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

written by Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager

In the first half of the eighties, the songwriting collaboration between legendary composer Burt Bacharach and his then-wife and supreme lyricist Carole Bayer Sager blossomed to brilliant levels. In previous decades, both enjoyed a great deal of success with their individual works. Mr. Bacharach had a golden partnership with the late Hal David (May 25, 1921 to September 1, 2012) that resulted in dozens of much-loved evergreens and chart toppers while Ms. Sager’s lyrics graced a multitude of top ten hits.

Their working collaboration was remembered for #1s including “On My Own” sung by Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross’ “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” “That’s What Friends Are For” performed by Dionne Warwick & Friends Sir Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder and the Neil Diamond classic “Heartlight.” Although those songs were magnificent and helped shape the adult contemporary genre of the eighties, there was so much more inside Mr. Bacharach’s and Ms. Sager’s common songbook. Many sparkling hidden gems were in lesser-known projects or the couple’s solo releases. A perfect example was the song “Easy To Love Again.”

 Co-written for Ms. Sager’s 1981 Sometimes Late At Night, “Easy To Love Again” was an evocative ballad that sported a delicious arrangement that spoke of jazzy overtones and had an intense refrain. Ms. Sager’s smoky voice complimented this number that was backed up by Mr. Bacharach’s piano. As was usual on his productions, the Maestro surrounded himself with the cream of the crop of the LA mafia including the late Jeff Porcaro (April 1, 1954 to August 5, 1992) on drums, Lee Sklar of James Taylor fame on bass, two guitar gods like Lee Ritenour and Steve Lukather and his friend David Foster on keyboards. Foster’s artistry was always highly esteemed by Mr. Bacharach and the Hitman was a fixture on Mr. Bacharach’s productions for his unique playing, ear and arranging skills. Foster arranged the silky strings on “Easy To Love Again” while Jerry Hey brought his usual magic to the horns department. Moreover, there was fantastic work on the track by Richard Page on backing vocals and Steve Lukather’s intense guitar solo. The result is a joy for the ears of any music lover. Sure, “Easy To Love Again” was still adult contemporary stuff, but the craft and top-notch level of all performances were as good as it can possibly get. 

 Simply put: this is world-class music.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Carole-Bayer-Sager-Sometimes-Late-At-Night-10-Easy-To-Love-Again.mp3|titles=Easy To Love Again|artists=Carole Bayer Sager]

Lead Vocals: Carole Bayer Sager
Bass: Leland Sklar
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Guitar: Lee Ritenour & Steve Lukather
Piano: Burt Bacharach
Fender Rhodes: David Foster
Backing Vocals: Richard Page, Steve George & Venette Gloud

Strings & Horns arranged by David Foster & Jerry Hey
Produced by Burt Bacharach & Brooks Arthur

Lyrics

Uptown he’s calling
I’m coming
He can take me anywhere
Let me know that he’ll just be there
That’s all I need to know
That’s enough for me to go wherever he may go
He’s making it

Chorus:
Easy to love again
Easy to love
And I was empty and then heaven sent me

Someone easy to love again
Easy to love again

Uptown
I’m fine now
No worries
In his arms they disappear
Let me know that I’ll stay right here
That’s all I need to know
That’s enough for me to go
Wherever he may go, he’s making it

Repeat Chorus

El DeBarge was the lead singer and main songwriter of the successful R&B group DeBarge. During the first half of the eighties, DeBarge had great success with delicious songs like “All This Love,” Time Will Reveal” and “Rhythm of the Night.” One of their bigger hits, “Who’s Holding Donna Now,” was co-written by David Foster with Jay Graydon and Randy Goodrum. Produced by Graydon, this sweet ballad became a top hit on the Pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts. In 1986, El Debarge went solo and released a self-titled debut album that included collaborations with top notch music makers like Burt Bacharach, Peter Wolf and Graydon. “El DeBarge” features the up-tempo “Who’s Johnny,” produced by Wolf and featured in the movie “Short Circuit.” It was the debut single and reached #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and #1 on the R&B chart. This album offers some very interesting musical moments like the intense ballad “Lost Without Your Love” and the smooth “Someone,” both beautifully co-written, arranged and produced by Graydon.

Burt Bacharach’s “Love Always” became the second single off the album. This bittersweet ballad, co-written with Carole Bayer Sager and Bruce Roberts, is one of Bacharach’s best productions of the era with a memorable melody and a heartfelt vocal performance by the singer. “Love Always” was another top ten R&B and Adult Contemporary hit for DeBarge.

