Promises, Promises - "Promises, Promises"

[TheSilentCobra]

As a young kid this was the first Broadway show I ever attended. Not into the hippie scene, I loved this show. Still listen to the album to this day! Orbach and O'Hara were great!

[danyjr]

BACHARACH!

[822d]

Yes, I love Dionne Warwick's rendition. Just great! However, she didn't have to do this on Broadway six times a week. A few times in a recording sudio to get it perfect, which it was.

My hat goes off to Jerry Orbach and others who did this day in and day out. I just love Jerry's rendtion.  Just love him in anything. TV's Law and Order was never the same without him.

Of course, I could listen to Dionne singing anthing forever.

[SongsJerome]

Sean Hayes sounds more softer then Jerry Orbach. I can sing Sean Haye's version better.

[jamesjeffreypaul]

Thanks for remembering the late, great Jerry Orbach. Who played the role of Fran in the original 1968 production?

[jimraw1]

@jamesjeffreypaul Jill O'Hara; both Orbach and O'Hara were nominated for the tony in 1969 (Orbach won but O'Hara lost to Angela Lansbury).

[andreagiuseppe]

@jimraw1 Interesting that the two winners both went on to play in "beauty and the beast" cool coincidence

[gammaseven]

The British release of the soundtrack of Promises Promises featured Aimi McDonald and Ronnie Carroll in the starring roles. Aimi is a british actress in the mould of Goldie Hawn i.e. the dumb blonde but unfortunately she doesn't sing too well. Ronnie Carroll on the other hand is the greatest singer of Promises Promises and I mean of all time. Listen to how he takes total command of the timing differences in this very very difficult song. No one can hold a candle to the man. Total genius.

[BristolCircle]

@gammaseven The London Production starred Betty Buckley and Tony Roberts in the leading roles.

[DancingFalcons]

@BristolCircle I heard on NPR that Tony Roberts hated singing this sonf because there are 5 key changes in this. I have always loved this song and have an even greater appreciation of it. I had no idea how complicated it is to sing!

[ZombieBriscoe]

@DancingFalcons There aren't 5 key changes in this--in fact, I don't think there are any (I've got a copy of the sheet music). But there are about 20 time signature changes over the course of this one-and-a-half minute song, which is probably what Roberts was complaining about--the song's tough to read/count. (I also heard on NPR that, three months into "Promises, Promises"'s original run, Jerry Orbach asked Burt Bacharach why he had to make this song so difficult to sing.)

[DancingFalcons]

@ZombieBriscoe OK, you are correct. I confuse music terms which might be why I became a mime!

[jimraw1]

@DancingFalcons It wasnt just Roberts; Dionne Warwick hated singing this song as well because of the wierd time changes - she said it was by far the most difficult song she ever recorded.

[pkunzip501]

Respond to this video... 

[jebeja]

Dionne Warwick sang this song better than anyone I've ever heard do it, even to this day.

[singchef1965]

@jebeja Yes, But Jerry Orbach does a pretty bang up job with it. And it is really nice to hear a guy sing this.

[ssstate727]

@jebeja AGREED.........Warwick puts everyone else to shame. Back in 1968, Bacharach had Dionne record her "Promises, Promises" album so the cast of the musical could learn how to sing the songs. After the cast album peaked at # 95 on Billboards Top 100, Bacharach released Warwick's album which peaked at # 18 and remained on the charts for 39 weeks......for the Gold Record.

[pkunzip501]

@jebeja Of course, she is a vocalist, not a singer/actor. These B'way performers never attempted careers as a singer like Warwick, who was wonderful. I love her in all the Bacharach repertory. [Eydie Gorme sang rings around Angela Lansbury in "If He Walked into My Life Today" but she was no actress. In the context of the show -- Mame -- no one could be more moving than Lansbury.]

[ryoushii]

Far out, You can hear this on the broadway channel on Sirius sometimes.

I think Orbach's version is better than Dionne Warwick's

[richiguy]

I knew Jerry Orbach was a Broadway star before TV, but this is just fantastic. What a talent. He knocks this right out of the park. RIP

[RandomPersonman]

Long live Jerry Orbach! :D

[oneoctavedown]

An outragous composition by the master Bacharach.

Ok Dear Musicians, try counting hoe many times the song changes time signature :)

This is a nightmare for any musician trying to play to this complex tune.

Bravo Bacharach!

[ghb61]

@oneoctavedown :

I'm not a musician, but I've heard that point made about the song many times--apparently it wasn't very easy to learn!

[oneoctavedown]

@ghb61 It’s like this: Most songs stay in certain time, so that it becomes easier to play, learn, etc., but Mr Bacharach style is renown for involving shifting time signatures and this song, Promises, Promises, is a classic example. Listen to the original version and you will notice this very clearly, pay particular attention to the drums, you will see what I mean....

