His songs have been the soundtrack to many a life, moments in time, such as for vagrant Tony in Washington DC… so today we say a little prayer for Burt.
I shared a half-smoke hot dog with Tony at Ben’s Chili Bowl where he had taken up residence.
And heard the story of his life to the backdrop of the song he put on the jukebox Aretha Franklin’s I Say A Little Prayer.
So there without us knowing, Burt Bacharach had seeped into our common experience.
An angel’s songs
And that in essence was the genius of the man who is now serenading the angels.
Because Burt Bacharach and Hal David heightened the human experience in their timeless songs.
Often in the most original and humorous way.
Probably why Mike Myers turned to him to play piano on the restyled top of a London double decker as Austin romanced Vanessa.
And it rubbed off too as when I travel to the American Travel Fair.
This way to San Jose
So amid the dozens of stands I’d always pick out one of the Californian displays.
And ask… ‘do you know the way to San Jose?, I’ve got a lot of friends in San Jose’
Burt then would creep up on you when you least expected it.
Mostly in America, to be fair.
Whether in Connecticut where The Carpenters are really from although we associate them more with California.
American Songbook
And where I heard echoes of Burt and the heavenly Karen Carpenter.
Or the Great Outdoors of Utah where The Sundance Film Festival is held annually and Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head tingles in the air.
While Burt and Hal put Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the map particularly when you’re 24 hours from the Mid-Western town.
Burt’s score and Hal’s lyrics have then become a reference point to define many a nostalgic destination.
And in the way that only music bands can do it’s bye-bye B-52s hello Idaho.
The New Wave pioneers are calling time on 46 years of their out there arty pop this year with a tour of the States.
All of which will go down especially well in trippy California and their homestead of Georgia although they won’t be playing Idaho.
They have once before near state capital Boisey.
Love getaway
We can get together: The B-52s
But no sleight intended, the great outdoorsy state (pop 1.5m) is the getaway state of their song and their imagination.
The B-52s are, of course, known for their escapism, their other biggest hit the impossibility catchy Love Shack.
The love getaway down the Atlanta Highway.
And I can vouch that even in their 70s now Fred, Kate and the gang can still get you up bopping.
I’ve got my jukebox money
Hurry up: I’ve got my jukebox money
As I, and others, can testify to when they brought the house down at one of our American Travel Fair lunches, in Denver.
Of course, it felt particularly apt, here in Colorado, in the shadow of the Rockies which it shares with private Idaho.
Idaho is, in truth, as dramatic and remote as in the B-52s’ imagination.
Footsteps of Lewis and Clark
Rocky mountain high: Idaho
And Lewis and Clark, of expeditionary fame.
Both of whom found it is as variable as anywhere on the great American landmass.
And take in Twin Falls where you’ll witness Shoshone Falls, dubbed as the ‘Niagara of the West’ whose waterfalls stands 45 feet taller than the eastern wonder.
Niagara of the West: Shoeshone Falls
Channel your inner trekker on the Northwest Scenic Byway to Coeur d’Alene.
Where sun and moon risings are recommended experiences on your itinerary.
For the day that’s in it when The Dutch Republic sold New Holland to Portugal in 1661 here’s Brasaleia and other sold countries.
No, you didn’t know the Dutch took 63 tonnes of gold from Portugal for what would become Brazil.
They had run the north-east part of the country we now know as Sambaland for 31 years before cashing in after a war.
The Dutch were the great merchants of their day and dealmakers.
And the best dealmaker of our day, and most famous living New Yorker, Donald Trump, would have approved of another deal.
Manhattan transfer
The art of the deal: With The Donald in New York
Dutch governor Peter Minuit bought Manhattan from the native Americans in 1621 for trinkets to the value of $24.
And when the Dutch relinquished it in 1674 to the English who rechristened it New York they got the rich sugar and cotton territory of Suriname in South America in return.
All of which would be a poor take on a weekend in a Las Vegas casino.
LA is my laddie: In Los Angeles
Ten million greenbacks got them southern Arizona and New Mexico from their neighbours five years later.
But they weren’t finished there and sealed the deal of all deals when they waved $7.2m under the Russian Bear’s nose in 1867 for Alaska.
And again that proved to be mere loose change compared with the oodles of money they’ve taken in oil since.
While the Americans have waved the chequebook more than anybody the British haven’t been slow in flashing cash either.
Rate Britain
Water island: Singapore
And at various stages they have bought bits of India and Africa from the Danes.
All of which makes you think Trump could have done a deal with them over Greenland.
