Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Anyone Who Had a Heart by Burt Bacharach - Available

Anyone Who Had a Heart

by Burt Bacharach
Tony Call
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available

One of the greatest songwriters of all time finally shares his story. From his tumultuous marriages and the tragic loss of his daughter to his collaborations with Dionne Warwick and the surprising stories behind the songs that generations have come to know and love, Burt Bacharach offers a frank, moving account of an unparalleled life.

Over the past six decades, Burt Bacharach's legendary songwriting has touched millions of devoted listeners all over the world. In Anyone Who Had a Heart, Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life—from his childhood in Forest Hills, New York, during the 1930s and 1940s to his rise as one of the most accomplished composers in modern popular music, working with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello, and many others.

While he soared professionally, Bacharach's private life was dominated by the never-ending search for love—and the heartbreak that comes when it is lost. His first three marriages ended in divorce. His long-running partnership with the late Hal David suffered a bitter split that lasted seventeen years. Throughout the highs and lows, Bacharach pursued his muse. Powerful and honest, Anyone Who Had a Heart illuminates the sensitivity and intelligence of a musical legend and offers a unique backstage look at the world of show business.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 7, 2013

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780062210883
      • File size: 243475 KB
      • Duration: 08:27:14

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      More of an audio history than a memoir, this work primarily succeeds in revealing the incredibly talented musician Burt Bacharach as egocentric, pompous, and privileged. Bacharach's perspectives are voiced by Tony Call, who does an adequate job in bringing the subject to life. However, his unadorned narration suffers from several instances of uninformed phrasing and pauses that make listeners' contextual understanding more difficult. Jeff Woodman expressively handles all the other male voices; Therese Plummer voices the female interviewees such as ex-wife Angie Dickinson. The interviews are topically and directly presented and excerpted. The three voices, each with its own merits, make for a confusing excursion into the highs and lows of one of the most successful and prolific songwriters ever. This is a flawed memoir from an undisputed major artist. W.A.G.
    • Library Journal

      September 15, 2013

      Anecdotes, some singular, mark the autobiography of the Oscar-, Grammy-, and Emmy Award-winning composer ("I Say a Little Prayer" and 73 other Top 40 hits). Primarily known as lyricist Hal David's music-writing partner, Bacharach grew up in Queens, NY, with a mother who pushed him to play piano (like many kids, he just wanted be outside playing ball). He grew to love jazz and classical music, incorporating them into an urbane yet catchy musical style made most recognizable by singer Dionne Warwick. Listeners looking for a meaty blow-by-blow of Bacharach's work (e.g., Brill Building adventures, the genesis of significant songs) or a turgid tell-all will be disappointed. Though there are moments of intimacy, this is the "nickel tour"--breezy and fast-paced. Greenfield (Timothy Leary: A Biography) weaves together the author's musings and material from collaborators like Bacharach's second wife, Angie Dickinson, some of which is unflattering. Narrators Tony Call, Jeff Woodman, and Therese Plummer effectively pick up on heartfelt spots. VERDICT Most appropriate for large public libraries and music collections.--Douglas C. Lord, Middletown, CT

      Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      March 25, 2013
      Though he’s clearly a gifted songwriter, Bacharach as a memoirist disappoints. While Bacharach, writing with Greenfield, certainly has a story to tell (he was married to Angie Dickinson; toured with Marlene Dietrich; wrote mega-hits like “Walk on By” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”; won Grammys and Oscars), he’s in too much of a hurry to get to the end of his book to really dig in and tell readers what it was like to cut his teeth in the infamous Brill Building, work with (and sever ties with) his frequent collaborator Hal David, or even address his daughter’s battle with Asperger’s and depression that led her to commit suicide; he prefers to let Angie Dickinson and others do most of the talking. Bacharach spends more time talking about his tennis game and various marriages than his approach to songwriting (much more detail is given to who he worked with on a particular song than the song itself) . Moments of humility and candor, such as a blown opportunity to work with Sinatra, peek through, but it’s not enough to save what could have been an illuminating work on many levels. Amy Schiffman, Intellectual Property Group.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading