The Sweetest Punch

The Sweetest Punch is a 1999 album by Bill Frisell, released as a companion to Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach's 1998 album Painted from Memory. Many of the earlier album's songs are featured with new arrangements by Frisell, mostly in instrumental versions.

The Sweetest Punch: The New Songs of Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach Arranged by Bill Frisell
Studio album by Bill Frisell
Released	September 21, 1999
Genre	Pop, jazz
Length	64:09
Label	Decca/Universal Classics
Producer	Lee Townsend
Bill Frisell chronology
Good Dog, Happy Man (1999) The Sweetest Punch: The New Songs of Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach Arranged by Bill Frisell (1999) Ghost Town (2000)
Elvis Costello chronology
Painted from Memory (1998) The Sweetest Punch (1999) For the Stars (2001)
Burt Bacharach chronology
Painted from Memory (1998) The Sweetest Punch (1999) At This Time (2005)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

Vocals for three of the tracks are also featured, with Costello on "Toledo", Cassandra Wilson on "Painted from Memory", and Costello and Wilson in a duet on "I Still Have That Other Girl".

Track listing

All songs written by Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach, except "Vamp Dolce", written by Frisell.

1. "The Sweetest Punch" – 4:44
2. "Toledo" – 5:25
3. "Such Unlikely Lovers" – 5:43
4. "This House Is Empty Now" – 5:03
5. "Painted from Memory" – 4:10
6. "What's Her Name Today?" – 4:58
7. "In the Darkest Place" – 5:55
8. "Vamp Dolce" – 3:25
9. "My Thief" – 4:31
10. "I Still Have That Other Girl" – 2:22
11. "Painted from Memory (Reprise)" – 3:36
12. "Long Division" – 3:59
13. "Tears at the Birthday Party" – 3:44
14. "I Still Have That Other Girl (Reprise)" – 1:52
15. "God Give Me Strength" – 4:42

Personnel

• Bill Frisell — electric guitar, acoustic guitar
• Brian Blade — drums, percussion
• Don Byron — clarinet, bass clarinet
• Billy Drewes — alto saxophone
• Curtis Fowlkes — trombone
• Viktor Krauss — bass
• Ron Miles — trumpet

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)	15