The greatest expression of Burt Bacharach's composing and arranging talents is
the marvelous string of productions he made with Dionne Warwick and lyricist
Hal David for a decade or so starting in 1962. Many of their triumphs are
included in this three-CD box (also see the single disc The Dionne Warwick
Collection), along with dozens of other tracks made between 1957 (Marty Robbins's "Story of My
Life") and 1996 (Bacharach's collaboration with Elvis Costello on "God Give
Me Strength"). The master's blend of froth, deep emotion, and challenging
musicality provides many masterpieces and a few unfortunate moments: he doesn't
have much to show for the '80s aside from "That's What Friends Are For" and
"Arthur's Theme." Its handful of missteps aside, though, The Look of Love
is an essential trove of great pop things. --Rickey Wright