| Painted from Memory | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 203 reviews)
Sales Rank: 6670
Category: Music
Artist: Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
Publisher: Island / Mercury
Studio: Island / Mercury
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
Label: Island / Mercury
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 538002
UPC: 731453800229
EAN: 0731453800229
ASIN: B00000AFFF
Release Date: September 29, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | In the Darkest Place - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello | | • | Toledo - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello | | • | I Still Have That Other Girl - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello | | • | This House Is Empty Now - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello | | • | Tears at the Birthday Party - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello | | • | Such Unlikely Lovers - Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello | | • | My Thief - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello | | • | Long Division - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello | | • | Painted from Memory - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello | | • | Sweetest Punch - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello | | • | What's Her Name Today? - Burt Bacharach, , Elvis Costello | | • | God Give Me Strength - Burt Bacharach, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential recording
As promised, Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach's long-awaited full-length collaboration Painted from Memory bears the hallmarks of Bacharach's classic '60s work with the likes of Dionne Warwick--full-force melodies, traditional pop instrumentation, clever and occasionally pained lyrics. It finds the pair reveling in their gifts on a dozen tracks that range from concise under-three-minute gems to sprawling art songs. The result is a set of instant classics that stand head and shoulders above much of Costello's '90s recordings. --Rickey Wright
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| Customer Reviews: Read 198 more reviews...
 I 'dunno. I just don't know what to... June 15, 2009
At the outset:
I admire Elvis Costello tremendously. Burt Bacharach has written some incredible stuff over the years--some incredible radio music that I recall from when I was a kid. I even recall that full-page ad that appeared in Billboard to promote his first solo release, "Nicky". (?) The tagline for the ad was something like, "Burt Loves Nicky" scrawled inside a lover's Valentine heart in chalk. (I guess it was the tearing point of his working relationship w/Hal David.)
When I first heard of this collaboration, it sounded like a dream.
I was...somewhat disappointed when I heard the results. Nevertheless, I own "Painted from Memory" on vinyl, on cassette, and on CD. When I told this to a close friend of mine, he asked me: Why?
My answer? 'Cause I kept expecting/wanting the thing to be good! (And, because formats changed: vinyl bit the dust; I then drove a car that still had a cassette player; then I bought a car w/a CD player. These days, I do most of my listening in my car. These days...)
By the by, Nico's recording of "These Days" on her Chelsea Girl album is far & away the best version of it. (imho)
In all fairness, I haven't listened to Painted from Memory in quite some time. I really have to listen to again--with "fresh" ears.
 Astonishing February 3, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I grew up listening to, but not particularly enamored of, Burt Bacharach's music. Elvis Costello was a fresh burst when I was in college and we were saddled with disco and arena rock. I approached this unlikely pairing with a more mature appreciation of the Bacharach classics and style, and a mixed appreciation for some of Costello's musical experiments. Well, this one is a soaring success, even as it is one of the most melancholy albums I know. Elvis has penned a set of heartbreaking songs of love and loss and betrayal and regret, and Bacharach has put them onto wings. I had this album for over a year and oddly, it did not strike me on first listening. I cannot imagine why. The songs are wrenching beauty, and I think I have never heard better production values. If you appreciate what George Martin did for the Beatles, what Brian Wilson did for the Beach Boys, what Richard Carpenter did for his sister, you will love what Bacharach does for Elvis's tunes. I find both men at the peak of their creative genius here.
An Inspired Collaboration July 21, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
With a reputation so rooted in the nicotine-infused lounge lizardry of Hal David, Dionne Warwick and the zero consequence hedonism of Southern California affluence - the prospect of a Burt Bacharach tag-team with the much rougher and far more tumbled Elvis Costello would have seemed to be an Irwin Allen disaster in waiting - a wildly ironic vanity project with all the nervous energy and awkward body language of an arranged marriage.
Well, a strange thing happened on the way to that opposites don't attract scenario - Bacharach and Costello made a remarkable record that after a decade of repeated listening has only become more vibrant and powerful. The vastly different approach of both artists makes little difference - whether it is the caramelized melodies of Mr. Bacharach or the sly, vindictiveness of Costello's wordplay their view of relationships has always been essentially the same - love is a brutal enterprise and a harsh taskmaster.
Painted From Memory is sex music for couples with issues - serene and beautiful with innuendo and invective bubbling just beneath the surface. All of the compositions are masterful with "Toledo", "My Thief" and "What's Her Name Today?" particularly haunting. Painted From Memory is a permanent resident on my very short list of Desert Island Discs.
Wonderful July 20, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was unaware of this collaboration however once I stumbed upon it I became intriqued. Burt Bacharach's formula for beautiful music makes him a timeless producer along with Mr. Costello's writing makes this CD more enjoyable with each listen.
1998 album - holds up well, to say the least May 6, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Questions from 1998:
Q: "Are her eyes still blue?"
Q: "Should she trust in you?"
Q: "Was she the one who took away your pride
-and your reason?"
(Partial) Answers from 2008:
A: 'Yes.'
A: 'No.'
A: 'In all honesty, Declan, yeah, ...still yes, buddy.'
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