Dr. Dre (file)
Photo: MTV News

Following in the footsteps of Eminem — just much later in his career — 76-year-old songwriter/producer Burt Bacharach is turning to Dr. Dre to bring some edge to his music.

So far, Dre has supplied the beats to three tracks on Bacharach's next album, which is due in 2005.

"It's a challenging, freeing feeling to take an existing format — like these rigid, four-bar loops — and to see what you can write on top of it," Bacharach told the Denver Post over the weekend. "It's hard and challenging too, because it does have some restrictions."

Bacharach, who launched his songwriting career more than 50 years ago, is best known for penning sophisticated, easy-listening hits for the likes of Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, the Carpenters and Neil Diamond. In recent years, however, his cool quotient has escalated thanks to his appearances in the "Austin Powers" movies and duets with Elvis Costello and Oasis' Noel Gallagher.

Aside from a collection of Costello collaborations in 1998, Bacharach hasn't released an album of new, original songs since 1977's Futures. His new project came about when his label in England, where he is more widely considered an icon, approached him about doing a "cutting-edge record."

"I had got together with Dre about a year and a half ago and talked about doing something for the album that we never did," Bacharach said. "Then he gave me the loops, and when I decided to do this album for Sony England, it seemed a natural fit."

Bacharach is not making a hip-hop album, however. He described the new music as tapping into his jazz and classical roots.

A spokesperson for Dre had no comment on the Bacharach album or the rapper's own upcoming release, The Detox (see "Dr. Dre's Detox 'The Most Advanced Rap Album Ever,' Co-Producer Says").

Along with recording what he has said will be his final album, Dre is also working on Ice Cube's next record (see "Ice Cube Ready To Work On Solo LP, Still In Talks With Dre").

• Dr. Dre
• Burt Bacharach

Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach have announced plans to stage a handful of rare shows together in support of their new collaboration record, "Painted From Memory," which arrives in stores this week.

The duo were featured as part of the April 8 Burt Bacharach tribute concert, recorded in New York City and broadcast the following week on TNT as the "Bacharach: One Amazing Night" special.

A home video and record of the Bacharach TV special, which included Sheryl Crow, Barenaked Ladies, All Saints, Ben Folds Five and others performing Bacharach's songs, is also set to be released on November 24.

As we previously reported (see "Elvis Costello Collaborates With Burt Bacharach For New Record"), the songs on "Painted From Memory" grew out of an earlier joint effort between Costello and Bacharach -- when the two recorded "God Give Me Strength" for the "Grace of My Heart" soundtrack, a song which was nominated last year for a Grammy award.

Dates you can catch Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach in concert:

• 10/13 - New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
• 10/15 - Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall
• 10/16 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theater
• 10/20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Universal Amphitheater

• Burt Bacharach
• Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello will team-up with one of his musical idols, songwriting legend Burt Bacharach, for a new, as-yet-untitled album due out on September 29.

Costello and Bacharach have been writing material for the record since early 1997, and in April, Costello came out for a tribute concert honoring Bacharach, the composer of such songs as "Do You Know The Way to Santa Fe?" and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head."

The duo have completed 11 tracks for the new album, which is being laid down at Ocean Way studios in Hollywood, California, and features Bacharach on piano. Songs slated for the album include "In the Darkest Place," "This House Is Empty Now," "Such Unlikely Lovers" and "Painted From Memory."

Another song expected to make the record is "God Give Me Strength," a Costello-Bacharach collaboration featured on the "Grace of My Heart" soundtrack, which was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

• Burt Bacharach
• Elvis Costello