Painted from Memory

1998 studio album by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello

Painted from Memory

Studio album by

Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello

Released| 29 September 1998
Recorded| 1995–1998
Genre| Pop, orchestral pop
Length| 52:07
Label| Mercury
Producer| Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello chronology
| Extreme Honey
(1997)  | Painted from Memory
(1998)  | The Very Best of Elvis Costello
(1999)

|
|

Burt Bacharach chronology
| Woman
(1979)  | Painted from Memory
(1998)  | The Sweetest Punch
(1999)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
The Baltimore Sun| [2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [3]
Entertainment Weekly| B+[4]
Los Angeles Times| [5]
NME| 8/10[6]
Pitchfork| 7.0/10[7]
Q| [8]
Rolling Stone| [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [10]
Spin| 8/10[11]

Painted from Memory is a collaboration album by Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach, released on 29 September 1998 through Mercury Records, a division of Universal Music Group.

## Background

[edit]

The collaboration commenced with "God Give Me Strength", a commission for the 1996 film Grace of My Heart,[12] directed by Allison Anders, starring Illeana Douglas, with lead vocals by Kristen Vigard. Apparently pleased with the result, the pair expanded the project to this full album, the first for Costello after an absence of two years, and for Bacharach after an absence of 21 years. Lyrics and music are co-credited to both Bacharach and Costello. In his 2015 autobiography, Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink, Costello wrote, "To have written a song like "God Give Me Strength" and simply stopped would have been ridiculous, so about a year later we began a series of writing sessions [...]."[13]

A companion album, The Sweetest Punch, was made concurrently by jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, released in 1999 on another Universal label, Decca Records. It consists of jazz arrangements of the Painted From Memory songs done by Frisell and his studio group. It features vocals by Costello on two songs, and by jazz singer Cassandra Wilson on two songs, one of which is a duet employing both.

Costello had long been a Bacharach fan, and had recorded several Bacharach songs, beginning with "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself," released on a 1978 Stiff Records compilation Live Stiffs Live. Costello would also cover "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" for the soundtrack to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, with both he and Bacharach performing it in the film – a callback to Bacharach's cameo appearance in the first film.[14]

"I Still Have That Other Girl" won a Grammy Award in 1998 for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" for Bacharach and Costello. Costello later wrote, "One day, while writing "I Still Have that Other Girl", we reached an impasse as to how to get to the full chorus. I was looking out of the window for inspiration when Burt began to play something I'd never heard before. It sounded beautiful, sort of Viennese. We were running a digital recorder to catch our working sketches, but when the recording was played back it was mostly obscured by me yelling, "That's it, you've got it, [...] Fortunately my overexcited babble didn't completely cover the invention, and we were able to decode the recording and complete the song".[15] The album was recorded and mixed by Kevin Killen.

Following the album's release, Costello and Bacharach performed songs from the album together at only a limited number of venues. One of these comprised a second-season episode of the American public television program Sessions at West 54th, later released on VHS. Also at this time, however, Costello began playing a different style of live concerts, accompanied by only longtime keyboardist Steve Nieve on piano. In 1999, Costello subsequently embarked on the Lonely World Tour, performed in this style with Nieve receiving equal billing; songs from Painted from Memory were a prominent part of the setlists on this tour.

Songs from the album remain in both Costello and Bacharach's live repertoires. A rendition of "God Give Me Strength" closes Costello's 2004 orchestrated live album My Flame Burns Blue, while some of Bacharach's later concerts with regular singer John Pagano also incorporated "God Give Me Strength".

## Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach.

1. "In the Darkest Place" – 4:19
2. "Toledo" – 4:35
3. "I Still Have That Other Girl" – 2:46
4. "This House Is Empty Now" – 5:10
5. "Tears at the Birthday Party" – 4:38
6. "Such Unlikely Lovers" – 3:24
7. "My Thief" – 4:20
8. "The Long Division" – 4:15
9. "Painted from Memory" – 4:12
10. "The Sweetest Punch" – 4:09
11. "What's Her Name Today?" – 4:08
12. "God Give Me Strength" – 6:11

### 1999 limited edition bonus disc

[edit]

1. "This House Is Empty Now" (live on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, 27 November 1998)
2. "I Still Have That Other Girl" (live at Shibuya Hall, Tokyo, 10 February 1999)
3. "In the Darkest Place" (live at the Athenaeum, Melbourne, 16 February 1999)
4. "Painted from Memory" (live at the Athenaeum, Melbourne, 16 February 1999)
5. "What's Her Name Today?" (live at Shibuya Hall, Tokyo, 10 February 1999)

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1998)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] | 26
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] | 33
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[18] | 38
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[19] | 29
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] | 18
UK Albums (OCC)[21] | 32
US Billboard 200[22] | 78

## Documentary

[edit]

