It�s about ten years ago I heard Nick Drake for the first time, and I understood that the sixties were more than just Beatles and the Stones. Nick Drake has truly done an huge impact on me.
Another recent rediscovery from a record I bought long ago, and another song I'm not normally crazy about. But the arrangements are too outrageously groovy for me to ignore here. I'm a sucker for beaty late 60s instrumentals, and I can forgive the lack of musical variation when the production is as cool as this.
from A taste of Zack Laurence (Silverline DJSL007)
Morricone seems to have taken quite a few pages from Komeda's score for "Rosemary's Baby" here for the soundtrack to this Dario Argento serial killer movie. This track features some creepy heavy breathing, cascading dissonant piano notes, and some of the scariest "la-la-la"-ing ever committed to wax. I've never seen the movie, but based on the record, I'm pretty certain that it would scare the hell out of me.
from The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (Capitol ST-642)
This is one of my favorite Bacharach-David songs. It would be difficult to top Dionne Warwick's original, but Anita Kerr's jazzy cover comes awfully close. Kerr's arrangement is more muted and pretty - and when the drums kick in between chorus and verse, the results are breathtaking. Real cool!
from Reflect on the Hits of Burt Bacharach and Hal David (Dot) available on CD - Reflect on the Hits of Burt Bacharach and Hal David/Velvet Voices and Bold Brass
05 May 04 ·delicado: I was just about to recommend this. Isn't it a superb version!