Promises Promises/I'll Never Fall In Love Again

This two-fer combines two of Warwick's later albums for Scepter, Promises, Promises (1968) and I'll Never Fall in Love Again (1970), onto one CD, adding the small 1969 hit single "Odds and Ends," the 1968 B-side "Dream Sweet Dreamer," and one track ("They Say It's Wonderful") that, though done in 1970, didn't see release until a 1977 compilation. Among the 23 tracks are a few big hits ("Promises, Promises," "This Girl's in Love With You," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"), a few small hits ("Paper Mache," "Who Is Gonna Love Me?," "Let Me Go to Him"), and a bunch of relatively little-known Bacharach-David tunes that didn't make it onto chart singles (including Warwick's version of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"). While it's generally superior late-'60s pop-soft soul (emphasis on pop and soft), a bunch of covers and show tunes come off as padding, à la "Little Green Apples," "My Way," and "Something," though her version of "Where Is Love" (from Oliver!) is OK. The more obscure Bacharach-David compositions here tend toward the lush and, though professionally crafted with their trademark idiosyncratic touch as could be expected, are not as memorable as the songs of theirs that Warwick made into big hits. She gets a little more into brassy soul on "Lonely in My Heart" (which Bacharach-David didn't write, from Promises, Promises) and the wittily titled "Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets" (which Bacharach-David did write, from I'll Never Fall in Love Again). It's a snazzier package than most two-fers tend to be, with appreciative liner notes by soul expert David Nathan. [This CD is only available for purchase over the Internet, from www.rhinohandmade.com.] ~ Richie Unterberger|