COVER vs ORIGINAL SPECIAL: Burt Bacharach

“(They Long To Be) Close To You”

“(They Long To Be) Close To You” was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David (1921-2012) in 1963 and originally recorded by American actor Richard Chamberlain, although this was not a hit. The best known version comes from The Carpenters, who were offered the song for their 1970 album “Close To You”. The track was released as the lead single in May and went to No.1 in America, Australia and Canada and No.6 in the UK. Singer Gwen Guthrie took her version to No.25 in the UK and No.69 in the US in 1986.

“Anyone Who Had A Heart”

“Anyone Who Had A Heart” was written by Bacharach and David in 1963 and was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick for her album of the same name. Released in November, the song peaked at No.8 in America, No.11 in Australia and No.42 in the UK. British actress, singer and later television presenter Cilla Black (1943-2015) recorded her version soon after and it was released in January 1964, topping the UK chart on this occasion and selling nearly a million copies. The song was also recorded by Petula Clark and Dusty Springfield, although these were not released as singles.

“Walk On By”

“(There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me”

“I Say A Little Prayer”

“I Say A Little Prayer” was written by Bacharach and David in 1967 and was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick for her album “The Windows Of The World”. It was released as a single in October that year and reached No.4 in America and in Canada. Aretha Franklin recorded and released her version in July 1968 which became a much bigger international hit for the song. Aretha’s “I Say A Little Prayer” peaked at No.10 in The States, No.4 in the UK and was a top ten hit in over a dozen other territories around the world.

“I’ll Never Fall In Love Again”

“I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” was written by Bacharach and David in 1969 and once again it was first recorded by Dionne Warwick. Released in December, the song got to No.6 on the US singles chart. A more successful version was recorded by fellow American singer Bobbie Gentry (b.1942), who released her version at the same time as Warwick, and took it to No.1 in the UK and made it a top ten hit internationally. In 1990, Scottish band Deacon Blue recorded the song for their “Four Bacharach And David” EP and took the lot to No.2 in the UK.

“That’s What Friends Are For”

“That’s What Friends Are For” was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer-Sager and recorded by Rod Stewart in 1982 for the soundtrack to the film ‘Night Shift’. Although not released as a single on its own, the album proved highly successful. In 1985, Dionne Warwick recorded her version with ‘friends’ Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Their version topped the chart in America – where it sold over a million copies – Australia and Canada and peaked at No.16 in the UK.