Released: August 31, 1964
Label: Scepter
Producer: Burt Bacharach • Hal David
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Dionne Warwick is one of my favorite living legends. She’s had a career that has been active for GENERATIONS and that is so iconic to me! She comes from a family of iconic singers (Whitney Houston is her first cousin for heaven’s sake,) but Dionne’s voice was remarkable.
Dionne is our first Black pop star, and I’ll never allow you to forget it. She was the first Black woman to win a Grammy Award in a pop category! Forever cemented as one of the best of all time.
Dionne Warwick’s third studio album Make Way for Dionne Warwick is one of the most daring albums of its time. Her third studio album pairs the singer up with her frequent collaborators Burt Bacharach & Hal David, and has some of her most popular and well known works. A lot of these songs have gone on to be covered by so many amazing artists, but it is something so organic and raw about Dionne’s versions since the songs fit her voice so perfectly.
Make Way for Dionne Warwick peaked in the top ten of the Hot R&B LPs chart, and number 68 on the Billboard 200 charts respectively. The album was the first of Dionne’s to enter the US charts, and gave Dionne the ability to have a hand with the British invasion cultural phenomenon with the success of singles from this album alone.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Dionne Warwick’s Make Way for Dionne Warwick!
Side one:
A House is Not a Home
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
The album opens with A House Is Not a Home, which is lyrically about the meaning of home…and how it feels to be safe and loved.
***A House Is Not a Home has been covered by many artists, including Luther Vandross…which has since become one of his signature songs!
People
Written by June Stone ∙ Bob Merrill
A cover of a Barbra Streisand classic, People is one of my highlights from this album. Dionne does the song so much justice!
***People was originally recorded by Barbra Streisand.
(They Long to Be) Close to You
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
(They Long to Be) Close to You is one of the most beautifully written songs ever. Dionne’s version is stellar, and is one of the earliest recordings of this song. The song was later covered by The Carpenters, whom Dionne became good friends with.
***(They Long to Be) Close to You was originally recorded by Richard Chamberlain.
The Last One to Be Loved
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
The Last One to Be Loved is a gem in her catalog, and has become one of my favorites!
Land of Make Believe
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
Land of Make Believe has a mesmerizing instrumental, and has grown on me so much since revisiting this album. I love Dionne’s vocals with it as well. Definitely one of her best songs.
***Land of Make Believe was originally recorded by The Drifters.
Reach Out for Me
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
Reach Out for Me was released as the third single from the album, and is a cover of Lou Johnson’s remarkable original recording.
***Reach Out for Me was originally recorded by Lou Johnson
Side two:
You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) was released as the second single from Dionne’s album and gave her an international hit!
***You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) was covered by The Stylistics.
Walk On By
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
Walk On By will always be one of my favorite songs from Dionne! The song had a huge hand in solidifying Dionne’s place in the music industry, and rightfully so. Originally recorded by Dionne, the song gave her a second top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 peaked at number 6, and number 1 on the Cash Box R&B charts respectfully.
***Walk On By has been covered by artists like Isaac Hayes & Aretha Franklin.
***Walk On By was sampled by Doja Cat for her 2023 single Paint the Town Red, making it the first time since 1986 that Dionne Warwick’s voice was on a number one single.
***Walk On By was also interpolated by Slick Rick for his 1988 song Mona Lisa.
Wishin’ and Hopin’
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
Wishin’ and Hopin’ was originally recorded for Dionne’s 1963 debut album Presenting Dionne Warwick, but it was also included on this album was well.
***Wishin’ and Hopin’ was covered by Dusty Springfield.
I Smiled Yesterday
Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David
From a lyrical perspective, I Smiled Yesterday has the singer yearning for the love of her man and how she wants him back with her. I Smiled Yesterday is another song that was recorded for Dionne’s debut LP. A song!
Get Rid of Him
Written by Helen Miller • Howard Greenfield
Get Rid of Him sounds like dialogue between friends and they’re trying to convince their lovestruck friend to let that man go, but the singer refuses to because her love for him is extremely too strong to do otherwise.
Make the Night a Little Longer
Written by Gerry Goffin ∙ Carole King
The album closes with Make the Night a Little Longer, which has the singer desiring for longer nights with her lover. I love it so much!
Make Way for Dionne Warwick took Dionne’s career to bigger heights, and became one of the best singers of her time. She was the perfect muse for the songwriting capabilities Bacharach and David needed for their impeccable sound.
It’s like they wrote the songs specifically for her and at the end of the day: the partnership was truly a match made in heaven. Dionne would go on to have more amazing albums, but it’s something so special about revisiting this album. Chef’s kiss. -MW.
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