There were many big names appearing on the album including David Foster who tickled the ivories on two tracks – “Love Always” and the Graydon produced ballad “When Love Has Gone Away.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/love_always.mp3|titles=Love always|artists=El DeBarge]

Lead Vocals: El DeBarge
Drums: John Robinson
Bass: Neil Stubenhaus
Guitars: Marty Walsh & Dann Huff
Fender Rhodes/DX7 & Synthesizer: Robbie Buchanan
Additional Synthesizers: Burt Bacharach & David Foster
Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
Produced & Arranged by Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager

Lyrics

I got a secret for you
Can’t believe myself
But ever since you’ve been gone
I think of no-one else
I’ve even tried to forget
But nothing can make me

I know that it’s so hard to be true
Under summer skies
I’ll write your name in my cook
At least a thousand times
And every day you’re away
It’s drivin’ me crazy

So I’ll write you every night
And I’ll sign my name “Love always”

And even if the sun falls down
I will always be around
Forever and always

Darlin’, if we both can wait
We’ll have a time to celebrate
For the rest of our lives, love always

And lots of people I know
Try to shake your mind
But that can’t happen to me
I’m not the jealous kind
No-one can change what I feel
And nothing can make me

Still I’ll write to you every night
And I’ll sign my name, “Love always”

And even if the sun falls down
I will always be around
Forever and always

Darlin’, if we both can wait, oh
We’ll have a time to celebrate
For the rest of our lives, love always

For the rest of our lives, love always
For the rest of our lives

We’ll always be
So faithfully
Just hang on to me forever

So I’ll write to every night
And I’ll sign my name, “Love always”

Oh, and if by now you haven’t guessed
I will let one more be asked
For the rest of our lives, love always
For the rest of our lives, love always

I’ll sign this letter to you, “Love always”
Oh, no
Ohohoho

Oh, and if I do
Oh, over and over again
Sign my name over in full
And at the end and rest of our lives, love always
Love always

Oooh
Sounds so good to me, oh
For the rest of our lives, love always, oh
For the rest of our lives, love always, oh

Oh, I, I gotta, I gotta sing it for you
I don’t wanna stop, sounds so good to me
always

In 1986, Billboard magazine honored David Foster with a special tribute. Among those who praised his work and talent were Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager who wrote him this dedication: “Dear David, “That’s What Friends Are For” could have been written for you and about you. You’re the greatest, love.” Bacharach and Bayer Sager were thankful to Foster for adding his golden touch through the years on many of their most successful productions. Foster played keyboards on worldwide hits including “On My Own” by Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald plus “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick with Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight. Foster’s trademark magic on the acoustic piano was also heard on “Heartlight,” another great collaboration between Bacharach and Bayer Sager. Released in 1982 by Neil Diamond, this beautiful ballad was a Top 5 Hot 100 hit and a #1 Adult Contemporary hit. The veteran superstar carries the gorgeous melody with an intense crescendo that leads to the powerful refrain. “Heartlight” was also the title track of Diamond’s album released that same year. The singer with Bacharach and Bayer Sager composed the bulk of the certified platinum album, tailoring it for the adult audiences of that era. Foster and Diamond also co-wrote “I’m Alive,” an up-tempo ditty that was another Top 40 entry and Top 5 Adult Contemporary hit at the beginning of 1983.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/hearlight.mp3|titles=Heartlight|artists=Neil Diamond]

Lead Vocals: Neil Diamond
Piano: David Foster
Drums: Jim Keltner
Guitar: Marty Walsh
Bass: Neil Stubenhaus
Synthesizer: Craig Hundley
Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
Arranged & Conducted by Burt Bacharach
Produced by Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager & Neil Diamond

Lyrics

Come back again
I want you to stay next time
Cause sometimes the world ain’t kind
When people get lost like you and me

I just made a friend
A friend is someone you need
But now that he has to go away
I still feel the words that he might say

Turn on your heartlight
Let it shine wherever you go
Let it make a happy glow
For all the world to see

Turn on your heartlight
In the middle of a young boy’s dream
Don’t wake up too soon
Gonna take a ride across the moon
You and me

He’s lookin’ for a home
Cause everyone needs a place
A home’s the most excellent place of all
And I’ll be right here if you should call me

Turn on your heartlight
Let it shine wherever you go
Let it make a happy glow
For all the world to see

Turn on your heartlight
In the middle of a young boy’s dream
Don’t wake up too soon
Gonna take a ride across the moon
You and me

Turn on your heartlight now
Turn on your heartlight now

This song marks the marriage of Burt Bacharach’s classic songwriting style with the quality pop sounds of “Airplay”. It is clear that the author of “Alfie” and “The Look Of Love” was one of the main influences for Foster and Graydon and that their pop sensibility is directly linked to his heritage. That said, it is no surprise this composition sounds like a perfect example of pop music that can be “easy” and accessible yet being highly sophisticated in its arrangement. Al Jarreau’s voice rides high on the wings of Foster and Bacharach’s melody. You can listen to Foster and Graydon providing the right setting with their trademark time changes, rhythm guitar and fender rhodes carpets with the sweet strings and jazzy horn breaks adding colors to the background.

This song was included in the soundtrack of the movie “Night Shift”, released in 1982, which also includes the very first version of “That’s What Friends Are For”, Dionne Warwick’s #1 hit, here sung by Rod Stewart and other nice songs, mostly co-written by Bacharach and Bayer Sager, performed by The Pointer Sisters, Quarterflash and Rufus with Chaka Khan.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/girls_know_how.mp3|titles=GIRLS KNOW HOW|artists=Al Jarreau]

Lead Vocals: Al Jarreau
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Jay Graydon
Background Vocals: Richard Page & Steve George
Produced and Arranged by David Foster & Jay Graydon

Lyrics

NO LYRICS