I’m an unlikely cheerleader. I’m often described as snarky, sardonic, and sarcastic. I try not to get too high or too low emotionally speaking. That’s why I find myself posting a song that qualifies as uplifting. Uplift isn’t usually my jam, but these are unusual times. The world clearly needs love sweet love right now.

What The World Needs Now seems like a simple song but it took Burt Bacharach and Hal David three years to finish it:

“Co-songwriter Burt Bacharach revealed in his 2014 autobiography that this song had among the most difficult lyrics Hal David ever wrote, despite being deceptively simple as a pop hit. He explained that they had the main melody and chorus written back in 1962, centering on a waltz tempo, but it took another two years for David to finally come up with the lyric, “Lord, we don’t need another mountain.” Once David worked out the verses, Bacharach said the song essentially “wrote itself” and they finished it in a day or two.^[3]

The song’s success caught the two songwriters completely by surprise, since they were very aware of the controversy and disagreements among Americans about the Vietnam War, which was the subtext for David’s lyrics. Bacharach continuously used the song as the intro and finale for most of his live concert appearances well into the 2000s.”

It qualifies as an anti-MAGA anthem some 60 years later. Thanks, Burt and Hal.

Bacharach-David muse Dionne Warwick was offered the song first. She turned it down, so we begin with Jackie DeShannon

I dig the cover of this album by The Staple Singers. One could even call this week’s tune Jewish gospel music.

I had never heard James Brown’s take on the Bacharach-David classic before. It’s pretty darn good as is the album cover. In a word: Electrifying.

Aimee Mann’s version of this week’s tune was initially recorded for a Calvin Klein commercial.

Local heroes Tank and the Bangas cut What The World Needs Now with a little help from their New Orleans friends in 2020.

Finally, The Isley Brothers & Santana. Say no more.

What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without jazz instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time, Stan Getz followed by Cal Tjader.

Have I told you lately that Cal Tjader and I share a high school alma mater? Go Bearcats.

That’s it for this week. I propose a toast to Pope Leo IV whose election has pissed off the MAGA maggots. What’s not to love about a pontiff with family ties to New Orleans? It’s what Louis, Keely, and Frank would want. Never argue with them.