Dionne Warwick

TrackAlbum
Wishin' And Hopin'Presenting Dionne Warwick
Land Of Make BelieveMake Way For Dionne Warwick
You'll Never Get To Heaven ...Make Way For Dionne Warwick
Walk On ByMake Way For Dionne Warwick
I Just Don't Know
What To Do With Myself
Here Where There Is Love
I Say A Little PrayerThe Windows Of The World
Do You Know The Way To San JoseValley Of The Dolls
I'll Never Fall In Love AgainI'll Never Fall In Love Again
HeartbreakerHeartbreaker
How Many Times Can We Say GoodbyeHow Many Times ...

 

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Dionne Warwick playlist

 

Dionne Warwick poster 2

 

 

Contributor: David Lewis

Growing up in rural Australia in the 1970s and 1980s, 2DU – the local radio station – had what was, in retrospect, a particularly superb playlist. A mix of Top 40, country music and easy listening, I’m pretty sure it gave me a great foundation in these genres. At Christmas time it would play for 24 hours and after midnight would play classic rock albums. I remember hearing for the first time Alice’s Restaurant, Thick As A Brick (finally!), Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and Dark Side Of The Moon. I digress. Most of these became seminal favourites, part of my musical (and comedy) DNA, and still played today.

I can’t remember the announcer’s name but when I was about 12 he called the singer in the next song “The best vocalist in the world”. Now, at the age of 12, I was expecting multi octave shrieks and technical leaps. Instead, I got whispered kisses, lightly landing on notes just to fade away, only to somehow reappear on the next note. At that point I fell in love with Dionne Warwick. Of course, at 12, as a young, straight anglo male, this was a secret – a guilty – pleasure, and my love of Dionne remained unspoken, lest my street cred as a music nerd be forever destroyed. In fact, I had no street cred and was not a music nerd then. But a boy can dream, can’t he? She later co-hosted Solid Gold – a music TV show featuring acts lip-syncing to a live audience, with dancing by the Solid Gold dancers. This description does not do it justice – I enjoyed it greatly.

 

The song was Do You Know The Way To San Jose. And it is a wonderful song, made all the better by that performance. Nearly all of these songs are by the songwriting team of Bacharach and David. Burt Bacharach’s music studies and Hal David’s incisive, insightful and beautifully crafted lyrics suited Dionne perfectly. Bacharach is a superb arranger and played to all of Dionne’s strengths – delicacy, sublime phrasing, accurate pitch and a tone of voice that sat somewhere between the reeds and the strings. The opening ‘woahs’ dragged me in, almost reluctantly, and then as she easily jumped between 4/4 and 7/4, I was hooked. I really believe if you don’t like this stuff, then you really shouldn’t call yourself a pop music fan.

Bacharach and David had met Warrick (as she was born) in 1962. Her singing was extremely suited to Bacharach’s melodies and David’s words. Bacharach works on a pulse – the count may move from 4/4 to 5/4 to 7/4 and back again, but unless you’re paying attention, you won’t notice. Dionne is able to flick these over like the natural singer she is. Always in complete control of her voice and never showing off, Warwick has, I would argue, more chops than many of those who belt out a thousand notes per minute. Her first hit with them was Don’t Make Me Over, a phrase she said to them in anger when they gave one of her songs to someone else.

Listen to Wishin’ And Hopin’, her second single and the flip side of This Empty Place. British listeners are more likely familiar with Dusty Springfield’s version. As great as Dusty’s is, the ease in which Dionne deals with those syncopations, plus her easy listening voice pips Dusty, at least for me. Not to disparage Dusty, but Dionne simply shines in a way that connects with this listener. Or listen to Walk On By. This is perhaps her best known song, but I’m running out of descriptors. So, let’s just say ‘perfect’. If you’re still not sure, it’s been covered by a whole host of others, including the Stranglers, Isaac Hayes and the Average White Band.

 

I’m going to commit near heresy here – Dionne’s version of I Say A Little Prayer is as good as Aretha’s. I nearly said “better than”. I still might. Fundamentally, it’s a great song. My friend and occasional Toppermost contributor Glenn Smith argues that it is the whole of American popular music compressed into three minutes. Again, it was written by two men, with lyrics by one man who had no business being so insightful into the quotidian chores of a woman in love. Dionne is less histrionic than Aretha and finds subtleties in the lyrics which suit her voice and gives the song a different, but no less potent, power.

Dionne’s I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, a 1962 Bacharach David composition with a somewhat troubled history is, I think, definitive. Dusty Springfield had a massive hit but, again, I think Dionne’s voice works better. Yes, I know, I’m wrong, and I’m always wrong and why do I even bother? But have a listen to how that voice lightly touches each word, lifts it and ethereally moves to the next note and word.

