BillBoard
September 4, 2002
As
a songwriter/performer/arranger, the late Bert Berns was
responsible for songs that are synonymous with the likes
of Van Morrison ("Brown Eyed Girl"), Ben E. King
("Stand By Me"), the Drifters ("Under the
Boardwalk"), and the Isley Brothers ("Twist and
Shout"), among many others. To celebrate his legacy,
Universal Music Group chairman/CEO Doug Morris personally
selected the 10 classic songs that comprise the collection
"The Heart and Soul of Bert Berns," due Oct. 1
via Universal Records.
"There
was only one reason why I decided to put this album together,
and that was to celebrate the music and life that was Bert
Berns," Morris said in a statement. "He was one
of the few people in the music business who did in fact
change the world through his talent; he made a virtue of
being different, and everyone from the Rolling Stones to
the Beatles recognized this and wanted to be part of it.
What this record really is then is a monument to the extraordinary
vision and impact of one man."
A
child of Jewish Russian immigrants, Berns was born in 1929
and worked as a songwriter beginning in the late 1950s (sometimes
under the name Bert Russell and sometimes with partner Jerry
Ragovoy). He later became a staff producer at Atlantic Records
and ultimately a partner in two Atlantic Records' imprints
-- Bang! and Shout.
"The
story of Bert's life begins in a tough New York neighborhood,
where the influence of his Puerto Rican and Black neighbors
left an indelible musical impression," his son Brett
Berns said. "He was one of -- if not the first -- to
incorporate Latin rhythms into rock'n'roll and soul."
A childhood bout with rheumatic fever left him with a permanently
weakened heart, and was ultimately responsible for ending
his short but prolific career on Dec. 31, 1967, when he
died at age 38 of a heart attack.
Among
the highlights of "The Heart and Soul of Bert Berns"
is "Piece of My Heart." Later made famous by Janis
Joplin, the version on the Universal set was recorded by
Erma Franklin, sister of the legendary Aretha Franklin.
Other gems include Solomon Burke's "Cry to Me"
and "Freddy Scott's "Are You Lonely for Me."
"This
record is not just a collection of Bert's biggest hits,"
Morris writes in his liner notes for the set. "These
songs are what I feel are the essence of Bert Berns."
-
BillBoard
September 4, 2002
