'Say a Little Prayer': Burt Bacharach's best-loved songs

Agence France-Presse

Posted at Feb 10 2023 11:52 AM

In this file photo taken on May 24, 2006, US composer Burt Bacharach and singer Dionne Warwick perform during the American Idol Season 5 Finale in Hollywood, California. Vince Bucci/Getty Images North America/AFP
In this file photo taken on May 24, 2006, US composer Burt Bacharach and singer Dionne Warwick perform during the American Idol Season 5 Finale in Hollywood, California. Vince Bucci/Getty Images North America/AFP

PARIS, France - American composer and pianist Burt Bacharach, who has died aged 94, wrote dozens of songs with lyricist Hal David which have gone down in pop/soul history. 

Here are some of the most famous:

* "(They long to be) Close to you" (1963) - the breakthrough hit of the American brother-and-sister duo "The Carpenters". 

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* "Walk On By" (1964) - one of soul legend Dionne Warwick's best-loved songs, which lurches between stoicism and anguish.

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* "What the World Needs Now is Love" (1965) - first made popular by Jackie DeShannon, reached the top ten of the US Hot 100.

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* "Alfie" (1966) - theme song of the movie of the same name starring Michael Caine. It was a major hit for Britain's Cilla Black and later Dionne Warwick.

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* "I Say a Little Prayer" (1967) - first recorded by Warwick but Aretha Franklin made the definitive version a year later.

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* "The Look of Love" (1967) - a favorite of husky-voiced divas Dusty Springfield and Diana Krall.

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* "Do You Know the Way to San José?" (1968) - another Warwick hit which won her her first Grammy.

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* "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1969) - Bacharach won an Oscar for this cheerful ditty for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", which topped the US charts for four weeks.

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* "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (1969) - both Warwick and Jones scored with this heartbreak tune.

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* "Arthur's Theme (Best that you can do)" (1981) - one of the most recognizable movie theme songs of all time, which won Bacharach another Oscar.

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* "That's What Friends Are For" (1982) - first recorded by Rod Stewart but better known for the AIDS charity cover made by Dionne Warwick & Friends, including Elton John and Stevie Wonder, in 1985.

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* "On My Own" (1986) - a love song Bacharach composed with ex-wife Carole Bayer Sager which was a power duet for Patti La Belle and Michael McDonald.

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