Elvis Costello kicks off a 10-night series at New York’s Gramercy Theater on Thursday night (February 9), the day after beloved pop composer Burt Bacharach died of natural causes at the age of 94. and tribute to my dear friend and collaborator Burt Bacharach.
“It’s been a rough day,” Costello tells a packed audience about losing a musical compatriot before covering three of Bacharach’s best-loved hits. variety“You know, a really great person left us yesterday. And when someone hits a big age, you say, ‘Well, that was a good ending.’ It’s never time to say goodbye to someone. And I’m not ashamed to say I loved this man. And for everything he gave me, Mr. Burt Bacharach.
Costello then performed a gentle acoustic cover of “Baby It’s You”. This was his words that he learned from listening to his 1963 cover of The Beatles. Bacharach and lyricist Hal He also performed “Anyone Who Had,” one of his unforgettable collaborations with David and Dionne Warwick. a Heart” and a gentle solo piano take of the 1961 Drifters song “Please Stay”.
The theme for Night One at Costello’s Gramercy gig was a song he wrote before the release of his debut album in 1977. my aim is truthhe promised to work on some of the songs Costello wrote with Bacharach for the film when his longtime bandmate Steve Neave joins him later in the run. Grace of My Heart and their 1998 joint album, drawn from memory.
A 4 CD box set containing the recordings of Costello and Bacharach. Song of Bacharach and Costellowill be released on March 3rd.
Watch the video of the performance below.