Music by Burt Bacharach

 He was so effortlessly cool. And a gifted giant in the music industry.  A prolific composer/musician, like George Gershwin. Much of the music by the late Burt Bacharach, especially his songs that Dionne Warwick and Karen Carpenter sang into becoming pop hits, is in the soundtrack of my Southern California youth. In 1968, Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David wrote the score for a Broadway musical version of Billy Wilder's film classic, THE APARTMENT. It was a hit.

In 1973, there was the release of a musical remake of the 1937 Frank Capra film classic, LOST HORIZON. Bacharach and David did the score. The musical remake, starring Peter Finch and Liv Ullman, was a bomb. Even though it was a flop, I bought the soundtrack. I liked the Burt Bacharach music, music that hardly ever gets a mention today.

Here's the Bacharach/David title tune for 1973's LOST HORIZON sung by Shawn Phillips.

Here's a love song for the 1973 LOST HORIZON musical remake. It's "I Might Frighten Her Away."

Here's another clip from 1973's LOST HORIZON. Liv Ullman and Bobby Van perform "The World Is a Circle."

The Burt Bacharach harmonies. The rhythms. His unique and instantly recognizable style, structure and sound.

As for Burt Bacharach's music being featured heavily in the soundtrack of my Southern California youth, here's one of my favorites. This composition is Burt Bacharach's "Pacific Coast Highway."

Burt Bacharach. What a talent he was. What a life filled with accomplishments.