[hokiestan]

Why wasn't this a hit?

[AdamEfimoff]

@hokiestan you imagine a conservative audience seeing sex in the apartment on stage and I think you will see the problem

[twinkie57401]

My gawd! This is the Law and Order star! Very sad when he passed away recently. He was the father in "Dirty Dancing" as well, but started out on stage and in musicals!

[bertiejr]

@twinkie57401 jerry orbach was in the original "fantastiks" and sings it's main song "try to remember" do a search,,,there are several good versions of him

[bertiejr]

@twinkie57401 ...including the original version, and a later live version

[ghb61]

So much energy and excitement in a tune that's less than 2 minutes long. Jerry Orbach sounds great, as does the arrangement--very '60s!

[plquick1]

I' was very lucky to have seen him do the show way back when - Super voice!

[loladiana]

Sorry but this is a real voice, Sean Hayes is sweet but no power.

[fuzzlylizzy]

@loladiana if you saw him live, then I'll take that. But if you're saying that without seeing this show in person... WOW you're in for a surprise. His voice is SPECTACULAR. Both men are extraordinary with very different voices.

[hardingtess]

Terrific. So glad to find this.

[gkacich]

I just heard Burt Bacharach and Hal David on NPR talking about their music. There are 20 changes in time signature in this song. They also referred to "Promises, Promises" as being "notey," i.e., very hard to sing. Incredible stuff.

[MVR326]

Beautiful. Burt Bacharach is just great, and Jerry Orbach's open belting voice.

This actually sounds like it would be a difficult song to sing

[Shoe3003]

Re Jerry Orbach's great musical theatre talent: be sure to check him out in the original Broadway cast recordings of "The Fantastiks," "Carnival!" and "42nd Street." Wow!

[bluemax111f]

He was very good. Never knew about his Broadway work or singing. Bravo Jerry.

[SteveInNN]

Bert and Hal Davis were on the NPR show Fresh Air, and they played a piece of this song. Damn, he really could sing! And yes, Sean does a good job in the modern version.

[DancingFalcons]

@SteveInNN That was why I came over here to check out this song! I can't get enough of it. I'm not that educated in music but now I can hear the key changes. Very complicated song with a great result!

[MyBruno555]

hard to believe this is the cynical orbach from law and order

[twinkie57401]

@MyBruno555

Same here, Bruno! Plus, he was the father in "Dirty Dancing" and passed away recently. What an awesome, multi-talented star!

[maida1982a]

Sean Hayes does an admirable job. He works his butt off.

[troyboy7962]

i didn't know the late great mr. Orbach was a singer before playing on LAW & ORDER. i always liked DIONNE WARWICK 's version of this song

[jimraw1]

@troyboy7962 Orbach is one of the great Broadway stars; the day after he died all of the Broadway theatres dimmed the lights on their marquees - a huge honor. Consider he was Billy Flynn in the original production of Chicago; El Gallo in the original production of The Fantastics; plus was in 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls, Three Penny Opera, Carnival, and a ton of others. However, he admitted that he wanted to be Al Pacino, so was always trying to get the big dramatic roles.

[fgldnglbs]

This has been one of those I've been waiting for ever since I first started searching this site. Thanks a lot. Great all around talent Jerry Orbach was.

[ph1lanthrope]

Classic soundtrack!! Love it!!

[pkunzip501]

@ph1lanthrope It is not a soundtrack. It is an original Broadway Cast Recording. A soundtrack is that from a film only. Broadways shows do not have soundtracks, right?

[ph1lanthrope]

@pkunzip501 Whatever!

[SacMyk]

@pkunzip501 interesting, sir, or ma' am, in an attempt to seem scholarly, all you managed to do was appear bitter, acerbic and completely out of step with what this musical play asks us to consider.

[eastsunrise]

@SacMyk Quite the contrary!The fact that the art of musical comedy has merged into canned music like "soundtracks",which shud b for film music is indicative of the fact that we do not have educated consumers going to and supporting the theater today.Not long ago there was a distinction in every retail outlet for "cast albums" vs. soundracks,which referred to film music like the great Max Steiner, Korngold,etc.Now B'way music is re-cylced Beach Boys and heavy metal.Ergo: where are the composers?

[SacMyk]

@eastsunrise I can't deny that there is scant 'new' musical comedy being produced. The Tony awards this season certainly shgow that with all the revivals. SO no, I don't argue that there is a dearth of 'new' work out there.

I remember the days of soundtracks vs cast albums too.

[maryhadalittlelamb25]

I LOVE THIS SONG!...MISIS YOU JERRY!