Prior to the recording of the album, Irish film producer Phillip King proposed to Costello that a film should be made to document the process.[23] The resulting film, Because It's a Lonely World, was produced by King's company, Hummingbird Productions;[24] the title, taken from the lyrics of "What's Her Name Today?", was also originally a working title for the album itself and part of a promotional tagline for the album.[25] The hour-long documentary originally aired in the UK on Channel 4 on 26 December 1998,[26] and in the U.S., Bravo, which was then expanding its original programming lineup during the midst of a major advertising campaign,[27] aired it on 20 October 1999.[28]

## 2014 musical

[edit]

On 24 September 2014, the album was performed by Australian musical theatre stars Michael Falzon and Bobby Fox at Sydney's City Recital Hall.[29] Falzon approached Fox in 2014 with a view to recreate the iconic 1998 album because, according to him,

> "It's very much written from the heart and experience and it resonates so deeply with people. Because of the lyrics and because you can hear that hurt, you get all the emotions. And with Bacharach and Costello it's not just the lyrics; there are the clever arrangements that take you there anyway."[30]

The concert version featured popular hits by Bacharach and Costello during the first act, with a retelling of the album by Fox and Falzon in the second featuring Laura Bunting. It was produced by City Recital Hall and directed by Jonathan Biggins with musical director Isaac Hayward.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Painted from Memory – Elvis Costello / Burt Bacharach". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
2. ^ Considine, J. D. (29 September 1998). "No joke: Costello, Bacharach jam". The Baltimore Sun.
3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Costello, Elvis". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
4. ^ Browne, David (30 September 1998). "Painted from Memory". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
5. ^ Gardner, Elysa (2 October 1998). "Costello, Bacharach Sparkle on 'Memory'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
6. ^ Thomson, Neil (12 October 1998). "Elvis Costello With Burt Bacharach – Painted From Memory". NME. Archived from the original on 7 October 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
7. ^ Lieberman, Neil (November 1998). "Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach: Painted From Memory". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 16 March 2005. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
8. ^ Doyle, Tom (November 1998). "Two's Company". Q (146): 118–19\. Archived from the original on 2 February 2000. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
9. ^ Kot, Greg (15 October 1998). "Painted From Memory". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
10. ^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Elvis Costello". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. pp. 193–95. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
11. ^ Gehr, Richard (December 1998). "Elvis Costello With Burt Bacharach: Painted From Memory". Spin. 14 (12): 184. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
12. ^ McEvoy, Colin (9 February 2023). "What It Was Like to Work with Burt Bacharach, in the Words of his Collaborators". Biography. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
13. ^ Elvis Costello (13 October 2015). Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. Viking. p. 507\. ISBN 978-0-241-00346-6.
14. ^ Qureshi, Arusa (9 February 2023). "Fans are remembering Burt Bacharach's cameos in 'Austin Powers'". NME. BandLab Technologies. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
15. ^ Elvis Costello (13 October 2015). Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. Viking. p. 508\. ISBN 978-0-241-00346-6.
16. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Painted from Memory". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Painted from Memory" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
18. ^ "Charts.nz – Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Painted from Memory". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
19. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Painted from Memory". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
20. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Painted from Memory". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
22. ^ "Elvis Costello Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
23. ^ Kelly, John (19 December 1998), "Calling the tune", The Irish Times, p. 63
24. ^ "Hummingbird Productions". Screen Producers Ireland. Archived from the original on 16 January 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
25. ^ Dominic, Serene (2003), Burt Bacharach, Song by Song, Schirmer Trade Books, ISBN 0-8256-7280-5
26. ^ "When Elvis met Burt", The Irish Times, p. 56, 24 December 1998
27. ^ Fruitkin, Alan James (4 October 1999), "Bravo beefs up for fall", Mediaweek, vol. 9, no. 37, p. 14, ISSN 1055-176X
28. ^ Schoemer, Karen (28 October 1999), "Because It's a Lonely World", Rolling Stone, no. 824, p. 111, ISSN 0035-791X
29. ^ Chris Hook (16 August 2014). "Michael Falzon and Bobby Fox Will Bring The Burt Bacharach-Elvis Costello Album Painted From Memory To Life on Stage". The Daily Telegraph. Best Weekend: Show and Tell. p. 9.
30. ^ Bernard Zuel. "Deep emotions of Painted From Memory a challenge to performers". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Painted from Memory at Discogs (list of releases)
* Karen Schoemer "The Odd Couple", originally from Newsweek 10 May 1998, online on bacharachonline.com

* v
* t
* e

Elvis Costello

* Discography

* The Imposters: Steve Nieve
* Pete Thomas
* Davey Faragher

* The Attractions: Steve Nieve
* Pete Thomas
* Bruce Thomas

Studio albums|

* My Aim Is True
* This Year's Model
* Armed Forces
* Get Happy!!
* Trust
* Almost Blue
* Imperial Bedroom
* Punch the Clock
* Goodbye Cruel World
* King of America
* Blood & Chocolate
* Spike
* Mighty Like a Rose
* The Juliet Letters
* Brutal Youth
* Kojak Variety
* All This Useless Beauty
* Painted from Memory
* When I Was Cruel
* North
* Il Sogno
* The Delivery Man
* The River in Reverse
* Momofuku
* Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
* National Ransom
* Wise Up Ghost
* Look Now
* Hey Clockface
* The Boy Named If