While Singapore was purchased from Johor, a state in Malaysia, for $60,000 in 1824.
Scots bank it
Leg it to… the Isle of Man
Who would have thought too that the Scots were at it too long before any of them.
When they forked out 4,000 marks sterling and 100 mark annuity to the Norwegians for…
The Hebrides, Kintyre, islands off the Firth of Clyde and get this, the Isle of Man, from Norway in 1266.
It’s ironic then that the Scots were “bought and sold for English gold such a parcel of rogues in a nation” when they surrendered to the union with England which created Great Britain.
And which you can read all about in the excellent Price of Scotland from historian Douglas Watt.
All of which we’ll reflect on on this lazy Saturday afternoon… Brasaleia and other sold countries.
Yes, here’s Jimmy shining a light on Halloween and spooktacular high points I’ve enjoyed and which have been recommended.
Full disclosure first… horror films wouldn’t be my first genre of choice and there are many iconic scary Hollywood films I’ve yet to see.
Between my fingers, of course.
And seeing that Stephen King has written all of them then he’s a good place to start.
Who’s at the door?
Did you order room service: Jack Nicholson as Johnny
The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite: This was the inspiration for The Overlook hotel in The Shining – right down to the red lifts.
Architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood’s 1920s Californian hotel hosted presidents, royalty and a few ghosts.
While the Stanley Hotel was the inspiration for Stephen King’s bestselling book the recognisable interior sets of the movie hotel, The Overlook, were heavily influenced by Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel.
Inside the lobby, visitors will find the cavernous ceilings, Native American-inspired patterns, and even the frightening red-doored elevators from the movie.
My easy charm and friendliness had got the better of me on the plane over when I got talking to a Californian on her way home.
And listen to her story of eating an airport egg sandwich and then handle her sick bag.
She’s behind you.. the flapper girl
But my 24-hour sickness bug came after I’d enjoyed the delights of West Hollywood.
Can’t say though that I saw too many flapper girls, more flapper boy in this out, out, out, joyful town (and yes, my captain’s hat drew some smiles from the queens getting ready for Pride).
Back to more scary things and the art-deco Sunset Tower has become synonymous with the ghost of a beautiful flapper girl, known to ride in the lift with unsuspecting guests.
The Wailed West
Bill’s Bones: And will Buffalo Bill rise up again
Colorado: And if you imagine a spur a-clicking or a horse a-whinnying in Colorado it’s probably because the Wild West heroes are still keeping an eye on us all from beyond the grave.
Whether that’s Buffalo Bill at Lookout Mountain or the regular cowboy, prospector and dreamer in the Red State’s ghost towns, the Wild West is all around you.
St. Elmo, located west of Buena Vista, is one of Colorado’s best-preserved ghost towns. With wooden storefronts and a dusty main street, it looks straight out of a John Wayne movie.
After exploring St Elmo, visitors should make their way to the nearby infamous town of Tin Cup. One of the more rowdy towns, sheriffs didn’t last very long here, and you can see echoes of their sorry fates lingering at the town cemetery.
Slovenia though is a magical land with rich history and superstition which lends itself to ghostie stories.
Built within a cave in the middle of a towering cliff, Predjama, which dates back to 1274, is imposing by most standards.
Spooky: Predjama Castle in Slovenia
Add in local legend and you’ll be hard pressed not to get spooked:
Once the residence of knight Erazem Lueger, Predjama has hidden passageways and was reputedly a site of torture and treachery. Lueger was betrayed by his servants and killed in the castle, and is said to still haunt it today.
Dragons and ghouls
The Bride of Frankenstein: No, weddings at Fonmon too.
Yes, and back on this island and in an old stomping ground, Wales, where they defer to an old dragon (make up your own punchline) Halloween is all the rage.
Throughout October, Fonmon Castle and Gardens are offering several spooky experiences for visitors, including Halloween Haunted Gardens through to 31 October between 5-9pm inviting brave souls to test their nerves through an interactive garden of horror.
There’s also ghost tours on offer through the castle grounds from 6-13 October from 7pm. Walk and explore the grounds with an experienced guide and participation in paranormal activities is encouraged.
For the wee ones, there will be games fancy dress and entertainment from 10am. Entry from £14.50 for adults and £9.50 over 3’s.
Now if you’re back out on the road, and more and more of us are, then watch your ghoulies.
Because around the corner the souls of the dead are rising up.
I, of course, put my faith in the locals in such circumstances such as the Galacians who invited me to join them in the Quiemada fiery brew ceremony.
