FRESH AIR

Lyricist Hal David and composer Burt Bacharach began their collaboration together in 1957 after meeting in New York City’s legendary Brill Building — the home of dozens of music publishers, as well as songwriters such as Carole King, Neil Sedaka and Paul Simon. Only a year later, their song “The Story of My Life” hit the U.S. country music charts. Soon afterward, Perry Como recorded their song “Magic Moments,” which also climbed the charts. But it was in 1961, when Bacharach and David started their collaboration with the sultry pop star Dionne Warwick, when they had their biggest string of hits. Between 1961 and 1981, Warwick charted 38 singles co-written or produced by Bacharach and David. Their song “Walk on By” became one of Warwick’s classic numbers, along with “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and “Wishin’ and Hopin’,” which was also recorded by Dusty Springfield. During the ’60s and ’70s, Bacharach and David also wrote for some of the biggest names in the recording industry, including Tom Jones, Gene Pitney, Bobby Vinton and Lou Johnson, who released the first version of their hit “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me.” In 1966, the duo began to release movie theme songs, including Alfie, What’s New, Pussycat? and The Look of Love. Their work in movies led to Broadway: A year later, they were asked by producer David Merrick to collaborate with Neil Simon on the musical Promises, Promises. Though Bacharach and David would create several more hits together — Isaac Hayes’ “Walk on By” and B.J. Thomas’ “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” among them — they ended their collaboration in 1973, shortly after the release of the critically panned movie musical Lost Horizon. MORE

RADIO TIMES

The Gulf Oil Spill and Future U.S. Energy Policy

Hour 1
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is expected to become the biggest oil spill in U.S. history and an environmental disaster far worse than the “Exxon Valdez accident of 1989.” 210,000 gallons of oil continue to pour into the gulf each day and the slick is now roughly 130 miles by 70 miles wide. As the spill nears the shoreline, experts warn that wildlife, beaches and the fishing industry are likely to be devastated. This hour, we’ll look at how fishing communities are coping with the impending disaster. And, talk about the effect of the spill on future U.S. energy policy. Our guests are Diane Wilson, environmental activist and former shrimp boat captain, and Lisa Margonelli, director of the New America Foundation energy initiative.

Inside the complicated world of hoarders

Hour 2
In their new book, “Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things,” researchers Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee take us into the complicated physical and psychological world of hoarders. They’ve been researching and working with hoarders for twenty years and offer a range of explanations and strategies for people who struggle with excessive clutter and acquiring.

THE WORLD CAFE

Drawing from any number of ’60s pop bands whose names start with the word “The,” The Clientele has always evoked autumnal romps through the English countryside. On its fourth album, Bonfires on the Heath, the band’s music hasn’t changed a whole lot, but it’s a bit more refined. Led by Alasdair MacLean’s warm voice, and now aided by the backing vocals and multi-instrumental skills of Mel Draisey, The Clientele performs its perfectly precise chamber-pop on World Cafe.