Hal David Just Checked Out and Left the Building

by Robert Wilkinson

One of the great songwriters of history just died. His are the songs of legend. Today I have a lot of videos of some of the smoothest, catchiest songs you've ever heard, done by some of the greatest performers in history. Everyone likes these tunes!

Long time collaborator with Bert Bacharach, Mister Hal David (25 May, 1921) has given us the lyrics of some really fantastic songs over many decades. Rather than wax philosophical, I’ll just let his music speak for itself. All these lyrics are his.

A live performance by BJ Thomas of his hit theme of the movie, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head."

This one was composed, arranged And conducted By Burt Bacharach, with Herb Alpert on vocals doing their mega-hit “This Guy’s In Love With You.”

From 1965 on Shindig, Sandie Shaw live performing the original version of her hit “There’s Always Something There To Remind Me.”

Here’s a great live performance by Dionne Warwick in 1963 belting out the Bacharach-David hit, “Don’t Make Me Over”

From 1968, Dionne Warwick doing her studio version of the Bacharach-David smash hit “Do You Know the Way to San Jose”

From 1967, the original studio version of her mega-hit “I Say A Little Prayer for You”

The award winning 1967 soundtrack hit song by Dionne of “Alfie”

From 1967, Dusty Springfield doing “The Look of Love”

Here’s Dionne in a 1984 live performance of one of her early Bacharach-David hits, “Walk On By”

A real treat! Here’s Dionne live in 1970 performing a medley of the team’s best! Here’s Dionne Warwick in a great delivery of “What The World Needs Now,” followed by a medly of “Walk On By,” “San Jose,” “Say A Little Prayer,” “I'll Never Fall In Love Again,” “Don't Make Me Over,” and “Alfie.”

Here's Dionne Warwick doing “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” Here’s Bert with Elvis Costello doing his version of “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again”

From 1981, the inimitable Tom Jones in a live performance of “What’s New Pussycat?”

Here are the Carpenters doing the smash hit “Close To You”

We’ll close this tribute with a tune that Hal David wrote a long time ago with Sherman Edwards done with impeccable style by the legendary Sarah Vaughan, “Broken Hearted Melody”

Yes, people, he really did write all these tunes and more! Thanks for the fantastic memories throughout the decades, Mr. David. You were one of the best.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Sunny Cohen]

Thanks for this! Check out Whitney Huston's Alfie, 1997 Classic Whitney on Youtube. Surprisingly, she says it is her favorite song.