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While the collaboration between soul singer supreme Ron Isley and composer and arranger Burt Bacharach does not have the adventurous scope of Bacharach's collaboration with Elvis Costello -- in that the tunes featured here are mostly Bacharach classics -- it is every bit as satisfying. At 62, Isley's voice is sweeter and more resonant than ever. Bacharach's new charts for these songs take into consideration the singer of "Harvest for the World," "Fight the Power," and "For the Love of You." Inside these towering, lush harmonic architectures shimmers Isley's golden throat, adding just that sultry hint of deep soul to the proceedings. It might be difficult to picture Isley fronting a full studio orchestra for "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," but his version of the tune is an altogether different animal than the B.J. Thomas version. The chart is a smoky, Jimmy Scott-styled jazz chart and Isley makes it the last song in the world. Likewise, "The Look of Love" is slightly more uptempo and the horns are warmer, more up front than on the original. The long instrumental interlude is followed by a sweet moan from the singer who falls into the faux bossa tune as if it's three in the morning. On "This Guy's in Love With You," the pleading at the heart of Isley's vocal takes the listener into a brand new context. The humble, dry delivery of Herb Alpert has been washed away by Bacharach's pianism and a stuttered backbeat that allows the singer to float above the arrangement. "Count on Me," co-written with Tonio K., is the lilting vehicle for Isley in that it contains space for his gospel voice to open just enough to color the cut with altruism. But it's the album opener that's worth its weight in gold; "Alfie," no matter who has sung it, has always been a deeply moving and evocative song. Between Isley and Bacharach, it leaves the realm of nostalgia and becomes its own aching confessional of disillusionment and heartbreak. The spare electric guitar that introduces the theme and the hushed strings behind the singer's voice underscore the conviction. When Isley moves up in his register, he does so all at once. There is no slide; there's just pure conviction in the grain of his sublime voice. This is a winner, a beautiful effort that combines the give and take of the pop song with the emotion of great American soul singing.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Harvey Mason, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gayle Levant, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Luening, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Yao, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Duke, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Harvey Mason, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Yao, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Duke, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Harvey Mason, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gayle Levant, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Luening, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Yao, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Duke, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - JS, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Harvey Mason, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gayle Levant, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Luening, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Composer, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Hal David, Author - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Yao, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Duke, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Harvey Mason, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gayle Levant, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Luening, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Yao, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Duke, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Luening, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Composer, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Hal David, Author - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brian O'Connor, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Higgins, Saxophone, Woodwinds, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Yao, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - STEVEN KRIKORIAN, ComposerLyricist - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Robinson, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Jim Cox, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ted Perlman, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Luening, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Jim Cox, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Higgins, Saxophone, Woodwinds, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Shrock, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Crigger, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - David Coy, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Gayle Levant, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - John Foreman, Arranger, Work Arranger - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Josie James, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Higgins, Saxophone, Woodwinds, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Shrock, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Crigger, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Donna Taylor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - David Coy, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Steve Krikorian, ComposerLyricist - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ted Perlman, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gayle Levant, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Luening, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Jim Cox, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brian O'Connor, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Higgins, Saxophone, Woodwinds, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Yao, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Dean Parks, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gayle Levant, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Luening, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Sweeney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, Conductor, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Isley, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Jim Cox, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Sides, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Genewick, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gary Grant, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Greco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brian O'Connor, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Higgins, Saxophone, Woodwinds, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Yao, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - David Chase, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
Album review
While the collaboration between soul singer supreme Ron Isley and composer and arranger Burt Bacharach does not have the adventurous scope of Bacharach's collaboration with Elvis Costello -- in that the tunes featured here are mostly Bacharach classics -- it is every bit as satisfying. At 62, Isley's voice is sweeter and more resonant than ever. Bacharach's new charts for these songs take into consideration the singer of "Harvest for the World," "Fight the Power," and "For the Love of You." Inside these towering, lush harmonic architectures shimmers Isley's golden throat, adding just that sultry hint of deep soul to the proceedings. It might be difficult to picture Isley fronting a full studio orchestra for "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," but his version of the tune is an altogether different animal than the B.J. Thomas version. The chart is a smoky, Jimmy Scott-styled jazz chart and Isley makes it the last song in the world. Likewise, "The Look of Love" is slightly more uptempo and the horns are warmer, more up front than on the original. The long instrumental interlude is followed by a sweet moan from the singer who falls into the faux bossa tune as if it's three in the morning. On "This Guy's in Love With You," the pleading at the heart of Isley's vocal takes the listener into a brand new context. The humble, dry delivery of Herb Alpert has been washed away by Bacharach's pianism and a stuttered backbeat that allows the singer to float above the arrangement. "Count on Me," co-written with Tonio K., is the lilting vehicle for Isley in that it contains space for his gospel voice to open just enough to color the cut with altruism. But it's the album opener that's worth its weight in gold; "Alfie," no matter who has sung it, has always been a deeply moving and evocative song. Between Isley and Bacharach, it leaves the realm of nostalgia and becomes its own aching confessional of disillusionment and heartbreak. The spare electric guitar that introduces the theme and the hushed strings behind the singer's voice underscore the conviction. When Isley moves up in his register, he does so all at once. There is no slide; there's just pure conviction in the grain of his sublime voice. This is a winner, a beautiful effort that combines the give and take of the pop song with the emotion of great American soul singing.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:57:43
- Main artists: Ronald Isley Burt Bacharach
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: DreamWorks Urban
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2003 SKG Music L.L.C. ℗ 2003 SKG Music L.L.C.
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