Unfortunately, the 2004 issue of
Blue Note Plays Bacharach
falls short of the similar (now deleted) compilation from 1999,
Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker
, also on
Blue Note
. Usually when a compilation disc is reissued, songs are added to the original program rather than omitted, which isn't the case in this instance. While
Blue Bacharach
originally had 14 tracks, this version has been whittled down to 12 tracks, nine of which are repeats. The three newly added songs,
"The April Fools"
by
Earl Klugh
,
"One Less Bell to Answer"
Stanley Jordan
, and
"Any Day Now"
Lou Rawls
, were recorded in 1976, 1986, and 1990, respectively, undermining the overall continuity of the '60s-based arrangements. Still, it's nice to have
Bacharach
standards
played in a lively
soul-jazz
groove by
Stanley Turrentine
Grant Green
Richard "Groove" Holmes
Reuben Wilson
, along with
Nancy Wilson
's outstanding vocals on
"Wives and Lovers"
and
"Alfie."
is a passable compilation, but keep your eyes open for a used copy of the superior
. ~ Al Campbell