‘Anyone Who Had a Heart,’ Dionne Warwick

by JAY LUSTIG
The cover of Dionne Warwick's 1964 album, "Anyone Who Had a Heart."

The cover of Dionne Warwick’s 1964 album, “Anyone Who Had a Heart.”

East Orange native Dionne Warwick had had hits before the fall of 1963, but reached the Top 10 for the first time then, with “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” a Burt Bacharach- and Hal David-written song whose tricky rhythmic shifts perfectly suited her precise but emotionally resonant vocal delivery. Check it out below, and marvel at all the different things expressed in a single song: Sweetness but also bitterness, regret but also defiance …

Warwick has made it into the Top 10 quite a few more times — 11 more times, to be precise (and often with Bacharach and David doing the writing). And “Anyone Who Had a Heart” has been covered many times, by artists ranging from Björk to Luther Vandross.

Warwick included the song as the title track of her 1964 album, which recycled some material from her 1963 debut, Presenting Dionne Warwick.

New Jersey celebrated its 350th birthday from Sept. 2014 to Sept. 2015. And in the 350 Jersey Songs series, we marked the occasion by posting 350 songs — one a day, for almost a year — that have something to do with the state, its musical history, or both. The complete list is here.

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