VA - Wir Lieben Bacharach (2012)

Wir Lieben Bacharach! – or We Love Bacharach! – is a particular treat. With 18 tracks recorded between 1965 and 1973, it contains the songs that are the crème of the crop of the Bacharach and David ouevre: “Close to You,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “A House is Not a Home.” But listening to this compilation, you might know those tunes as “So wie ich,” “Ich wunsche mir so viel von dir” and “Ein Haus ist kein Zuhaus” as performed by Karel Gott, Bata Illic and Corry Brokken, respectively! But in addition to the familiar classics, there are rare German renditions of “The Green Grass Starts to Grow,” “Hasbrook Heights,” “Paper Mache” and “The Wine is Young,” too, all favorites of Bacharach diehards including yours truly. Some arrangements hew closely to the originals (Gus Backus’ “Hallo, Pussycat” – you can guess the English title!) while others offer unique re-interpretations (Die Caravelles’ “In Gedanken bin ich bei dir,” or “True Love Never Runs Smooth”). For those who understand German, the translations are often far from literal, so that adds another dimension to these recordings. The booklet has full-color reproductions of sixteen original LP and single sleeves, plus discographical information and liner notes – in German, of course! (review by Joe Marchese)

Tracklist
1 CORRY BROKKEN: Heiß ist der Kaffee in San Jose (Do You Know The Way To San Jose) 2:44
2 BATA ILLIC: Doch täglich liebe ich sie mehr (I'll Never Fall In Love Again) 2:54
3 ROBERTO DELGADO: The Look Of Love 2:21
4 RAMONA: Ein rosarotes Himmelbett (Paper Maché) 2:53
5 KAREL GOTT: So wie ich (Close To You) 3:43
6 GUS BACKUS: Hallo, Pussycat (What's New Pussycat) 2:20
7 HORST JANKOWSKI: Casino Royale 2:53
8 DIE CARAVELLES: In Gedanken bin ich bei dir (True Love Never Runs Smooth) 2:14
9 WALTRAUD DIRKS: Wenn ich nur wüßt' was ich tu' ohne dich (I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself) 2:59
10 PETER BEIL: Mach dich schön (Wives And Lovers) 2:06
11 PETER-THOMAS-SOUND-ORCHESTRA: This Guy's In Love With You 3:09
12 HELENA: Leben kann jeder Mensch allein (The Green Grass Starts To Grow) 2:58
13 BATA ILLIC: Ich wünsche mir so viel von dir (I Say A Little Prayer) 3:32
14 HENRY ARLAND: Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head 2:47
15 IREEN SHEER: Mitternacht (Hasbrook Heights) 3:27
16 RAMONA: Ich glaube an die Menschlichkeit (The Wine Is Young) 3:21
17 HEINZ SCHACHTNER: Alfie 2:19
18 CORRY BROKKEN: Ein Haus ist kein Zuhaus (A House Is Not A Home) 3:05