It's Turkey Lurkey Time : Burt Bacharach

Christmas is on it's merry way and I've been singing Bacharach tunes all day. Burt Bacharach (b.1928) is best known for his popular songs during the 50s and 60s, many of which were written for Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield. I love them so much that I want to share my top 5 Bacharach tunes with you complete with awesome videos. You may think you know what I'm going to play first, but I doubt you're right! You see, one of my all time favourite Bacharach numbers is this festive ditty from his hit 1968 musical Promises, Promises. I wish all office parties had choreographed songs and dances! Please, sit back and enjoy "Turkey Lurkey Time".

Written for the 1969 film, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid is the classic "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head". Here it is performed by B.J. Thomas on Top Of The Pops with practically a harem of 60s go go dancers. My my, I don't know what song they're listening to but it doesn't look like the one he's singing! See those ladies shimmy!

Now don't go running a mile when I post something related to Glee. Kristen Chenoweth is absolutely incredible and the "mash up" of "One Less Bell To Answer" and "A House Is Not A Home" is super stunning. Two of Bacharachs' heart wrenching hits intertwined together. Yum.

I mentioned that Bacharach collaborated with Dionne Warwick on many of his popular songs, especially in the 60s. This live performance of Bacharach and Warwick singing "What The World Needs Now" and "Alfie" demonstrates his versatility and sheer skill as a musician. Plus, that lurex cuffed sleeve dress Dionne is wearing is beautiful. I love me some lurex. Sparkle sparkle sparkle.

Last but not least, a song Dusty Springfield sang for the 1967 film Casino Royale. This isn't a live performance of "The Look Of Love" but an excerpt from the film. That HAT. Ultimate flamboyance and 60s glamour, I love it. But if you're mad for a bit of Dusty there are videos out there. Oh and if you didn't catch our blog post on Dusty catch it here.

I hope I've got you thirsting for a bit of Burt Bacharach in your CD collection. There's more to him than "Close To You", he's an incredible musician whose arrangements were massively ahead of their time and full of energy, with constant invention and creativity. The orchestral "oooohs" and "ahhhs" in the overture to Promises, Promises simply epitomise the 60s and then when the brass burst into the first riff you can't help but get excited! Give this overture a listen and I dare you to try and turn it off. 

Gina x

Dusty Springfield

Every now and then we get pretty obsessed with a vintage icon, a woman (or man) who really defined an era with their style. One of those people has to be the glamorous Dusty Springfield. Famous for her soulful singing in the 60s, Dusty also created a strong look with her blonde beehive, panda eyes and lavish dresses. And interestingly, this look was all thanks to another great soulful singer... 

Dusty Springfield's look epitomised the style of the Swinging Sixties as much as her songs did....one night in 1965, after sharing top billing with Shirley Bassey, Dusty sneaked into the Welsh singer's dressing-room to find out who made her stunning outfits. - Louise Sleigh

It turns out that the designer of all these lavish ball gowns was Eric Plant of Darnell of London, who is pictured above. Apparently the two would spend hours decided exactly what Dusty should be wearing on stage, especially at her TV performances. From the long beaded gowns to the Quant inspired sequin mini dresses. The footage and photography from this era was often in black and white so we can't see the gorgeous colours and glittering details, so I'm really excited to have found this colour photo (photographer unknown).

Here are two more of Plant's Darnell designs that Dusty wore during the 60s and 70s while performing on TV. Just look at all that heavy embellishment! Ridiculously glam.

You may have noticed that Springfield's hair was ever changing in the 60s, here is a lovely quote from her obituary explaining exactly why that was!

She had three wigs for different occasions. Wig Number One was called Cilla, Number Two was Lulu and Number Three was Sandie. I found her tossing one of the wigs all around the dressing room. I said, "Hi Dusty, am I interrupting something?" She said: "I'm just giving Cilla a good kicking!" The odd thing was you wouldn't recognise Dusty without her wigs, false eyelashes and make-up. I think that was a kind of mask that helped give her confidence. Chris Welch

As soon as we venture into the 70s the hair starts to flow down to the shoulders and she is often seen in gorgeous maxi dresses in metallic lurex fabrics just like this one from a session by Harry Langdon. And check out that head dress! So pretty.

We will leave you with a load of images of Dusty and her fabulous style, it's fair to say she epitomised the fashion of the era with her outfits as well as her music and soulful singing. So here you go, enjoy, be inspired and get ready to buy some sequinned minis!

Gina x