Too Many Guests on Tribute to Bacharach

To excel on a Burt Bacharach song, whether it’s the galloping “Say a Little Prayer” or the gentler “One Less Bell to Answer,” a singer has to capture the elasticity of the lilting melodies, not just convey the feeling behind the superb lyrics, most of which were written by Hal David.

In the moments in which the singers live up to that test, there is magic in “Bacharach: One Amazing Night,” a 90-minute salute that can be seen tonight on TNT. There would have been more of those moments if the guest list had been more discriminating.

Why give precious time to such bland vocalists as Sheryl Crow, the All Saints and the Barenaked Ladies when you could have allowed such truly gifted interpreters as Dionne Warwick, Wynonna, Luther Vandross, Elvis Costello and Chrissie Hynde an extra tune or two?

The answer for that--and such less grievous distractions as Mike Myers’ cartoonish version of “What’s New Pussycat”--was to add variety and to stretch the viewer demographics. But things work best on the special, which was taped last week in New York, when the thrilling Bacharach and David music is presented in its purest form.

Because Vandross and especially Warwick have demonstrated their remarkable feel for these tunes over the years, it’s Costello, on two songs he wrote with Bacharach, and Wynonna, on a soulful reading of “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” who provide the most unexpected punches.

Bacharach not only serves as the gracious, if nervous host, but also accompanies most of the artists on piano and takes over vocally himself on “Alfie.” He lacks range as a singer, but he feels the lyrics with the same passion that he writes the music, and he conveys both with an intimacy and depth that define his art.

* “Bacharach: One Amazing Night” can be seen at 6 and 7:30 tonight on cable’s TNT.