approach of both artists makes little difference - whether it is the caramelized melodies of Mr. Bacharach or the sly, vindictiveness of Costello's wordplay their view of relationships has always been essentially the same - love is a brutal enterprise and a harsh taskmaster.

Painted From Memory is sex music for couples with issues - serene and beautiful with innuendo and invective bubbling just beneath the surface. All of the compositions are masterful with "Toledo", "My Thief" and "What's Her Name Today?" particularly haunting. Painted From Memory is a permanent resident on my very short list of Desert Island Discs.
.


Wonderful
Burt Bacharach's formula for beautiful music makes him a timeless producer along with Mr. I was unaware of this collaboration however once I stumbed upon it I became intriqued. Costello's writing makes this CD more enjoyable with each listen. .


You can see a complete list of all Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach discography, or go back to the Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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