CLOSE TO YOU: BACHARACH REIMAGINED Original London Cast Recording Now Available

Ghostlight Records has released the Original London Cast Recording of Kyle Riabko's Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined in digital formats today, Friday, June 24. The two-disc physical copies will be available online and in stores Friday, July 1. Seen London and New York - where it hailed as "one of the year's 10 Best" by The New York Times - the show revitalizes the catalog of the iconic American composer for a new generation with Riabko's visionary interpretations. Burt Bacharach himself said"Kyle has done something truly unique. It's brilliant. It's a very fresh take on my music and a huge tribute to me." The album also features special bonus tracks of Kyle's never-before-heard original demos, which formed the basis for the project. The 28-page booklet includes a note from Riabko, liner notes, production and studio photography and opening night photos of Bacharach with the cast. Videos of the West End production's trailer and the album's recording session are available on YouTube. Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined is produced and arranged by Kyle Riabko with David Lane Seltzer of Entertainment 360 serving as executive producer. To order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/close-to-you-bacharach-reimagined.

To celebrate today's release of Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined, an album launch party was held on Tuesday, June 21st, at The Club at The Ivy in London. Burt Bacharach was in attendance and joined Kyle Riabko and a few other cast members (Stephanie McKeon, Greg Coulson, and Renato Paris) onstage at the piano for a version of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" following Riabko's solo performance of "Anyone Who Had A Heart/This Guy's In Love With You" and "A House Is Not A Home." Also in attendance were West End legend Elaine Paige who had become a fan of Riabko and the show during its London run, seeing it multiple times, as well as the show's producer David Lane Seltzer of Entertainment 360, Bacharach's son Oliver Bacharach and manager Sue Main, Ambassador Theatre Group's Adam Kenwright, and theatre impresario Sally Greene. The album was played for those in attendance and begins with a special recorded intro by Burt Bacharach himself.

Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined is the Original London Cast Recording of the hit West End show which began Off Broadway and featured musician Kyle Riabko's brilliant take on the genre-spanning catalogue of Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David and others. The recording features over 30 hits as performed by Riabko and the other incredibly talented young singers and musicians who made up the cast of this magical show. The album showcases beautifully-reimagined versions of classics such as "Alfie," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Walk On By," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "The Look of Love," "What's New Pussycat?", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "Don't Make Me Over," "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me," "A House Is Not A Home," and the enduring title track.

Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined was hailed as "an exhilaratingly fresh new spin" by the London Independent, "highly imaginative" by The Daily Telegraph, "the hippest and hottest musical night in town" by The Stage and "ferociously clever" by The Daily Mail. When the show originally opened in New York, Entertainment Weekly raved that "Riabko is the wonderfully appealing star. It's completely swoon-worthy and super-groovy." New York Magazine called the show "a stunning new musical. It's a revelation and it's fantastic." According to The Washington Post, "the fun, youthful vibe of this show brings a new flavor to Bacharach's timeless classics."

Burt Bacharach appeared at the show's opening night in the West End, and said, "This is star musicianship. Kyle is a beautiful singer and one hell of a guitar player. This is truly a gift. It's a love letter to me."

Kyle Riabko is a singer, guitarist, composer and actor who grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Before starring on Broadway in both Spring Awakening and Hair, Kyle released a full-length album of original music on Columbia/Aware Records and spent his teen years appearing as an opening act for a wide range of artists including: B.B. King, JAmes Brown, John Mayer, Keb' Mo', Buddy Guy, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5, among others.

After appearing in various film and television roles, Kyle created and starred in an earlier incarnation of the show at New York Theatre Workshop and The Menier Chocolate Factory under the title What's It All About? Bacharach Reimagined. The production received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Revue, an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical and four Lucille Lortel Award nominations, including ones for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for Kyle.

The album features Kyle Riabko (vocals, guitars, keyboards, ukulele), Daniel Bailen (vocals, electric bass, upright bass, cello, guitar), Greg Coulson (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Anastacia McCleskey (vocals), Stephanie McKeon (vocals), Renato Paris (vocals, keyboards) and James Williams (percussion).

"CLOSE TO YOU: BACHARACH REVISITED" TRACK LIST

DISC ONE

1. Intro

2. Anyone Who Had A Heart / This Guy's In Love With You

3. The Look Of Love / I Say A Little Prayer / Arthur's Theme

4. Close To You

5. Psychedelic Interlude

6. I Come To You

7. Making Love

8. San Jose Interlude

9. The Windows Of The World / What The World Needs Now Is Love

10. Message To Michael / Do You Know The Way To San Jose

11. The Sundance Kid / Magic Moments / Trains and Boats and Planes

12. Don't Make Me Over

13. Walk On By

14. A House Is Not A Home

15. Make It Easy On Yourself / Mash-Up (Magic Moments, Alfie, Making Love, This Guy's In Love With You)

DISC TWO

1. Percussion Section (Reach Out For Me, Baby It's You, Wishin' and Hopin', That's What Friends Are For, Any Day Now)

2. I'll Never Fall In Love Again

3. Mexican Divorce

4. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself / On My Own / (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me

5. Raindrops Interlude

6. Alfie

7. What The World Needs Now Is Love

8. What's New Pussycat?

9. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

10. DEMO: Anyone Who Had A Heart / This Guy's In Love With You

11. DEMO: The Look Of Love / I Say A Little Prayer For You / Arthur's Theme

12. DEMO: Close To You

13. DEMO: I Come To You

14. DEMO: Making Love

15. DEMO: San Jose Interlude

16. DEMO: Message To Michael / Do You Know The Way To San Jose

17. DEMO: The Sundance Kid / Magic Moments

18. DEMO: Don't Make Me Over

19. DEMO: Walk On By (original version)

20. DEMO: Walk On By (revised version)

21. DEMO: I'll Never Fall In Love Again