Live albums|

* Live at the El Mocambo
* Deep Dead Blue
* Costello & Nieve
* My Flame Burns Blue
* Live at Hollywood High

Compilations|

* Taking Liberties
* Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers
* The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
* The Man
* Out of Our Idiot
* Girls Girls Girls
* 2½ Years
* The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86
* Extreme Honey
* Costello Album (bootleg)
* The Very Best of Elvis Costello
* Cruel Smile
* The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years
* The Songs of Bacharach & Costello

Singles|

* "Less Than Zero"
* "Alison"
* "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes"
* "Watching the Detectives"
* "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea"
* "Pump It Up"
* "This Year's Girl"
* "Radio Radio"
* "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding"
* "Oliver's Army"
* "Accidents Will Happen"
* "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down"
* "High Fidelity"
* "New Amsterdam"
* "Clubland"
* "From a Whisper to a Scream"
* "Watch Your Step"
* "A Good Year for the Roses"
* "Sweet Dreams"
* "You Little Fool"
* "Man Out of Time"
* "Pills and Soap"
* "Everyday I Write the Book"
* "The Only Flame in Town"
* "Green Shirt"
* "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
* "I Want You"
* "Blue Chair"
* "Veronica"
* "The Other Side of Summer"
* "Sulky Girl"
* "13 Steps Lead Down"
* "London's Brilliant Parade"
* "The Other End of the Telescope"
* "You Bowed Down"
* "She"
* "45"
* "Brilliant Mistake"
* "Complicated Shadows"

Other songs|

* "Welcome to the Working Week"
* "Lipstick Vogue"
* "Senior Service"
* "Stranger in the House"
* "Girls Talk"
* "Riot Act"
* "New Lace Sleeves"
* "Beyond Belief"
* "Almost Blue"
* "Shipbuilding"
* "Indoor Fireworks"
* "Jack of All Parades"
* "Suit of Lights"
* "I Hope You're Happy Now"
* "Next Time Round"

Collaborations|

* Terror & Magnificence
* The Sweetest Punch
* For the Stars
* Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes
* The Resurrection of Rust

Scores|

* G.B.H.
* Jake's Progress
* A Face in the Crowd

Other works / related articles|

* Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink
* Live Stiffs Live
* Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears
* Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous

* v
* t
* e

Burt Bacharach

Albums|

* Hit Maker!: Burt Bacharach Plays the Burt Bacharach Hits
* Reach Out
* Woman
* Painted from Memory (with Elvis Costello)
* At This Time
* The Songs of Bacharach & Costello (compilation)

Film scores|

* What's New Pussycat?
* After the Fox
* Casino Royale
* Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
* Lost Horizon
* Arthur
* Night Shift
* Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Compositions|

* "Alfie"
* "Another Tear Falls"
* "Any Day Now"
* "Anyone Who Had a Heart"
* "Are You There (with Another Girl)"
* "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
* "Baby It's You"
* "Back at You"
* "Blue Guitar"
* "Blue on Blue"
* "Do You Know the Way to San Jose"
* "Don't Make Me Over"
* "Don't Say Goodbye Girl"
* "Don't You Believe It"
* "God Give Me Strength"
* "Heartlight "
* "A House Is Not a Home"
* "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
* "I Say a Little Prayer"
* "I Want You"
* "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
* "Living Together, Growing Together"
* "Long Ago Tomorrow"
* "The Look of Love"
* "Love Power"
* "Magic Moments"
* "Make It Easy on Yourself"
* "Making Love"
* "Message to Michael"
* "My Little Red Book"
* "On My Own"
* "One Less Bell to Answer"
* "Only Love Can Break a Heart"
* "Please Stay"
* "Rain on Me"
* "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
* "Reach Out for Me"
* "Slow Jamz"
* "The Story of My Life"
* "That's What Friends Are For"
* "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me"
* "(They Long to Be) Close to You"
* "This Guy's in Love with You"
* "Three Wheels on My Wagon"
* "Tower of Strength"
* "Trains and Boats and Planes"
* "Turkey Lurkey Time"
* "Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa"
* "Walk On By"
* "What the World Needs Now Is Love"
* "What's New Pussycat?"
* "The Windows of the World"
* "Wishin' and Hopin'"
* "Wives and Lovers"

Tribute albums|

* Connie Francis Sings Bacharach & David
* Johnny Mathis Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert
* Four Bacharach & David Songs
* One Amazing Night
* To Hal and Bacharach
* Back to Bacharach
* When Ronan Met Burt (also produced by Bacharach)

Related articles|

* Awards and nominations
* Hal David
* DJM Records
* Back to Bacharach and David
* The Look of Love (musical)
* Promises, Promises (musical)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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