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I’M GUILTY

from HEARTLIGHT

Music by Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager

Moved and motivated by Stephen Spielberg’s 1982 classic movie, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, Neil Diamond’s fifteenth studio album, Heartlight, was released in August of 1982. Heartlight included a string of adult contemporary goodies with the archetypal, sophisticated pop sound of the eighties. The record was co-written and co-produced by the veteran singing star with the great Burt Bacharach and supreme lyricist and Bacharach’s then-wife, Carole Bayer Sager. Heartlight resulted in another platinum seller for Diamond.

The title-track of Heartlight was a big #5 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #1 on the Easy Listening chart. David Foster played electric piano on that beautiful ballad. Foster was also a co-writer along with Diamond on the rocking “I’m Alive” that was destined to be Diamond’s last Top 40 hit. Reviews of both songs can be found in the archives.

The Hitman played keyboards on another tender ballad, “I’m Guilty,” that’s the pick for this Song of the Week review.

Co-written by the Brooklyn-born singer/songwriter with Bacharach and Bayer Sager, “I’m Guilty” was a lesser-known gem that presented an arrangement that echoed the magic of the Bacharach hit sound of the previous decades. It also sported a fantastic orchestration, trademark female harmony vocals and top-notch instrumental parts courtesy of Foster. He opened and ended the track with the Foster signature silky touch on the Fender Rhodes while guitarist supreme, Dean Parks, and talented sax man, David Boruff, hit just the right chords. Here and throughout Heartlight, Diamond and Bacharach made a home run crafting their elegant adult contemporary material. Diamond’s confidential baritone delivered a classy vocal performance and the overall result was  like a warm, musical breeze.

To close this review we share a few words that the Hitman kindly sent us and that speak volumes of his love for Bacharach. “There is no one I respect or admire more than Burt Bacharach. He is one of the ALLTIME great composers of our time, actually of anytime.
His ability to write complicated, beautiful melodies that also the average person can sing and enjoy makes him even more special. And EVERY single note is hand crafted by the man himself, NOTHING falls thru the cracks or happens by accident. He is pure genius.”


Listen



  • Fender Rhodes: David Foster
  • Piano: Burt Bacharach
  • Guitar: Dean Parks
  • Drums: Jim Keltner
  • Bass: Reinie Press
  • Alto Saxophone: David Boruff
  • Background Vocals: Stephanie Spruill, Julia Tillman Waters, Maxine Willard Waters, Clydene Jackson, Richard Page
  • Arranged & Conducted by Burt Bacharach
  • Produced by Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager & Neil Diamond

Lyrics

Whenever I get down
I look to someone else
I need your love to bring me ’round
And so I must confess
I’m guilty
Of believing you to be
The better part of me
I never thought to look around
In times when more is less
I’m guilty
Guilty of lovin’ you
‘Cause I need you
Yes and I want you
You know you always bring me through
I’m guilty
And if you want to know
You really let me down
But I won’t never let you go
There’s something in my heart keeps sayin’
There’s something in my heart that’s sayin’
You’re guilty of lovin’ too
And you need me
Yes and you want me
And I won’t never let you down
There’s something in my heart keeps sayin’
There’s something in my heart that’s sayin’
You’re guilty of lovin’ too
I’m guilty