Not to be confused with the Bucks Fizz song of similar title or, for that matter, the one by the Easybeats, Land Of Make Believe has all the elements one expects from a Bacharach David Warwick performance. It’s a heartbreaking song, especially when she coos “I need you so much”. How to use power lightly for a bigger impact – it’s right there.

While this could easily be a Bacharach David top ten, I don’t want to ignore other parts of her career. So I’ll just go one – no two – more and put in a nod for I’ll Never Fall In Love Again. In terms of what I can say about it, it’s the voice, it’s the lyrics, it’s the ornamentation. In the words of the lawyer, Dennis Denuto, in the Australian film The Castle, it’s the vibe of the thing. I’ll also add the peripatetic yet perfect melody of You’ll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart). Gorgeously arranged, in lesser hands it would sound unfinished and unstructured. But in the sure hands of Dionne and whoever played on it, and Bacharach’s arrangement (and Burt rightly sees himself as an arranger as well as composer), it’s a lovely piece of music. Dionne’s scatting suggests musical depths that might have seen her as important a jazz singer as Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, as well as one of the most important pop singers.

 

I’d better look at her work with other songwriters (and other labels). She never stopped as an artist, though it’s probably true the Bacharach David Warwick combination was unbeatable. Nonetheless, her more mature voice on Heartbreaker is rich, full and enhances an already excellent song. Written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, the three brothers also appear on it. Apparently, Dionne was not fond of it, later joking her dislike of the song made her cry all the way to the bank. Maurice was upset for a different reason – he felt it should have been a Bee Gees song. However, he admitted that Dionne did a brilliant job, and as they appeared on the single anyway, he was happy. Dionne trusted Barry’s assurances that it was a hit, and everyone else was more or less satisfied as well.

The scourge of AIDS galvanised many artists to help raise funds. That’s What Friends Are For saw Dionne team with Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight. A rather schmaltzy song, it is fair to say that this powerful quartet bring something special to it. Credited to Dionne and Friends, the keen listener can discern the unmistakable voices, plus the piano of Elton and Stevie’s plaintive yet somehow soothing harmonica. It was the biggest selling US single in 1986. The talent on board saves it from schmaltz and lifts it to superb pop.

The final song for this list is the follow-up to Heartbreaker. Unfortunately, it could not match the massive success of its predecessor. I think it matches its quality. How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye is a duet with the late, great Luther Vandross. Their voices meld seamlessly. It’s a shame it wasn’t a much bigger hit as rarely does AOR reach such lofty heights.

It is, I suppose, easy to dismiss Dionne Warwick as a ‘pop’ singer, or an AOR vocalist, or even a ‘middle of the road’ singer. Yet this music, at its best, is as technical and as challenging as the most virtuosic of jazz. It’s also more accessible and can be more satisfying. Dionne Warwick has done other things but she keeps coming back to singing. She has six honorary doctorates, has been Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In 2013, she declared bankruptcy but seems to have recovered. She is that overused and underappreciated word – a legend. Her legacy is secure. Like Sarah Vaughan, or her friend Gladys Knight, or Bing Crosby, she elevated pop music to something more than a commercial transaction between record label and consumer. Above all this, though, is that voice – the instrument of power, applied gently and subtly. Not much else matters to us lesser mortals.

 

 

 

 

Dionne Warwick poster 1

 

Dionne Warwick official website

The Official International Dionne Warwick Fan Club

Dionne Warwick discography

Dionne Warwick Awards & Honors

Dionne Warwick on Twitter

Dionne Warwick Archive (Facebook)

The Guardian interview March 2020

Dionne Warwick biography (AllMusic)

David Lewis is Australia’s best jazz mandolinist, unless you can name someone else: then he’s Australia’s second-best. In any case, he’s almost certainly top 100. He is a regular contributor to Toppermost, and also plays guitar, banjo and bass professionally. More of his writing can be found at his rarely updated website. David is also the co-author of “Divided Opinions” published this year and derived from an established podcast on Australian politics.

TopperPost #954

15 Comments

  1. Andrew Shields
    May 6, 2021

    Brilliant piece on a superb singer. And those songs – especially the 60s ones. Have to say, though, that Aretha’s ‘Say a little prayer’ is definitive for me.

  2. Colin Duncan
    May 7, 2021

    It’s a great list of great songs. My disappointment with Dionne Warwick was at a concert in Glasgow in the late nineties. She came on stage, after the worst support band I had ever seen, whizzed through all the great songs in abridged form in the first half hour, then some of the great American songbook, missing the high notes, then murdered tracks from a new Brazilian album, but the Orchestra couldn’t do Brazilian. I love Getz and Joabim too. No encore and off. I binned her greatest hits and Heartbreaker when I got home. Thank goodness about ten years ago I saw Burt Bacharach, his orchestra and three young singers sing all those great songs and many more – one of the greatest musical nights of my life. Stunningly brilliant show. Thanks, Dlew.

