Today, that enormous legacy is celebrated with the release of the long-in-the-works 4CD/2LP box set The Songs of Bacharach and Costello. He referenced Burt's influence on his own 'Suspect My Tears,' recounted with incredulity Burt's praise of 'Stripping Paper,' and interpolated 'I Say a Little Prayer' into 'I Want You.' In short, it was the kind of tribute Bacharach would have preferred: one which let his music do (most of) the talking. These moments lent gravitas to the concerts but never threatened to cast a pall instead, they became emotional touchstones, with Bacharach's presence looming large even over Costello's original songs. Costello paid tribute to the elder statesman of popular song every night, speaking tenderly and candidly about his friend and performing songs from both Bacharach's back catalogue and their own collaborations. When the curtain came down, it was to the strains of Jackie DeShannon's recording of 'What the World Needs Now Is Love,' prompting many a frequent audience singalong. The pre-show music piping throughout the theatre each night was drawn from Burt's solo A&M albums.

The residency became a grand tribute to Bacharach. That evening, his longtime friend and musical partner Elvis Costello opened a 10-evening residency at New York's Gramercy Theatre which ultimately saw him perform 239 unique songs from every far-flung corner of his wide-ranging catalogue. The news broke on the morning of Februthat Burt Bacharach had died at the age of 94. And so this had to be/painted from memory.

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