Bacharach leaves behind lush trove of romantic songs

NEW YORK — Music played softly, almost imperceptibly, in the background of a hotel lounge where Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello talked about their songwriting collaboration, “Painted From Memory.” Bacharach noticed, however, that it was the instrumental version of “The Look of Love,” his song popularized by Dusty Springfield. Thomas, performing “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.” “I’ve always been inclined to write romantic music, hopefully from the heart,” Bacharach said in that 1998 interview. “There are not a lot of up-tempo songs in my catalog.” If you hear a flugelhorn, chances are you’re listening to a Burt Bacharach composition. When it comes to melodic songwriting, there’s never been anyone better.” Bacharach’s songs were often categorized, even minimized, as “easy listening,” perhaps because so many flowed freely during a tumultuous time in the nation’s history. Think “This Guy’s in Love With You.” “He told me he just didn’t want to do anything that was milquetoast,” said songwriter Daniel Tashian, one of the last musicians to work with Bacharach extensively.