  3. David Lewis
    May 8, 2021

    Andrew – I’m used to being in the minority. But Aretha’s version is great. I think it is pretty definitive. But Dionne matches it. At least for me.
    Dunc – thanks for your comment. It’s always sad when our favourite acts don’t match our expectations. But we always have those original recordings.

  4. Ilkka Jauramo
    May 8, 2021

    Dionne Warwick . . . ehhh? Now I must plug in some empathy and try to remember who was “my Dionne” when I was 12 years old. It was Alma Cogan. Now I understand what this is all about!
    Dionne and Alma – “The best vocalists in the world”? Should we say like a Danish beverage company instead: “The best vocalists in the world. Probably.”

  5. Calvin Rydbom
    May 9, 2021

    Dionne was much bigger in the US than in the UK, or Australia, being the second biggest Female chart artist behind Aretha in the Rock Era (1955-1999).
    In some ways Solid Gold hurt her, as being its host put her in the Has Been or never had been list in a lot of young people’s minds.
    For years it seemed the press had changed her names to “Dionne Warwick, who is Whitney Houston’s Cousin” which was a shame.
    I did, because of this fine piece, put on some Dionne the other day. It was enjoyable, but I’d never consider her the best vocalist in the world.

  6. Colin Duncan
    May 14, 2021

    I ended up searching, Dlew, and found an old review of the concert. I think I’m fairly accurate with my recount. All I, and the rest of the audience, were looking for was the hits, which were abridged and over in half an hour. To be fair, she had released a new Brazilian style album, and felt she had to play her current material. So how big was the first Olivia Newton John album in Australia, with two Lesley Duncan songs on it? And is Olivia a legend like Dionne in Australia? Thanks, Dlew. Always enjoy your thoughts.

  7. David Lewis
    May 14, 2021

    Olivia could shoot someone in Sydney’s Martin Place and the police would charge the victim with stealing Olivia’s bullets. She is that well regarded. Legend almost doesn’t cover it. As to why that is, I don’t know.
    And that’s not to disparage Olivia. She’s worked hard and has the talent to back it up. But what put her so high is interesting. Certainly Grease was a part of it, but she’d already been a fairly big star before. And had controversially beaten Linda Ronstadt and Tammy Wynette (or Tanya Tucker) for a country music Grammy.
    It’s not just the movie stardom though. Yes Xanadu was a huge smash here, but to the rest of the world it was a massively disappointing end to Gene Kelly’s career and a total bomb at the box office. But before we get too excited, Can’t Stop the Music was also a huge hit here. Partly I think the two films came out to capitalise on the disco craze which had peaked everywhere but Australia. They came out right at the peak. But certainly the Olivia factor helped Xanadu.
    It gets down I think to her charisma and seeming relatability. She was always nice. She always seemed more or less the same person despite being a huge singing and movie star. I was 10 when Grease came out and about 13 for Xanadu. So I was there right at the peak at the right age. I’ll have an article about another Australian anomaly coming out soon and I might go into the strange but intriguing Australian taste there.

    • Colin Duncan
      May 15, 2021

      Thanks, Dlew. I thought that might be the case. Grease was huge over here. Enjoyed your opening line. Sorry, I’m going off on an Olivia Newton John tangent here on Dionne Warwick’s page. Are Olivia’s versions of the late Lesley Duncan’s songs, ‘Lullaby’ and ‘Love Song’, from her first album, which is good, well known/played in Australia today? Always enjoy reading your thoughtful work, Dlew. I’ve learnt something new. Thanks again.

      • David Lewis
        May 15, 2021

        I can’t say I’ve heard them in a long time. The big ones are ‘Physical’ and I guess the Grease mega mix. She’s more of a presence if that makes sense.

        • Andrew Shields
          May 16, 2021

          First time I heard Olivia was her version of ‘If Not For You’ on a K-Tel compilatiion. Very different from her later work.

  8. Colin Duncan
    May 16, 2021

    Yes, that makes sense. Olivia has had huge success over here and has probably sold more records than Dionne Warwick. So I think the two most popular female Australian singers in the UK are Olivia and Judith Durham. A guilty secret is that I think The Seekers’ hits are great. Thanks for the article and the follow ups, Dlew. I’m always learning.

  9. Michael Gonzales
    Oct 8, 2021
    • David Lewis
      Oct 9, 2021

      What a lovely article.. Thank you Michael.

  10. David Lewis
    Feb 9, 2023

    Vale Burt Bacharach. Very sad news.

  11. Colin Duncan
    Feb 10, 2023

    Yes, very sad, Dlew. Feel lucky to have seen him in concert. Great songs, but he was also a great piano player, which is sometimes forgotten about. Great article on Dionne. Thanks, Dlew.

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