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Legendary composer Burt Bacharach started writing Great Songs way back in the late 1950s...and today, we're highlighting one of his earliest.
In 1961, he was working at the Brill Building--the New York City musical landmark where some of the most popular songs in American history were written by the likes of Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Tony Orlando. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector --just to name 7 out several dozen!
Burt teamed up with Bob Hilliard to write "Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird"), a song about a man who knew his romantic relationship was about to end and how it made him feel.
In 1962, it was recorded and released by Rhythm & Blues artist Chuck Jackson, who took it to #2 on Billboard's R&B Chart. Impressive, but the best was yet to come, although it took a while.
Skip to 1982. After more than a dozen cover versions had been released with only a few minor successes--and 20 full years after Chuck Jackson's R&B version--Ronnie Milsap's "countrypolitan cover" became a HUGE crossover hit.
Wisely, Ronnie sang the song with a softer edge--and in a lower key--which gave it a somewhat sadder vibe, which obviously appealed to a wider audience.
The proof: #1 for multiple weeks on the Country AND Adult Contemporary Charts in both the US and Canada!
"Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird"): a Great Song of 1962 by Chuck Jackson...and 1982 by Ronnie Milsap!
Tomorrow: Slithering to the top.
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